September 19 - James Beltchhttps://kwca.podomatic.com/Jim Beltch was a 1958 graduate of Goodland High School where he was also the Senior Class President. During his final season on the mat, Jim won the State Championship in the 98-pound weight class while leading the Cowboys to a fourth-place team finish in the era when Kansas competed in a single-class system in wrestling.
He went on to compete for Ft. Hays State University. Beltch became a three-time Missouri Valley Conference Champion. As a junior in 1961, he placed third at the NAIA National tournament in Golden, Colorado at 115 pounds. He followed that up with a Runner-up performance in the same weight class when Winona, Minnesota hosted in 1962. At the time Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania was a powerhouse. The Bald Eagles were led by Beltch's finals opponent, Gray Simons. Simons, who still gets mentioned among the all-time greats of wrestling in the United States, was a four-time NAIA National champion, three-time NCAA Champion, and two-time Olympian.
