NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
ARNOLD PLAZA 1948 114.5-pound champion
1949 121-pound champion
Arnold Plaza was the first Purdue grappler to win an NCAA individual championship, claiming the 114.5-pound title in 1948 and then followed that with the 121-pound crown in 1949. The 1949 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year, Plaza earned four letters in wrestling while at Purdue. Plaza is the only Boilermaker to win four Big Ten titles (1947-50) and was a member of the Purdue squads that won Big Ten team championships in 1948, 1949 and 1950. Plaza became the first Purdue wrestler to be inducted into the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, entering with the 13-member inaugural Class of 1994.
JOE PATACSIL 1950 128-pound champion
Joe Patacsil was the second Purdue wrestler to claim an NCAA individual championship, winning the 128-pound crown in 1950. A four-year letterwinner for the Boilermakers, Patacsil was a part of three Big Ten team championships, as he helped Purdue win the league title in 1948, 1949 and 1950. Patacsil was a two-time Big Ten champion at 128 pounds, capturing back-to-back titles in 1949 and 1950, and was named the 1950 Big Ten Wrestler of the Year. In 1999, Patacsil became the second wrestler to be inducted into the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, joining former teammate and fellow NCAA champion Arnold Plaza among the esteemed body of former Purdue athletes, coaches and administrators.
CHARLES JONES 1992 167-pound champion
The most recent Purdue grappler to win an individual NCAA championship is Charles Jones, the 167-pound title winner in 1992. A Big Ten champion in 1992, Jones earned letters at Purdue in 1991 and 1992. He also earned All-America honors in both seasons on the mat, placing third at 167 in 1991. To date, Jones is the only wrestler in Purdue history to post a perfect record in a season, going 33-0 en route to his NCAA title. His career win percentage ranks first all-time for the Boilermakers, having accumulated a career mark of 67-4 (.944). In 2003, Jones became the fourth wrestler to be inducted into the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame, joining fellow NCAA champions Arnold Plaza (Class of 1994 inductee) and Joe Patacsil (Class of 1999) as well as legendary head wrestling coach Claude Reeck (Class of 2000).