NCAA Wrestling Data1928–2026

1956 NCAA Championships

Unlimited

Champion Gordon Roesler, Oklahoma.Original bracket sheet ↗

All-Americans

  1. 1Gordon RoeslerOU
  2. 2Bob KonovskyWIS
  3. 3Bill OberlyPSU
  4. 4Willis HollandCOST

In 1956, 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 1956 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

17 byes into the round of 32

    Round of 32 · 1 bout

    15 byes into the round of 16

    1. Gordon Roesler, Oklahoma over Barron Bremner, Iowa — Dec 9–3 · View bout

    Round of 16 · 8 bouts

    1. Bob Konovsky (2), Wisconsin over Mel Walden, Iowa State — Dec 4–0 · View bout
    2. Denny Krick, Indiana (IN) over Don Sayenga, Lafayette (PA) — Dec 8–2 · View bout
    3. Don Derham (5), Coast Guard (CT) over Ed Hayes, Southern Illinois Carbondale — Fall 8:56 · View bout
    4. Gordon Roesler, Oklahoma over Bill Oberly (1), Penn State — Dec 8–6 · View bout
    5. Jerry Budzik, Oklahoma State over George Meyers (6), Oregon State — Dec 5–4 · View bout
    6. Les Nader, Kent State (OH) over Dick Lasse, Syracuse (NY) — Dec 2–1 · View bout
    7. Mike Sandusky (4), Maryland over Dan Wisniewski, Pittsburgh (PA) — Fall 7:46 · View bout
    8. Willis Holland (3), Colorado State over Carlton Hazelwood, Texas A&M — Fall 1:57 · View bout

    Quarterfinal · 4 bouts

    1. Bob Konovsky (2), Wisconsin over Les Nader, Kent State (OH) — Fall 8:31 · View bout
    2. Gordon Roesler, Oklahoma over Denny Krick, Indiana (IN) — Dec 14–11 · View bout
    3. Mike Sandusky (4), Maryland over Don Derham (5), Coast Guard (CT) — Fall 0:52 · View bout
    4. Willis Holland (3), Colorado State over Jerry Budzik, Oklahoma State — Dec 3–1 · View bout

    Semifinal · 2 bouts

    1. Bob Konovsky (2), Wisconsin over Willis Holland (3), Colorado State — Dec 3–1 · View bout
    2. Gordon Roesler, Oklahoma over Mike Sandusky (4), Maryland — Dec 1–1 (tiebreaker) · View bout

    Final · 1 bout

    1. Gordon Roesler, Oklahoma over Bob Konovsky (2), Wisconsin — Dec 4–4 (tiebreaker) · View bout

    Consolation

    Consolation round 4 · 1 bout

    1 byes into the consolation round 5

    1. Bill Oberly (1), Penn State over Barron Bremner, Iowa — Fall 1:51 · View bout

    Consolation round 5 · 2 bouts

    1. Bill Oberly (1), Penn State over Denny Krick, Indiana (IN) — Dec 8–2 · View bout
    2. Les Nader, Kent State (OH) over Mel Walden, Iowa State — Dec 2–1 · View bout

    Consolation semifinal · 2 bouts

    1. Bill Oberly (1), Penn State over Mike Sandusky (4), Maryland — Dec 3–0 · View bout
    2. Willis Holland (3), Colorado State over Les Nader, Kent State (OH) — Dec 7–0 · View bout

    Placement bouts

    3rd-place bout · 1 bout

    1. Bill Oberly (1), Penn State over Willis Holland (3), Colorado State — Dec 2–0 · View bout