Chuck Yagla

January 11, 1954 - Present

Raised in the wrestling hotbed of Waterloo, Iowa, Chuck Yagla turned a talent for wrestling into a lifelong passion. He began his wrestling journey at Waterloo’s Columbus High School, where he served as a senior team captain and was runner-up in the 1972 Class 3A state tournament.

At the University of Iowa, Yagla won an NCAA championship at 150 pounds in 1975 as a junior. His win came via a 4-4, 1-1 split referee’s decision over future three-time NCAA champion and World champion, Lee Kemp. He repeated the feat in 1976, when he was also named Outstanding Wrestler of the NCAA tournament.

Wrestling in international competition from 1972 to 1980, Yagla won freestyle events around the world. He was a United States Wrestling Federation Junior National Champion in 1972 and Grand Champion (Ring Series) in 1975. In addition, he won a USWF National Greco-Roman title in 1978.

He was a U.S. Olympic freestyle alternate in 1976 and earned a spot on the 1980 Olympic Team, but he was denied the opportunity to compete when the U.S. boycotted the Moscow Games. Yagla also was a runner-up in the 1979 Tbilisi Tournament in the Soviet Union, which is regarded as the toughest international event outside of the Olympics, and won gold and silver medals in the World Cup.

Following his wrestling career, Yagla served as assistant wrestling coach at the University of Iowa from 1977 to 1982, before he turned his attention to officiating. He spent 24 years as an NCAA official, gaining the respect of coaches and competitors nationwide. From 1996 to 2007, he was a fixture at the NCAA Division I Championships and was selected to referee finals matches five times. He officiated at six NCAA Division II Championships. In 2009, he was honored by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Meritorious Official.

For excelling in every aspect of wrestling during his incredible career, Chuck Yagla is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Awards:

Year
2017
Award
Distinguished Member
Chapter/Region
Iowa
Year
2009
Award
Meritorious Official
Chapter/Region
National
Year
2004
Award
Glen Brand Inductee
Chapter/Region
National

All American Awards:

Season
1976
School
Iowa
Tournament
Division I
Weight
150
Place
1
Season
1975
School
Iowa
Tournament
Division I
Weight
150
Place
1
Season
1974
School
Iowa
Tournament
Division I
Weight
150
Place
4

College Season Records:

Season
1976
School
Iowa
Class
Senior
Bouts
42
Wins
41
Losses
1
Ties
0
Falls
15
Win PCT.
97.62
Place
1st
Season
1975
School
Iowa
Class
Junior
Bouts
36
Wins
33
Losses
2
Ties
1
Falls
14
Win PCT.
91.67
Place
1st
Season
1974
School
Iowa
Class
Sophomore
Bouts
43
Wins
35
Losses
7
Ties
1
Falls
14
Win PCT.
81.4
Place
4th
Season
1973
School
Iowa
Class
Freshman
Bouts
10
Wins
6
Losses
3
Ties
1
Falls
1
Win PCT.
60
Place
DNW
Season
Career
Bouts
131
Wins
115
Losses
13
Ties
3
Falls
44
Win PCT.
87.79

All Rankings:

Season
1976
Rank Date
02/14/1976
Weight
150
Rank
1
School
Iowa

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