NCAA Wrestling Data1928–2026

1963 NCAA Championships

Unlimited

Champion Jim Nance, Syracuse (NY).Original bracket sheet ↗

All-Americans

  1. 1Jim NanceSYR
  2. 2Larry KristoffSIUC
  3. 3Joe JamesOKST
  4. 4Merrill SolowinTOL
  5. 5Bob SpalyMICH
  6. 6John IllengwarthLEH

In 1963, a wrestler wrestled back only if the man who beat him reached the final, and places were awarded through sixth, so the consolation bracket is shorter than a modern one. Every bout the tournament recorded is drawn here.

Connected 1963 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

14 byes into the round of 16

    Round of 16 · 6 bouts

    2 byes into the quarterfinal

    1. Ed Scharer, Rutgers (NJ) over Jack Turnock, Purdue (IN) — Dec 4–2 · View bout
    2. Homer McClure, Michigan State over Eddie McQuarters (6), Oklahoma — Dec 3–2 · View bout
    3. Jim Nance (2), Syracuse (NY) over Bob Spaly, Michigan — Fall 2:20 · View bout
    4. John Illengwarth, Lehigh (PA) over Bob Thiele (5), Kent State (OH) — Fall 3:41 · View bout
    5. Larry Kristoff (4), Southern Illinois Carbondale over James 'Jerry' Cabe, North Carolina — Fall 7:14 · View bout
    6. Merrill Solowin (3), Toledo (OH) over Harry Sisak, Lock Haven (PA) — Fall 1:38 · View bout

    Quarterfinal · 4 bouts

    1. Jim Nance (2), Syracuse (NY) over Dick Zeyen, Minnesota-Mankato — Fall 6:40 · View bout
    2. Joe James (1), Oklahoma State over Ed Scharer, Rutgers (NJ) — Fall 7:09 · View bout
    3. Larry Kristoff (4), Southern Illinois Carbondale over John Illengwarth, Lehigh (PA) — Dec 10–3 · View bout
    4. Merrill Solowin (3), Toledo (OH) over Homer McClure, Michigan State — Dec 2–0 · View bout

    Semifinal · 2 bouts

    1. Jim Nance (2), Syracuse (NY) over Merrill Solowin (3), Toledo (OH) — Dec 3–3 (tiebreaker) · View bout
    2. Larry Kristoff (4), Southern Illinois Carbondale over Joe James (1), Oklahoma State — Dec 1–1 (tiebreaker) · View bout

    Final · 1 bout

    1. Jim Nance (2), Syracuse (NY) over Larry Kristoff (4), Southern Illinois Carbondale — Dec 2–1 · View bout

    Consolation

    Consolation round 4 · 0 bouts

    2 byes into the consolation round 5

      Consolation round 5 · 2 bouts

      1. Bob Spaly, Michigan over Dick Zeyen, Minnesota-Mankato — Dec 7–2 · View bout
      2. John Illengwarth, Lehigh (PA) over James 'Jerry' Cabe, North Carolina — Dec 6–0 · View bout

      Consolation semifinal · 2 bouts

      1. Joe James (1), Oklahoma State over John Illengwarth, Lehigh (PA) — Dec 6–3 · View bout
      2. Merrill Solowin (3), Toledo (OH) over Bob Spaly, Michigan — Fall 3:08 · View bout

      Placement bouts

      3rd-place bout · 1 bout

      1. Joe James (1), Oklahoma State over Merrill Solowin (3), Toledo (OH) — Dec 4–3 · View bout

      5th-place bout · 1 bout

      1. Bob Spaly, Michigan over John Illengwarth, Lehigh (PA) — Dec 3–2 · View bout