As I was writing some newsletters last weekend the name of a college many of you probably haven’t heard of popped up a couple of times.
Adams State is now an NCAA Division II college in Colorado.
In the NCAA Division II Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships, Martin County West graduate Jaxson Rohman lost a close match to a wrestler from Adams State in the 125-pound finals.
And at the D2 Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championships, Adams State spoiled Minnesota State’s bid for a second straight national title by one point.
But to me, hearing of Adams State is always going to conjure up thoughts of the most legendary wrestler in a town with a strong tradition in the sport that includes an Olympian.
Chuck Jean was the oldest of four brothers, three of which competed in the one-class era of wrestling. He placed in the state tournament twice, finishing third at 165 pounds for the state team champions in 1966 and then winning the state title at that same weight in 1967.
Tom Jean was a three-time state champion, winning in 1970, 1971 and 1972. Mike Jean was also a place winner in 1971, finishing fourth as the Tigers won another team title.
And then Bob Jean was a fourth-place finisher in 1976 and was a member of the Class AA state team champions in what was a now a dual meet state format and also the first two-class state wrestling tournament.
To the best of my knowledge, I only met Chuck Jean once although tales of his exploits were legendary, and we’ll get to the most famous in a bit so hang in there.
I know the date because I can look it up. It was Dec. 7, 1969. The Vikings were 10-1 and the 11-0 Rams were playing in the biggest game of the season, and we were invited to watch the game at some family friends house on their new “big screen” TV, which I believe was 25 inches. It was also color though, and that was still rare in those days.
How it all came together I’m not sure, but my stepdad arranged to have Chuck stop by and try to get me interested in wrestling. I was confused and mostly just wanted to watch the football game because I didn’t think wrestling was for me. Once I started to follow the sport closer in junior high, I came to admire the hard work and dedication it takes to just survive in that sport and still do. I still think it wasn’t for me.
I was friends with Bob in high school and spent a good deal of time at Red and Marlys’ house, which was next to the fairgrounds. The older boys were gone by then, but I did hear tales of matches in the downstairs TV room. While Red didn’t necessarily discourage the rowdiness, he wouldn’t let it go too far either.
All that said, Chuck’s most famous match didn't occur in Albert Lea at either the high school wrestling room or Southwest Gym, in a Big Nine gym in Austin, Owatonna, Faribault, etc., or in Ames or even Iowa City.
In fact, it was at Boone State Park, not too far from Ames while Chuck was attending Iowa State and wrestling for the Cyclones. He’d won the NCAA 177-pound title the previous year and the Cyclones won the team title.
And you will not be surprised at all to learn that alcohol was involved.
One evening, a Cyclone teammate bet Chuck a 12-pack that he couldn’t take ‘Old Sammy’, a 14-year-old, 300-pound, 10-point buck who was kept in a pen with a group of does.
Chuck accepted the challenge. His buddy dropped Chuck off and was going to come back in 15 minutes.
Chuck got into the pen with a Bowie knife, and we’ll just cut to the chase and say that Chuck came away the victor. His teammate returned and was anxious to make a quick exit, but Chuck now was determined to keep the buck.
So, he flipped the bloody, lifeless, 300-pound buck over the fence. And then he laid the carcass on his friend’s car, which was not met favorably by his buddy.
Not to worry though as they made amends several days later when they enjoyed some refreshments and barbecued Sammy.
A couple weeks later, Chuck won his second national title, again at 177 pounds and Iowa State repeated as team champions.
That was the second major challenge Chuck had accepted during his time in Ames. The first did take place on a wrestling mat.
The Iowa State freshman team had a dual coming up against Mason City (now North Iowa) Community College. Long before the Internet and social media, a quote in the Globe Gazette newspaper found its way from Mason City to Ames.
Manny Holmes, the 167-pounder for Mason City was quoted as saying "It's too bad Jean won't be down to 167 for this match."
It couldn’t be done now and it’s difficult to imagine it happening then, but Chuck lost 33 1⁄2 pounds in three days to get to 167.
In an era before technical falls, Jean led 17-1 when he pinned Holmes.
Anyway, later in the spring after Chuck’s match with Old Sammy, there was a riot on the Iowa State campus. Chuck was identified as having played a role.
Before long everyone involved determined that Chuck’s time at Iowa State was over.
After a stint in the Army, Chuck went to Adams State, located in Alamosa, Colo.
There, he won NAIA individual titles in 1972 and 1973, and the Grizzlies won the team title in each of those years.
So, in his final two years in high school, he was third and first individually and his team won a state title.
Then, in four years of college wrestling Chuck won four individual national titles and he was on four national champion teams.
But for most people, his most notable match is going to the one that occurred in a state park in central Iowa.