Indiana University Athletics
Remember When: 1946
10/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Oct. 6, 2005
Indiana Wrestling, 1946
In 1945-46, head coach Charlie McDaniel took the reigns of the Hoosier program to start a new era in Hoosier wrestling that lasted 27 years. The legendary McDaniel coached the Hoosiers longer than anyone to date, and recorded a 145-139-11 career record. The hometown hero graduated from Bloomington High School in 1933 and went on to be involved in Hoosier athletics as a wrestler and coach for nearly four decades. McDaniel spent his years as a grappler under IU Hall of Fame coach Billy Thom, collecting a 41-5 record in the Cream and Crimson.
McDaniel led his first Indiana squad to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championship and a second-place performance at the Big Ten Championship. Both stand as McDaniel's highest finishes during his tenure at the helm of the program, with his only other top-10 NCAA finish coming in 1953 (Ninth).
In Big Ten action, the Hoosiers dismissed Minnesota (15-13), Northwestern (20-10) and Ohio State (27-3) before losing to Michigan State (14-12) and Illinois (22-6). The Hoosiers also tied Michigan (12-12) during the regular season to finish 4-2-1 overall, 3-1-1 in the Big Ten.
Claiming All-American status for the Hoosiers were Morris Chitwood (second, HWT), Ellias George (second, 142), Sigmund Golonka (third, 175) and Mike Rolak (second, 121). At that point in IU history, the four All-Americans is the fourth time IU has had four or more honors in the same year.
George and Rolak also claimed Big Ten Champion accolades in their respective weight classes.
