Art Baker
First Black wrestler to win a Pennsylvania state high school championship, capturing the 165-pound title in 1956 and the 185-pound title in 1957.
Wrestling for Syracuse, he became the first wrestler to win an EIWA championship and the second Black wrestler to win an NCAA championship, capturing the 191-pound title in 1959.
A starting halfback on Syracuse Football’s 1959 national championship football team, he was the first athlete to win a team sport and individual sport championship in the same school year. Art chose to focus on football after winning his national title as a sophomore.
All American Awards:
|
Season
1959
|
School
Syracuse
|
Tournament
Division I
|
Weight
191
|
Place
1
|
College Season Records:
|
Season
1959
|
School
Syracuse
|
Class
Sophomore
|
Bouts
13
|
Wins
12
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
1
|
Falls
1
|
Win PCT.
92.31
|
Place
1st
|
|
Season
Career
|
Bouts
13
|
Wins
12
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
1
|
Falls
1
|
Win PCT.
92.31
|
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