Famous Mormons In Wrestling

Famous Mormons in Wrestling

	Rulon Gardner Wrestling (USA) gold 2000 Sydney bronze 2004 Athens	The "Mormon farm boy" from Afton, Wyoming, "miracle on the mat." His gold-medal victory in the Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling is called the greatest upset in Olympic wrestling history.
	Aaron Holker All-American 1999	NCAA wrestling champion. Aaron is a Mormon that grew up in Minnesota and moved to Utah while in Jr. High. Aaron won an NCAA title at 141 lbs. At BYU: he became BYU's first All-American since 1987 with his seventh-place 133-pound finish at the 1999 NCAA Championship
Photo: Iowa State Cyclones	Cael Sanderson Wrestling (USA) gold 2004 Athens	He is the only undefeated, four-time champion in NCAA history. He graduated from Iowa State University. He is the all time NCAA record holder in Division I with a career record of 159-0.&nbs[; He won the gold medal in his weight class (74-84kg). Source: Iowa State Cyclones Cael is the youngest, the tallest and the most successful wrestler of this Mormon trio. Washington Post
	Mark Schultz Wrestling (USA) gold medalist 1984 Los Angeles	Distinguished member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Former head wrestling coach at BYU. B.S. and M.S. in physical education. Olympic wrestling champion. Two-time world wrestling champion. Ultimate fighting champion. 1983 winner of the Big 8 Medallion Outstanding Male Scholar/Athlete. Four-time National Open Freestyle Wrestling Champion. Three-time NCAA Wrestling Champion. Northern California All-Around Gymnastics Champion. Voted “Outstanding Wrestler” at the 1982 NCAA Championships. USA Wrestling “Athlete of the Year”. Source: Mark Schultz.com His Olympic gold medal and two additional World championships place him among a mere handful of America’s elite wrestlers. 4-time National Freestyle, 3-time NCAA, 2-time World, 1984 Olympic, and UFC IX Champion.
	Dustin Tillman	Columbia 165-pound wrestler Dustin Tillman has returned to the Lions' program after a two-year Mormon mission which found him in Dallas, Texas, and speaking in Mandarin Chinese. The mission was of his own choosing and it followed a highly publicized choice by his cousin to do something to make a difference. His cousin — Pat Tillman — died in Afghanistan while serving his country in April of 2004.

Professional Wrestlers

	Don Leo Jonathan The Mormon Giant and The Mormon Mauler	"Latest wrestling sensation in the mid-west is 225 pound Don Leo Jonathan, Mormon grappler of Salt Lake City, Utah. He is a chip off the old block. His father, Brother Jonathan was a star athlete. Don, 22 years of age, stands 6'5" in height. He uses spectacular leaps and twists in his wrestling activities and follows up with body slams. Don is a handsome chap who will go far in the heavyweight division." Source: Wrestling As You Like It, 20 Nov 1954
Ernie Moore at the autograph table with Ms B Haven and Mayhem.	Ernie Moore "Executioner"	Ernie Moore Born December 21, 1939 in Hamilton, Ontario AKA: The Executioner, The Hangman The year was 1965 in Michigan, (two years after he was married, as Moore remembers it), and promoter Harry Light was in a quandary because one of The Hangmen couldn't make it. He asked Moore to don one of the masks, and things changed. "I near caused a riot," recalled Moore. And more surprising for him, "I liked being a bad guy!" He wasn't one of The Hangmen very long. Realizing the power of the hidden face, he created The Executioner and terrorized wrestling crowds across North America with his dark mask. Moore is a devout Mormon and former bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He's driven limousines and been a bodyguard for Sophia Loren, Tony Bennett and Harry Belafonte. For years, he worked weekends as a doorman at nightclubs such as The Junction and Mellows. Between checking IDs, Moore would stand in the doorway poring over the Book of Mormon. When there was a fight to break up, he'd put down the well-worn paperback copy and walk over to talk down the hotheads or drunks. If things got physical, he'd use a wrestling hold. But gentle yet firm words were usually enough. Moore always strived to let them leave with their dignity intact. www.hamiltonspectator.com
	Jason Ray	Professional wrestler "Made in Japan" Wrestler: Jason Ray Real Name: Jason Ray Nope Birthday: September 16, 1974 Hometown: Lake Charles, Louisiana Marital Status: Single Height & Weight: 6'2" - 255 lbs Trained by: Mickey Henry Debut: November 10, 1995 Previous Gimmicks: "Made in Japan" Finishing Move: Hokkaido-Sault (Corkscrew moonsault) Favorite Moves: Figure Four Leglock The Snuka Splash Notable Feuds: Jimmy Snuka Kintaro Kanemura Johhny Grunge www.onlineworldofwrestling.com
Photo: Wrestling Life	Jimmy "Super Fly" Snuka WCCW champion 1977	Born James Reiher, Snuka started wrestling in 1969. He became the WCCW champion in 1977. He worked for NWA in the '70s with Buddy Rogers as his manager. He came to limelight in the 1980s with the WWF, feuding with Rowdy Piper. He was perhaps the first high flying wrestler in the pro-wrestling history, giving birth to the new high-flying style of wrestling... He was the first man to jump off the top of a cage match! Snuka left WWF for a long time, but he came back in 1992 to ECW. He is currently in AWA.

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