Eastern Washington University Athletics

Coach Curt Byrnes

Eastern won the 1977 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) wrestling championship, representing the school's first national championship at any level and the only team championship at the NAIA level. Eastern was coached by Curt Byrnes and led by the event's "Outstanding Wrestler," Mike Reed and three-time national champion Lanny Davidson. Reed won the 158-pound title and Davidson was the 177-pound champ as both earned All-America honors. Heavyweight Don Wilson and 118-pound Ken Foss were also All-Americans with runner-up finishes. Eastern hosted the event, and edged second-place Grand Valley by 1 3/4 points. The margin probably would have been more if it wasn't for a tournament-ending injury by Jerry Lorton at 126 pounds. Lorton was selected as the Outstanding Wrestler in the Evergreen Conference Championships and was an All-American the year before. Other wrestlers competing at the NAIA Championships were Manual Brown (134 pounds), Al Spaulding (150), Kirk Greer (142), Jerry Allen (167) and Greg Dardon (190).