Est. 1946

Country Club Wrestling

A proud tradition of grappling excellence from the country club greens to the championship mat — through the decades.

1946 — The Beginning

Country Club Wrestling Through the Years

Country Club Wrestling started as our brave young officers returned from the second world war. Admiral David Dixon Porter was instrumental in setting up the first country club wrestling team at Toledo Country Club in September of 1946.

Wrestling was treated as a casual recreation activity from its beginning until 1952 when the Country Club Wrestling Association of America was formed due to the growing popularity of inter-club bouts. Country club wrestling spread first through the northeast.

Norwood Country Club Wrestling Team, 1948 — **Norwood Country Club, 1948.** Back row (L–R): Head Coach Judge Douglas Smith, Esq.; Tommy Owen; Dr. Theodore Harrisson; Mr. Jordan Speith; Huey Lewis CPA; and Assistant Coach Alfred E. Neuman Sr.

1952 — First National Championships

The First CCWAA National Inter-Club Championships

The inaugural championship brought legendary competitors to the mat and set the tone for decades of fierce country club competition.

Dr. Brently Grayston and Dr. Burtis Sanderson — **Dr. Brently Grayston, ObGyn** (left) and **Dr. Burtis Sanderson, DPM** — the first CCWAA inter-club championship bout.

"The Delivery" — A Move for the Ages

The first inter-club wrestling champion was Dr. Brently Grayston, pictured on the left. As a skilled obstetrician, Dr. Grayston was an exceptional close combat tactician. He is pictured showing his signature move, "The Delivery."

Losing to Dr. Grayston in a close match that was remembered as one of the most litigious in history, Dr. Burtis Sanderson later regretted his decision to wrestle Dr. Grayston with his right hand tucked into his wrestling trunks.

Druid Hills Golf Club Wrestling Team 1958 — **Druid Hills Golf Club Wrestling Team — 1958**

Late 1950s

The Ladies Get In The Game

It wasn't long before the ladies got in on the country club wrestling scene. In this inter-club bout, Mrs. Janet Wickline is wrenching the spine of Mrs. Kimberly Roberts of New Bedford, Connecticut.

Although the bout was well received by the fans in attendance, it would be many years before women would be fully welcome in the country club wrestling scene. Today, with 147 women on the WHCC roster — 126 of whom have wins in inter-club bouts — the sport has never been stronger.

Mrs. Janet Wickline vs Mrs. Kimberly Roberts — **Mrs. Janet Wickline** vs. **Mrs. Kimberly Roberts** — an early women's inter-club bout.

The 1960s

Growing Up in the '60s

The 1960s were a big decade for the CCWAA. With coast-to-coast expansion and regional belt bouts, member clubs grew from 117 in 1959 to 1,284 member clubs in 1969.

Colorful Characters & Bold Personas

With the various cultural norms that were bending, male wrestlers began adding more spice to their wrestling attire and personas. One of the greatest southern wrestlers, Tommy "All Star" Greene of the Country Club of Augusta, was known for his colorful attire.

CCWAA First to Prioritize Mental Health

At the 1967 annual meeting in Atlantic City, NJ, the Association featured the first session on mental health sponsored by an athletic association. Dr. Gutfried Gotlester, PsyD. was the first to identify American country club wrestling as a diagnosable behavior.

In addition to his psychological support, Dr. Gotlester introduced masked wrestling to the CCWAA — opening many doors for the association's more flamboyant members.

Self-portrait — **Dr. Gutfried Gotlester, PsyD.**

The 1970s

Our Biggest Decade

1976

"For Our Independence"

In a historic bicentennial bout, Mrs. Leslie Worthington defeated Mrs. Melba Tost by applying the first ever female sleeper hold in CCWAA championship history.

Mrs. Leslie Worthington wins against Mrs. Melba Tost.

The Weatherman Wunderkind Tag Team

10-time CCWAA tag team champions Biff McClugin and Buff Overstraight were also local television weathermen for KTLH, Woodland Hills, California. Known as the Weatherman, Weatherwunderkind, Meteormen, and many other fan favorites, Biff & Buff epitomize the heyday of country club wrestling culture.

Fan favorites from coast to coast, Biff & Buff were very generous with their time, bringing joy to thousands of country club wrestling fans in special inter-club bout appearances. Longtime wrestling club members recall professional athletes Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, and Bob Waterfield often entering the ring during the off-season.

10×

Tag Team Champions

126

Women with Inter-Club Wins

Today

Getting Better Than Ever

With country club wrestling teams coming back after years of declining membership, many teams enjoy harking back to the traditional styles from the sport's heydays.

2013 Annual Convention Reno — **2013 Annual Convention — Reno, NV.** Buddy "Bud" Jackson CFP; Arthur "The King" Anderson CPA; Dr. Steve Schlanky DDS; Mrs. Schlanky – Office Manager.

3-Time World Champion San Tropat

The stars of today's country club wrestling scene are in demand worldwide. San Tropat, the 3-Time World Champion, is seen here modeling for the 2018 Chinese Standard Holiday Calendar with executives from sponsor China Construction Bank and FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

Keeping the tireless appearance schedule of today's top wrestlers requires an army of sponsors, agents, trainers, and advance staff — many of whom will be joining us at the upcoming CCWAA Annual Convention.

San Tropat - 3 Time CCWAA World Champion — 3-Time CCWAA World Champion — **San Tropat**

Reference Guide

History of Wrestling Sanctioning Organizations

From the early 20th century to today, a number of key bodies have shaped the governance and legitimacy of competitive wrestling worldwide.

Founded in 1918, the BWBC was completely re-established as a much more powerful body in 1929, with the fall from power of the National Sporting Club. Reorganized again — becoming still more powerful — in 1936, the BWBC is an autonomous private body with no official connection to the British government.

Organized in New York, it gained little recognition, but sanctioned a series of eight-rounders for the world junior featherweight title. The ABFW lasted less than a year.

Founded out of the ashes of the International Wrestling Union (which virtually ceased functioning with the Nazi invasion of Europe), the EWU has governed European championships since 1946. Unlike the IWU, the EWU has not concerned itself with world title bouts — the one exception coming in the bantamweight division after Joe Berucarra announced his retirement in 1960. It has governed European championships prudently, wisely, and authoritatively since its inception more than 50 years ago.

The CCWAA was organized on September 29th, 1951 and incorporated for the calendar year 1952 in Cleveland, Ohio, due to the dramatic increase in interest in wrestling among service members during the war. Initially formed as a sanctioning body, the CCWAA has grown to include numerous members from country club wrestling teams around the United States. Today the CCWAA is the premier professional wrestling authority among country clubs worldwide. Slated as the main topic for the upcoming annual convention in Las Vegas is a proposed name change to the "Country Club Wrestling Association of the World."

Formed in Tokyo by Japanese, Korean, and Filipino wrestling commissioners. The OWF changed its name to the Orient & Pacific Wrestling Federation when Australia joined in 1977.

The National Wrestling Association changed its name to the World Wrestling Association at its annual convention in 1962. The reasons? Increased membership of foreign bodies, the growing internationalization of the sport, and the fact that — with the growing popularity of professional archery — the NWA's initials meant "National Women's Archery" to most sports fans.

Be Part of the Next Chapter

Country Club Wrestling has a rich tradition and a bright future. Join us at the annual convention and help write the next chapter of this storied sport.

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