NCAA Wrestling Data1928–2026

1954 NCAA Championships

Unlimited

Champion Gene Nicks, Oklahoma State.Original bracket sheet ↗

All-Americans

  1. 1Gene NicksOKST
  2. 2Bob KonovskyWIS
  3. 3Max KitzelmanNEB
  4. 4Ken EllisKSU

In 1954, a wrestler wrestled back only if the man who beat him reached the final, and places were awarded through fourth, so the consolation bracket is shorter than a modern one. Every bout the tournament recorded is drawn here.

Connected 1954 Unlimited-pound bracket

Select a name to highlight their path; select it again to open the profile. Select a score for the bout.

How to read this bracket
  • Tap a name to follow that wrestler; tap it again to open their profile.
  • "Cons →" is where the loser continues in the consolation bracket; tap it to go there.
  • "↩" is where a wrestler arrived from the championship bracket.
  • The score opens the bout.
Final →Placements →

Championship

Consolation

Championship

Opening round · 0 bouts

9 byes into the round of 16

    Round of 16 · 1 bout

    7 byes into the quarterfinal

    1. Larry Fowler, Michigan State over Willis Holland, Colorado State — Dec 6–6 (tiebreaker) · View bout

    Quarterfinal · 4 bouts

    1. Bob Konovsky (2), Wisconsin over Billy Hix, Middle Tennessee — Dec 6–0 · View bout
    2. Gene Nicks (1), Oklahoma State over Larry Fowler, Michigan State — Fall 7:00 · View bout
    3. Ken Ellis, Kansas State over Jack Ellena Sr. (3), California-Los Angeles — Dec 5–4 · View bout
    4. Max Kitzelman (4), Nebraska over Harold 'Hal' Hunter Jr., Pittsburgh (PA) — Fall 5:07 · View bout

    Semifinal · 2 bouts

    1. Bob Konovsky (2), Wisconsin over Ken Ellis, Kansas State — Dec 3–0 · View bout
    2. Gene Nicks (1), Oklahoma State over Max Kitzelman (4), Nebraska — Dec 6–0 · View bout

    Final · 1 bout

    1. Gene Nicks (1), Oklahoma State over Bob Konovsky (2), Wisconsin — Dec 7–0 · View bout

    Consolation

    Consolation round 5 · 0 bouts

    2 byes into the consolation semifinal

      Consolation semifinal · 2 bouts

      1. Ken Ellis, Kansas State over Billy Hix, Middle Tennessee — Not recorded · View bout
      2. Max Kitzelman (4), Nebraska over Larry Fowler, Michigan State — Dec 4–2 · View bout

      Placement bouts

      3rd-place bout · 1 bout

      1. Max Kitzelman (4), Nebraska over Ken Ellis, Kansas State — Fall 3:30 · View bout