Carl Zoll

Early career

Zoll often competed in wrestling when carnivals were in the Green Bay area, with sportswriter Red Smith noting that when it was called for someone to wrestle the carnival champion, Zoll would compete and put in a good effort, even if he rarely won. Zoll began wrestling competitively though in 1917 and at the time weighed 180 pounds (82 kg). The Press-Gazette described him as showing excellent speed despite his large size. Trained by Tom Condon, he was classified as a heavyweight and was quickly considered among the top wrestlers at his weight in the area. He often fought at the Turner Hall, which had the largest auditorium in Green Bay and served as the headquarters of a German society, frequently drawing large attendances. In April 1917, he challenged Barney McMillan, the billed Wisconsin state champion, and defeated him in five-and-a-half minutes. After the bout, Condon claimed the Wisconsin heavyweight title for Zoll. Zoll was undefeated early in his career and was considered the "pride of Green Bay" by the Press Gazette. His brother, Martin, sometimes competed in events featuring Zoll as well. Carl tied in a match in April 1918, and then towards the end of the month, he defeated Roy Anderson after coming from behind in what sportswriter George Whitney Calhoun described as one of the more thrilling matches in recent history.

Zoll weighed 197 pounds (89 kg) by October 1918. He started training every day in November for his match against Strangler Hill, a local champion from Davenport, Iowa. He defeated Hill, remaining undefeated, in what the Press-Gazette described as one of the best matches ever to have taken place in Green Bay. In December, Zoll again fought Anderson, who had previously been the only person ever to knock him down, and defeated him; Anderson later declared Zoll to be the best wrestler he ever competed against.

Later career

In January 1919, Zoll defeated Cyclone Burns in an hour-long fight. Later that month, he battled to a draw against Elmer Saunders, as the match was ended after the mat they fought on tore, making it impossible to continue. He fought against Saunders in February and was defeated for the first time in his career. In April, he lost a second time when he was defeated by future world champion Ed Lewis in a bout that lasted half an hour. The Press-Gazette reported that when Zoll had fought Lewis, the latter predicted Zoll had a bright future as a wrestler. However, the Press-Gazette noted that even though Zoll still had a passion for and desire to wrestle, he was expecting to marry shortly and had other responsibilities related to his stone cutting business.

Later, Zoll was trained by former world middleweight champion Jim Barnes and defeated the champion of Appleton, George Gloudemans, in July, which was the second time he had defeated Gloudemans in his career. He defeated Strangler Hill in September 1919; by November, he claimed to have a record of 46–1 and was dubbed the "Wisconsin Wonder" by his manager, Condon. Zoll declared himself to be a future world champion. In December, he fought a rematch against Elmer Saunders, which was declared a draw after neither competitor had fallen after nearly three-and-a-half hours of competing.

In February 1920, the Beaver Dam Argus identified Zoll as one of the most successful light heavyweights in the country. Zoll competed against Toney Barnardi, known as the "Italian champion of the world", and battled to a draw in March 1920. In April, he was defeated in an upset by Young Romanoff. After the fight, Zoll named Ed White his new manager and announced a relocation to Chicago, Illinois. According to the Des Moines Tribune, Zoll was known by the nickname "Flying Dutchman" because of his speed and approach to wrestling. He challenged Helmer Myre for the World Light Heavyweight Championship in August 1920 but was defeated.

The Post-Crescent noted that by January 1921, Zoll had fought many of the best wrestlers in the U.S. and won most of his fights. Later that month, he lost to Strangler Hill for the first time in a match that last 47 minutes. Against Hill, Zoll fell once and then had to forfeit due to an injury he suffered during the match. With his loss to Hill, Zoll also lost his claimed title as Wisconsin champion. Three months later, he competed at an annual event held by the United Spanish War Veterans and defeated Beno, a Hindu wrestler. However, after his loss to Hill, Zoll lost more matches and The Post-Crescent said his name became closely linked with losing. He began competing under the ring name Carl Anderson and fought against Wladek Zbyszko, whose brother was a world champion, in December 1921, but was again defeated.

Zoll continued wrestling in 1922 and 1923, including against heavyweight champion Jim Londos in March 1923, a match that he lost. After being out of training for an extended period, he returned in February 1925 and fought Nazzareno Pogi, the Italian heavyweight champion, but was defeated. Later that year, he began serving as a wrestling coach at the Green Bay YMCA. He continued to compete occasionally up to 1926.