OU To Dedicate Port Robertson Wrestling Center

Feb. 1, 2000

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione announced today dedication plans of the Port Robertson Wrestling Center and the Stan Abel-Tommy Evans Wrestling Room of Champions at the OU Field House on Saturday, Feb. 12, at 11 a.m. Tours and lunch will follow the dedication ceremony. Lunch will cost $10 and those interested need to respond by Monday, Feb. 7 by calling (405) 325-8546. The 1974 national championship team will also be in attendance and will be honored the following day at the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State wrestling dual.

Port Robertson spent nearly 40 years in service of OU student-athletes. Hired as a part-time wrestling coach in 1947, Robertson served the University as wrestling coach, freshman football coach, guidance counselor and assistant athletic director. Robertson coached the Sooner wrestling team from 1947-59 and again during the 1962 season. When he accepted the coaching position, Robertson inherited a program that had not fielded a team since 1941 and had no scholarships. In just four years he led OU to the first of three national championships during his tenure in 1951. The Sooners also captured national championships in 1952 and 1959.

In his 14 years at the helm of the wrestling program, 15 OU wrestlers won individual national championships and the Sooners went undefeated four times (1951, 1952, 1953 and 1959). Robertson also led OU to nine conference championships, including eight consecutive Big Seven titles. He was president of the American Wrestling Coaches and Officials Assocation in 1958 and was inducted into the Helms Coaching Hall of Fame in 1960. Robertson has been honored with OU's Distinguished Service Citation (1976) and OU Athletics Council Award of Merit (1985) and has been inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (1977) and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (1995).

Abel was a three-time All-American as a wrestler, winning Big Eight and national championships in 1959-60. The winningest coach in OU wrestling history, Abel accepted the head coaching job in 1973 and led the Sooners to a national championship in 1974 and four NCAA runners-up finishes. In his 21 seasons, OU claimed 17 top-10 finishes at the NCAA tournament, including 11 in the top five. Abel was named Amateur Wrestling News Man of the Year in 1974 after leading OU to the national championship and 19 wins, a Sooner single-season record. He was named national coach of the year in 1985 and Big Eight coach of the year in 1981 and 1988. He coached 77 All-Americans, 15 national champions and two Olympic gold medalists. Abel was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1990.

Evans won individual national championships in 1952 and 1954 and was named Outstanding Wrestler of the national tournament both seasons. He compiled a 42-1 record and earned All-America honors three times. Evans coached the Sooners from 1960-61 and 1963-72 and compiled the best winning percentage in school history (.775). His teams won national championships in 1960 and 1963 and conference championships in 1960, 1967 and 1968. Evans coached 16 national champions and 55 All-Americans. None of his teams ever finished lower than fifth at the national tournament. Evans was named national coach of the year in 1963 and was elected into the Helms Athletic Hall of Fame in 1965. Wrestling's Man of the Year in 1968, Evans was a charter member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1976.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU To Dedicate Port Robertson Wrestling Center

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