Casey Fredericks, head wrestling coach at Ohio State from 1948-76, died Sunday. He was 90.
During Fredericks' tenure as coach of the Buckeyes, his teams compiled a 136-133-13 record, for a .505 winning percentage.
Fredericks coached one NCAA champ, Dave Reinbolt, who won the 167-pound title at the 1966 NCAAs. Six of his wrestlers earned NCAA All-American honors. In addition to Dave Reinbolt, other Buckeye All-Americans: Fred McLean (157 pounds) and Bill Miller (heavyweight) in 1951, Gary Joseph (123 lbs) in 1963, Jim Humphrey (134 lbs) in 1972, and Bill Reinbolt (177 lbs) in 1973.
One of the highlights during Fredericks' career was guiding the Scarlet and Gray to its second Big Ten Conference title in 1951. The long-time coach can also lay claim to a number of individual Big Ten champs, including Warren Jones (145 pounds) in 1948, Bryce Keogh (155 lbs) in 1949 and 1951, Bill Miller in 1950 and 1951, Dave Camaione (123 lbs) in 1960, Roger Young (130 lbs) in 1968, and Jim Humphrey in 1972.
In addition, Fredericks was the first Buckeye head coach to eclipse 100 wins (136).
Fredericks was born in Port Wentworth, Georgia and attended Hammond High in Indiana, where he class president and a two-time state wrestling champ, with an undefeated record. He wrestled at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where he was a two-time Big Ten champion at 121 pounds in 1941, and at 128 lbs in 1942, and two-time team captain for the Boilermakers.
After graduating from Purdue with a bachelor of science degree in education in 1942, Fredericks joined the Marine Corps, advancing to the rank of major and earning a Commanding General Citation for action on Iwo Jima and a Presidential Citation for action at Saipan.
Fredericks is a member of the Purdue University Athletics and Ohio Wrestling halls of fame.
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