Stan Dziedzic

Stanley Joseph Dziedzic, Jr. (born April 5, 1949) is a retired American welterweight freestyle wrestler. He won an Olympic bronze medal in 1976 and the world title in 1977. He was a 1972 Graduate of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. His collegiate record of 118 victories against 2 defeats, served as Dziedzic's springboard to international achievements in the sport. Dziedzic won three College Division NCAA championships at Slippery Rock in 1970–72, as well as three (PSAC) Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference titles and a University Division title as a junior. The only two losses on his collegiate record were to champions Mike Grant of Oklahoma in the 1970 national semifinals and to Carl Adams of Iowa State University in the 1972 finals. While serving as an assistant coach at Michigan State University, 1972–78, Dziedzic reached the heights in freestyle wrestling, in the 163-pound weight class rated at the time as the toughest in the country and in the world. He won four national championships and two world cups, in 1975 and 1977, placing third in 1973. Dziedzic then reached the apex of his career by winning a bronze medal at the 1976 Olympics and a gold medal at the 1977 World Championships. After retiring from competitions Dziedzic served as a national freestyle coach for the Amateur Athletic Union (1978–84), and his tactical and technical expertise contributed significantly to the resurgence of the USA as an international force. He authored the United States Wrestling Syllabus in 1983, and was instrumental in founding the Olympic 200 project, a developmental program for high school wrestlers. He furthered the modernization of techniques and training methods of USA international teams, and served as vice president of the Coaches Commission of the International Wrestling Federation. Dziedzic was manager of the 1984 Olympic freestyle team and played an active role in Atlanta's successful bid to host the Centennial Olympics in 1996. He was elected wrestling's Man of the Year in 1980. Dziedzic is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He served as president and then vice-president of USA Wrestling.