University of Illinois Athletics

Werner Holzer, Wrestling • 1957-59

Holzer was a U.S. Olympian in 1968 and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1993. He won Big Ten titles in 1957 and ‘58 and was an All-American after finishing third at the NCAA Championships in 1957. He compiled an overall record of 71-7 curing his collegiate career. Holzer placed fourth in freestyle at the 1966 World Championship and finished sixth in Greco-Roman at the 1968 Olympics, making him one of the few Americans to compete internationally in both styles. Holzer was credited with founding USA Wrestling as the national governing body of amateur wrestling and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1993. Holzer died in 2018 at the age of 81.