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Mike Houck

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Mike Houck
Personal information
Born1959 (age 64–65)
Home townMapleton, Minnesota, U.S.
Weight90 kg (198 lb)
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportWrestling
EventGreco-Roman
College teamMaranatha Baptist
ClubMinnesota Wrestling Club
TeamUSA
Medal record
Men's Greco-Roman wrestling
Representing the  United States
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1985 Kolbotn 90 kg

Mike Houck (born 1959) is an American former Greco-Roman wrestler.[1] In 1985, he became the first American to win a World Championship in Greco-Roman wrestling, winning the 90 kg title.[2] In 2008, Houck was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.[3]

Early life and education

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Houck wrestled at Robbinsdale High School in Minnesota. He would then attend Maranatha Baptist Bible College, where he won two National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) titles, before turning his attention to Greco-Roman wrestling.[4]

Greco-Roman wrestling career

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Houck won the first ever World Championship in USA Greco-Roman wrestling history, by winning the 90 kg title at the 1985 World Championships in Kolbotn, Norway.

He won three USA Wrestling national Greco-Roman titles and one AAU title. He competed on three U.S. World Teams, and made two World Cup appearances. Houck barely missed the Olympic Games, finishing second at the U.S. Olympic trials in 1984 and 1988.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Hands, Timothy. (March 27, 2019). USA Greco Gold Medal Series Entry #2: Mike Houck. fivepointmove.com. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  2. ^ Finn, Mike. (September 13, 2023). History of USA Greco-Roman wrestling at past Worlds/Olympics. win-magazine.com. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  3. ^ Mike Houck. nwhof.org. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  4. ^ Four inducted into wrestling hall of fame. twincities.com. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  5. ^ Seven inducted into the Bartelma Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame. theguillotine.com. Retrieved March 15, 2024.