(December 10, 1940 – July 5. 2016) Ron Finley put his stamp on Oregon as a state champion at Newberg, national finalist at Oregon State, Olympian, and then coach at the University of Oregon. Finley grew up in Newberg and won state titles in 1957 and ‘58, before moving to Oregon State to train under..Read More
(Born February 21, 1973) Les Gutches won championships at every level of wrestling outside of the Olympic Games, becoming one of the state’s top competitors in the process. Born in Medford in 1973, Gutches grew up in a wrestling family, his father, Les Senior, having won a state title as a youth. Les won three..Read More
(born Jul. 28, 1947) Although his career in the National Football League lasted just one season, Jess Lewis made a lasting impression on Oregon through his wrestling and football accomplishments while at Oregon State University in the late 1960s. He played on the defensive line for the 1967 “Giant Killers,” and remains one of the..Read More
(Sep. 18, 1903 – May 11, 1966) Chester Newton wrestled his way into state lore at Oregon State and then the U.S. Olympic team, winning a silver medal in 1924 Paris Games. Newton, born in 1903, grew up in Canby and wrestled for Oregon State in the early 20s. He also competed for the Multnomah..Read More
(Oct. 20, 1899 – Dec. 20, 1978) Robin Reed wrestled his way through Oregon State to Olympic gold and left the sport with a long list of admirers and rivals. Born in 1899, Reed grew up in Portland and graduated from Franklin High, having built a solid body while working at a shipyard. From Franklin,..Read More