The Oregon State Beavers wrestling program was established in 1909. Traditionally a nationally prominent team, the Beavers won the Amateur Athletic Union national championship in 1926 (Oregon State's first national championship in any sport) and have won their conference championship over 50 times. The team has produced 99 All-Americans, 12 individual national champions, is associated with five National Wrestling Hall of Fame members, and has had wrestlers represent their nations at the olympic games on ten different occasions. The team has finished their season ranked in the NCAA top 25 on 46 occasions, including finishing 21 seasons in the top 10 and two seasons as national runners-up.
Chris Pendleton (Oklahoma State) is the head coach. In his four years at Oregon State, he coached six All-Americans, won one Pac-12 Championship, and compiled a 27-20-0 record while coaching the team to two top 25 finishes.
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Dan Hodge Trophy Winners
The Dan Hodge Trophy has been awarded to the nation's top wrestler each season since 1995.
1996 - Les Gutches
National Wrestling Hall of Fame members
OSU is associated with six members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Robin Reed - Inducted 1978 (wrestler and coach for OSU)
Dale Thomas - Inducted 1980 (coach for OSU)
Jim Zalesky - Inducted 2004 (coach for OSU)
Les Gutches - Inducted 2009 (wrestler for OSU)
Greg Strobel - Inducted 2012 (wrestler for OSU)
Jeff Smith - Inducted 2024 (wrestler for OSU and volunteer coach for the Sisters School District, Sisters, Oregon)
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame members
Oregon State Wrestling is associated with seven members of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
Chester Newton - Inducted 1980
Robin Reed - Inducted 1980
Jess Lewis - Inducted 1981
Ron Finley - Inducted 1982
Dale Thomas - Inducted 1991
Les Gutches - Inducted 2011
Lucas Chinn - Inducted 2019
Individual National Champions
The Oregon State Beavers wrestling program has had 12 individual national champions.
1961 - Don Conway (167 pounds)
1969 - Jess Lewis (Heavyweight)
1970 - Jess Lewis (Heavyweight)
1971 - Roger Weigel (134 pounds)
1973 - Greg Strobel (190 pounds)
1974 - Greg Strobel (190 pounds)
1975 - Larry Bielenberg (Heavyweight)
1978 - Dan Hicks (142 pounds)
1979 - Dan Hicks (142 pounds)
1980 - Howard Harris (Heavyweight)
1995 - Les Gutches (177 pounds)
1996 - Les Gutches (177 pounds)
All-Americans
1952 - John Witte (Heavyweight)
1957 - John Dustin (177 pounds)
1958 - John Dustin (177 pounds)
1960 - Mits Tamura (115 pounds)
1961 - Don Conway (167 pounds), Ron Finley (137 pounds)
1964 - Len Kauffman (167 pounds)
1965 - Len Kauffman (167 pounds)
1966 - Ron Iwasaki (115 pounds)
1967 - Jeff Smith (167 pounds), Ron Iwasaki (115 pounds)
1968 - Jess Lewis (Heavyweight)
1969 - Jess Lewis (Heavyweight), Phil Frey (145 pounds), Jim Vandehey (167 pounds), Bob Hawkins (137 pounds), Kim Snider (152 pounds)
1970 - Jess Lewis (Heavyweight), Jim Crumley (177 pounds), Roger Weigel (126 pounds), Bob Tomasovic (150 pounds), Jim Vandehey (167 pounds), Kim Snider (158 pounds)
1971 - Roger Weigel (134 pounds), Mike R. Jones (158 pounds), Jim Crumley (177 pounds)
1972 - Tom Phillips (118 pounds), Greg Strobel (190 pounds), Jim Hagen (Heavyweight)
1973 - Greg Strobel (190 pounds), Tom Phillips (118 pounds), Mike R. Jones (158 pounds), Jim Hagen (Heavyweight), Jim Crumley (177 pounds)
1974 - Greg Strobel (190 pounds), Gordan Iiams (142 pounds), Larry Bielenberg (Heavyweight)