A sold-out crowd of 17,687 stood in ovation as history was made at the NCAA Wrestling Championships on March 19, 2011. Arizona State senior Anthony Robles was crowned the 125-pound winner over the defending champion. The event culminated a perfect 36-0 season for Robles, who was born with only one leg.
Every school has a team, a player, or a season they’ll remember for their athletic excellence, for creating magical moments of engulfing school pride. Slow down as the final buzzer ticks away, and solidifies their place in history as champions.
Here, a salute to the male dynasties of college athletics.
1. Trinity College Bantams Squash
College Squash Association Champions: 1998-2011
The score deadlocked at 4-4 and the final game upon him, senior Chris Binnie knew what he needed to do. He had one chance to win his match, and with the winner-taking-all, the team championship. Binnie prevailed 3-0 to grant the Bantams their fifth point in 2011’s 5-4 comeback victory over the Yale Bulldogs. With their record 13th consecutive national championship, the Bantams extended the longest winning streak in the history of intercollegiate varsity sports to 244 games in a row.
2. Iowa Hawkeyes Wrestling
NCAA Champions: 2000, 2008-2010
Seniors Brent Metcalf and Jay Borschel each faced the number one seed in their weight class without faltering, and were crowned 2010 national champions alongside redshirt freshman Matt McDonough. The Hawkeyes clocked in with a 44.5-point margin of victory over second-place Cornell to snatch the 2010 team title, bringing their combined career record to 697-231.
3. Denver Pioneers Skiing
NCAA Champions: 2000-2002, 2005, 2008-2010
The Pioneers clinched their nation-leading 21st NCAA skiing championship in 2010. Led by NCAA men’s giant slalom champion Leif Kristian Haugen of Lommendalen, Norway, the Pioneers claimed their third-straight title in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Denver racked up 13 All-America honors in both men’s and women’s competition, and traded the slopes for Capitol Hill when President Obama congratulated the team at the White House.
4. Auburn Tigers Swimming
NCAA Champions: 2003-2007, 2009
Entering the final day of competition at the 2009 NCAA Championships, the Auburn Tigers were in second place. By the end of the day, Auburn’s four relay victories and a 100 backstroke title (from sophomore Kohlton Norys) racked up 526 points to surpass second-place Texas. But the title is just part of the accolades Auburn accumulated, which include 54 All-America honors by 17 athletes, three NCAA and 11 school records.
5. Abilene Christian University Wildcats Outdoor Track
NCAA Div. II National Champions: 2000, 2002-2008
With seven straight and 18 overall NCAA outdoor championships, the Wildcats have dominated Division II outdoor track. After an early lead in the 2008 championship, the Wildcats carried an 8.5-point lead over the foe St. Augustine Falcons coming into the final two events. They needed just two points in the 5000 meters, which junior Amos Sang provided. Both the men’s and women’s teams took titles, and the Wildcats culminated the year with a champion’s trip to Disneyland.
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6. Southern California Trojans Water Polo
NCAA Champions: 2003, 2005, 2008-2010
Four goals from junior Peter Kurzeka and an unyielding defense helped USC defeat the thrashing Cal Bears in their own pool. The 2010 championship was a hard-fought, 12-10 overtime victory, settled in the final minute as Kurzeka flung up a resounding field block to lock in the championship. The Trojans sailed to their third straight water polo national championship with the triumph, finishing the year with an impressive 28-2 overall record.
7. Messiah Falcons Soccer
NCAA Div. III Champions: 2000, 2002, 2004-2006, 2008-2010
Following a frantic purchase of 30 men’s soccer socks (they had forgotten to pack their game socks for the tournament!), the Falcons upped the dramatic ante on the field as well. During the 2010 title match, sophomore Dan Squire scored with less than five minutes remaining in regulation to tie. A minute and a half into the game’s extension, senior midfielder Geoff Pezon blasted a low, hard goal to end it for good. Messiah seized a thrilling 2-1 victory against Lynchburg College and the program’s eighth national title.
8. Oklahoma Sooners Gymnastics
NCAA Champions: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008
In 2006, a rookie Oklahoma team (comprised of half freshmen and only three upperclassmen) defied logic when they finished their season undefeated. With 221.4 points over Illinois’ 220.975 in the national championship, the Sooners made their final statement one of triumph over the neck-and-neck Fighting Illini. Standout and future Olympic silver medalist Jonathan Horton took OU to the ‘ship in 2008, where they once again took the top honors.
9. Syracuse Orange Lacrosse
NCAA Champions: 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009
Rallying from a 9-6 deficit with less than four minutes to play, the Orange captured its second straight NCAA Championship in 2009 with a thrilling 10-9 overtime win against Cornell. In the final half minute of regulation, the Orange was down 9-8 when sophomore Stephen Keough miraculously forced a turnover. Two behind the back passes later (to and from senior Matt Abbott), senior Kenny Nims scored with four seconds left to tie the contest and force overtime. Junior Cody Jamieson registered the game-deciding goal to welcome number five of the Orange’s national titles in the past decade.
10. Middlebury Panthers Ice Hockey
NCAA Div. III Champions: 1995-1999, 2004-2006
The Panthers of Middlebury made their first NCAA appearance in 1995 and seized straight titles in their first five years. Then in 2006, Middlebury capped three consecutive titles with a 3-0 triumph over St. Norbert. Sophomore Robert MacIntyre scored right off the bat on a power play and the defense proved impenetrable for the Green Knights, causing a shutout and running Middlebury’s national title count to eight.
Sources:
National Collegiate Athletic Association
http://www.acusports.com/news/2008/5/24/26143.aspx?path=mtrack
http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m-wrestl/recaps/032010aaj.html
http://www.messiah.edu/athletics/sports/mens_soccer/articles/1011/dec-4….
http://www.middlebury.edu/athletics/sports/menshockey
http://www.soonersports.com/sports/m-gym/recaps/041106aaa.html
http://www.suathletics.com/news/2009/5/25/Cornell5.25.09.aspx?path=mlacr…
http://athletics.trincoll.edu/sports/msquash/2010-11/releases/Men-s_Squa…
http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/m-wpolo/recaps/120510aaa.html