The Guthrie High School Athletic Hall of Fame inducted the 1981 state championship wrestling team during Homecoming festivities over the weekend.
The ’81 championship is the lone title for the wrestling program.
That season, the Jays were led by head coach Mark Neuman and assistant coach Dutch Dunn.
Neuman, who earned NCAA All-American honors twice and helped the Oklahoma Sooners to the NCAA national championship in 1974, traveled from Wisconsin for the HOF induction.
“It’s wonderful to be back and being with you guys,” Neuman said at a reception inside the Oklahoma Territorial Sports Museum. “It was an important time in my life. You guys meant a lot to me.”
Neuman, who was assisted by Dutch Dunn, said his team was “a family who worked hard, had a lot of fun, and definitely was a magical time when we won that state championship.”
The ’81 Jays had three state champions, including Doug Stalnaker, Kevin Fields, and Bill Wells. Stalnaker is the only Guthrie wrestler to win state twice.
Steve LeGrande finished third and placing for the Jays were Jon Chappell, Marcio White, Chris Cowden, and Stewart Kyle.
The Jays, who defeated Duncan in the championship, were boosted by Jason Peters, Lamar Mina, and Lee Vibbard who qualified for the state tournament.
“You guys worked so hard and developed,” Neuman told his players. “It was a match made in heaven.”
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