Who was on the Briar Cliff College power lifting team in 1974?

Answer 1

From Campus Newspaper excerpt, March 29, 1974: The Briar Cliff Powerlifting team last weekend placed 2nd. in the 1974 Collegiate Championships at Long Beach State University. Whats a small college (700 enrollment) doing competing against Michigan State, Michigan, Villanova, University of Southern California and institutions of ten, twenty, and thirty thousand students ? Here now Tom Baechle, coach of the Briar Cliff Powerlifters answered that question: "We're one of the top teams in the nation and we made the trip with the intention of winning the national title." Although they fell short of this goal by placing 2nd. with 45 team points, just 5 points behind Villanova University, their performance was remarkable, with the next closest team being Cal State in third with 26 points, despite Briar Cliff not being represented by athletes at the 242 lbs., and Heavyweight classes. In the end this proved to be the difference maker between Briar Cliff and Villanova for the team championship.

The Briar Cliff team members listed by weight class and placing include: 123 lbs. Tom Tedrow (1st.), 132 lbs. Joe Tedrow (4th.), 148 lbs. Chuck Thatcher (4th), Tim Woodle (5th.), 165 lbs. Kevin Heinrichs (5th.) 181 lbs. Joe Handlos (3rd.) Ted Gaul (6th.), 198 lbs. Steve Wendehl (5th.), and Greg Demon (6th.). Bob Bjerke (123 lbs.) was unable to compete due to a knee injury. Teammates Rich Clark, and Jeff Paulson also accompanied the team.

Their accomplishment, however, is not totally "unbelievable" when one considers that Briar Cliff has not lost a team championship for the past three years while competing against Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Canadian teams. Also their 6th. place showing in the 1973 Collegiate Powerlifting Championships, at Brigham Young University in Provo Utah, should have provided additional food for thought.

Through the direction of and expertise of Coach Baechle, what began as an effort to promote good physical conditioning through weight training materialized into what is now a state, regional , and nationally ranked powerlifting team from Sioux City's own Briar Cliff College; a phenomenal team of athletes who have not been recruited or enticed by any kind of financial assistance.