Throwback Thursday: Mike Mena
 

Watch as Sterling Newman's Mike Mena becomes the first ever undefeated 4x Illinois state champion. Mena went on to become a 4x All-American for the University of Iowa and a 3x U.S. freestyle national team member.

Most dominent wrestler in Illinois history IMO.

Certainly looked Iowa style to me. Very aggressive, almost too aggressive with the extra little pushes out of bounds.

Other observations: loved the Urbana Tigers mat, also big fan of the mustaches at the beginning. I think there was a rule at one time hat you cannot hold a microphone unless you have a mustasche.

Certainly not meant to bash an outstanding high school and subsequent collegiate wrestler, but Mena was tied 5-5 at the Dapper Dan in his only HS blemish (if you could even call it that?).

This match didn't look a bit like it did live. If you listen real close you can hear the entire assembly hall booing mena. He loved it.

The tie was against Joel Stockwell at Riverdales High School gym not at the Dapper Dan..

I still remember being in the stands watching this and this fat old guy, who I think was a coach at AA school, was saying that Mena would have never won four in AA. There were several Class A guys around him arguing with him but this jerk decided putting down Mena would show how bad *** all the AA guys are. I just remember really wanted to punch that guy in the face or see someone else hit him. In person watching that match I thought "wow" that guy is an animal. At the end of the match it looks like he says good match or good job to Castro, which means he was a classy guy, he was just real aggressive, which every coach wants there wrestlers to be. The booing was kinda funny, because Mena was smiling and could've cared less, and he never really responded to it by doing something to get him in any trouble. The dapper dan tie to me really doesn't matter, its like a month after the season and who knows how good of shape Mena was in. I remember the Indiana the Illinois dual most of the guys were 3 or 4 pounds over the 6 pound weight allowance and not in the best shape.

Mena was a great wrestler and very dominate but he would not have been a four timer in AA. I don't think he would have won it his freshman year and I am confident that he would not have beat Mirrabella his Sophomore year. I watched him lose twice in a spring tournament after his freshman year to Jeff and to someone else. I know it was spring but he wasn't at Jeff's level yet. He defenitely was a great wrestler.

He was being booed because he wrestled a punishing style but also pushed guys after the whistle which made him disliked.

Wouldn't Joe Williams get then nod over Mena in that regard? IIRC, Williams only had one loss in high school, and that was a DQ during his freshman year for an illegal slam when he was leading by 11 points.

The tie was during the season not after...