Jack van Bebber

Jack Francis van Bebber (born July 27, 1907 in Perry , Noble County , Oklahoma , † April 13, 1986 ibid) was an American wrestler.

Career

Jack van Bebber learned to wrestle, like almost all top American wrestlers of his time, in high school and college. He studied and wrestled at Oklahoma State University. From 1929 to 1931 he was unbeaten in all competitions in the light and welterweight classes. During these years he also won the US University Championship (NCAA Championships). At the American Olympic eliminations, he surprisingly lost a fight in the preliminary round, but was still the winner of the elimination. At the 1932 Games in Los Angeles he was then Olympic champion .

During the Second World War, Jack van Bebber served as an infantryman for four years, including three years on the Pacific front. After the war ended, he was employed by the Phillip Petroleum Company for 39 years before retiring and working as a talent scout.

International success

(F = freestyle, We = welterweight, Le = lightweight)

• 1932, gold medal , Olympic Games in Los Angeles , F, We, with victories over Daniel Mac Donald, Canada , Raul Lopez, Mexico , Börge Jensen, Denmark and Eino Augusti Leino , Finland

National successes

• 1929, USA NCAA Champion, F, Le
• 1930, USA NCAA Champion, F, We
• 1931, USA NCAA Champion, F, We

Web links

• Jack van Bebber in the Sports-Reference database (English; archived from the original )