Former Spartan All-American Mike Potts Passes Away
3/26/2021 10:04:00 AM | Wrestling
Two-time All-American still holds fastest fall in Big Ten Championship match.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Former Michigan State wrestling All-American Mike Potts has passed away. He was 60 (1960-2021).
A four-year letterwinner (1981-84) under Hall of Fame Coach Grady Peninger, Potts earned All-American honors in 1982 at 190 pounds and in 1984 at heavyweight. Potts won the Big Ten Championship at heavyweight in 1984, pinning Al Jenson of Minnesota in 43 seconds, a mark that still presently stands as the fastest fall in a Big Ten Championship match.
A native of Coventry, Ohio, Potts helped the Spartans to a ninth-place finish at the 1984 NCAA Championships, where Potts earned All-American accolades after finishing eighth at heavyweight. Potts was also eighth at 190 pounds at the 1982 NCAA Championships.
Potts is still tied for the No. 4 spot in the MSU wrestling career wins list with 120 wins, as well as tied for the No. 17 spot on MSU wrestling's history for NCAA Tournament wins with 10 wins. He also is tied for the school record for falls in a single season, with 21 in 1983-84 season, as well as the No. 10 spot for season wins with 38 in the 1983-84 season.
Up until his passing, Potts remained a huge supporter of Michigan State Wrestling and Michigan State Athletics.
Service arrangements are pending.
A four-year letterwinner (1981-84) under Hall of Fame Coach Grady Peninger, Potts earned All-American honors in 1982 at 190 pounds and in 1984 at heavyweight. Potts won the Big Ten Championship at heavyweight in 1984, pinning Al Jenson of Minnesota in 43 seconds, a mark that still presently stands as the fastest fall in a Big Ten Championship match.
A native of Coventry, Ohio, Potts helped the Spartans to a ninth-place finish at the 1984 NCAA Championships, where Potts earned All-American accolades after finishing eighth at heavyweight. Potts was also eighth at 190 pounds at the 1982 NCAA Championships.
Potts is still tied for the No. 4 spot in the MSU wrestling career wins list with 120 wins, as well as tied for the No. 17 spot on MSU wrestling's history for NCAA Tournament wins with 10 wins. He also is tied for the school record for falls in a single season, with 21 in 1983-84 season, as well as the No. 10 spot for season wins with 38 in the 1983-84 season.
Up until his passing, Potts remained a huge supporter of Michigan State Wrestling and Michigan State Athletics.
Service arrangements are pending.
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