Gutches heads to Wrestling Hall of Fame
Former Oregon State wrestler will be inducted in June to National Wrestling Hall of Fame
Sol Allen
Issue date: 1/28/09 Section: Sports
Oregon State alumnus Les Gutches will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame this June in Stillwater, Okla. during honors weekend.
As one of the best wrestlers to come out of Oregon State, Gutches will be honored with seven others as the 33rd class to be inducted since the Hall of Fame began in 1976. Being only the second Beaver wrestler to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Gutches will join fellow Oregon State alumni Robin Reed, who was inducted in 1978, as well as former coach Dale Thomas, who was recognized in 1980.
Les Gutches was the premier wrestler at Oregon State from 1993 to 1996, compiling a career record of 134-10. Even more impressive was Gutches' ability to allow opponents just one takedown in his last two college seasons, cementing his legacy at Oregon State. Gutches was already inducted into the Oregon State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.
"He definitely deserves it," senior wrestler Kyle Bressler said of the Gutches induction. "He is a phenomenal athlete, wrestler and person."
Bressler is having a good year himself and is currently ranked No. 11 in the nation for the 174-pound class. Being a part of a program that produces such wrestlers as Gutches, it would not be surprising to see Bressler make a run of his own at the National Championships.
Some of Gutches' more impressive accomplishments include being the first person to win USA Wrestling National Titles in the five age groups of competition; Cadet, Junior, Espoir, University and Senior. During his time at Oregon State, Gutches was a two-time National Champion. In 1996, his final season at Oregon State, Gutches was awarded with both the Dan Hodge trophy as well as the Outstanding Wrestler award at the NCAA Championships.
Not only did Gutches make an impact on Corvallis during his wrestling years, he is still an active member of the community today. As a local commercial lender in town, Gutches finds time to work with high school wrestling programs in the area. Gutches also owns a duplex in which some of the Oregon State wrestlers live.
As one of the best wrestlers to come out of Oregon State, Gutches will be honored with seven others as the 33rd class to be inducted since the Hall of Fame began in 1976. Being only the second Beaver wrestler to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, Gutches will join fellow Oregon State alumni Robin Reed, who was inducted in 1978, as well as former coach Dale Thomas, who was recognized in 1980.
Les Gutches was the premier wrestler at Oregon State from 1993 to 1996, compiling a career record of 134-10. Even more impressive was Gutches' ability to allow opponents just one takedown in his last two college seasons, cementing his legacy at Oregon State. Gutches was already inducted into the Oregon State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.
"He definitely deserves it," senior wrestler Kyle Bressler said of the Gutches induction. "He is a phenomenal athlete, wrestler and person."
Bressler is having a good year himself and is currently ranked No. 11 in the nation for the 174-pound class. Being a part of a program that produces such wrestlers as Gutches, it would not be surprising to see Bressler make a run of his own at the National Championships.
Some of Gutches' more impressive accomplishments include being the first person to win USA Wrestling National Titles in the five age groups of competition; Cadet, Junior, Espoir, University and Senior. During his time at Oregon State, Gutches was a two-time National Champion. In 1996, his final season at Oregon State, Gutches was awarded with both the Dan Hodge trophy as well as the Outstanding Wrestler award at the NCAA Championships.
Not only did Gutches make an impact on Corvallis during his wrestling years, he is still an active member of the community today. As a local commercial lender in town, Gutches finds time to work with high school wrestling programs in the area. Gutches also owns a duplex in which some of the Oregon State wrestlers live.
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