Mike Houck

Mike Houck
Personal information
Born (1959-04-29) April 29, 1959 (age 67)
Home townRobbinsdale, Minnesota, U.S.
Weight90 kg (198 lb)
SpouseBonnie Houck
Sport
CountryUnited States
SportWrestling
Event
Greco-Roman
College teamMaranatha Baptist
ClubMinnesota Wrestling Club
TeamUSA
Medal record
Men's Greco-Roman wrestling
Representing the  United States
World Championships
Gold medal – first place1985 Kolbotn90 kg

Mike Houck (born April 29, 1959) is an American former Greco-Roman wrestler. In 1985, he became the first American to win a World Championship in Greco-Roman wrestling, winning the 90 kg title. In 2008, Houck was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.

Early life and education

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 focusing on Greco-Roman wrestling.

Greco-Roman wrestling career

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

He won three U.S. 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.

References

  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.