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Show Redskin 'RasslersThe grapple sport at Utah in 1954 found Coach Karl Schleckman and his squad with only three returning lettermen from a team that ended in third spot in the Conference last year. Heavyweight Tiny Grant, defending conference champion, Fred Draayer, and Don Rydalch provided the nucleus of Redskin wrestling hopes, but beyond that a pessimistic picture prevailed. Nearly every man on the mats during the opening week try-outs was a newcomer or an inexperienced returnee. In the 157-lb. class Chuck Chandler and Robert Marchell held down the spots, while Jim Soderberg, Maughan Colton and Jerry Woodmansee were the only 147-lb. contenders. In the lighter weights, Coach Schleckman had trouble all season even entering enough men in the meets. Bob Rose, David Miller and Joe Bowerbank were the main boys in these lighter weight spots.Captain Fred Draayer led the Utes through a somewhat dismal season as he went undefeated in every dual match and finally won the conference crown in the 177-lb. weight division. Last year Draayer took second in the conference meet. After the season, he was the lone representative from the state's colleges to attend the NCAA wrestling meet. In two outings with Utah State during the season, Utah dropped 16-14 and 21-8 affairs, with Draayer, Grant, and Rydalch being the only winning Utah men. They also lost to BYU 24-8. At the conference matches, the Redskins picked up a 14 point total which was good for fourth place behind Colorado A&M, Wyoming, and BYU. Tiny Grant was up-ended as conference heavyweight champ by Willis Holland of Colorado A&M, while Don Rydalch won the consolation crown in the 167-lb. class.It's all friendly fun, but Don Rydalch and Fred Draayer put the pressure on each other in some fancy leg and arm twisting. Rydalch and Draayer were two of the top Ute wrestlers. |