Northern State University Athletics

In 1968, Doug Neuharth was crowned Northern State’s first National Champion in Wresting. Neuharth was an Aberdeen Central graduate who wrestled for the Wolves as a freshman in the 130-pound weight class. He grabbed the Conference Title with a 9-5 decision victory over John Miller of Black Hills State just the week before the NAIA National Wrestling Championships in Alamosa, Colorado. He won three matches en route to a championship match-up with Craig Swenson of River Falls State (Wisconsin). 

Neuharth defeated Swenson, 7-4 to capture the NAIA title. He not only garnered the first National Championship in Wrestling for NSC but also was the first South Dakotan to reach that feat. Northern landed themselves in the top-15 in the NAIA team standings, in large part to Neuharth’s accomplishments. He would also go on to win SDIC Conference Championships in 1968 and 1969. He was selected for the Olympic trials and was the South Dakota College Male Athlete of the Year in 1968. Neuharth was inducted into the Northern State Hall of Fame in the fall 1992.