Harold DeMarsh

Harold DeMarsh (March 9, 1902 – March 25, 1982) was an American folkstyle wrestler. He was the first wrestler to become an NCAA wrestling champion. DeMarsh competed at the 115-pound weight class and won the first NCAA individual wrestling title at the 1928 NCAA Wrestling Championships.

Personal life and death The son of Joseph and Ruby DeMarsh, Harold DeMarsh was born on March 9, 1902 in Menominee, Michigan. He attended high school in Cushing, Oklahoma, where he became a National Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) champion in 1925.

Wrestling career While attending Oklahoma A&M, DeMarsh competed as part of the Oklahoma A&M Aggies, under head coach Edward C. Gallagher. DeMarsh was second at the AAU national contest in 1926 and in third in 1927, both in the 115-pound class. There were other champions from other weight classes, but their matches were after DeMarsh's 115-pound NCAA Championship match, thus making him the first NCAA wrestling champion. The other weight classes were 125-pound, 135-pound, 145-pound, 158-pound, and 175-pounds. Higgins said in 1979, "I lost a 21-minute match at 115 pounds to Harold DeMarsh. After we were all even on riding time after the first 15 minutes, we went another six minutes of overtime."

After wrestling at Oklahoma A&M, DeMarsh taught wrestling at his local YMCA before and throughout World War II, with his teams winning several amateur wrestling state championships. He also taught judo and karate as part of the United States Navy at Naval Station Great Lakes.