User:CSFunder/sandbox/Bob "Al" Walker

'"Bob "Al" Walker began his wrestling career in 1968 at Fountain Valley High School, California. In 1970, Bob was National Champion in the 191-lb Class in the USWF Greco Roman Wrestling.  In 1971, Bob was National Champion in the 191-lb Class at the AAU Naotional Greco Roman Championships and was named Outstanding Wrestler.  By 1973, Bob had moved up to the 220-lb weight class where he was National Champion at the Junior National Greco Roman Championhips.

The University of Alabama Wrestling Team, coached by Jim Tanara, recruited Bob. At Alabama, Bob was three time SEC Heavyweight Champion (1973, 1974, and 1975).

After graduating from the University of Alabama, Bob continued to compete. He placed second in the 1976 Greco Roman Olympic Trials and was the alternate heavyweight for the Greco Roman Olympic Wrestling Team. In 1977, Bob won the Silver Medal in the heavyweight division at the Pan Am Greco Roman Championships. Bob won two National Championships in 1977, in Greco Roman Wrestling and in Sambo Wrestling. In 1978, he again won the National Championship in the heavyweight division in Sambo Wrestling.

In 1979, at the Cerro Pelado Tournament in Cuba, Bob took third place in Freestyle Wrestling and first place in Greco Roman Wrestling.

In 1979, Bob was a Bronze Medalist at the World Championships in Greco Roman Wrestling

,.

Bob wrestled for Fountain Valley High School, California, before being recruited by the University of Alabama Wrestling Team. After winning three SEC Championships at Alabama, Bob joined Athletes in Action, Long Beach, California team where he traveled to Iran, Bulgaria, USSR, and Poland.

After his distinguished athletic career, Bob became involved with the administrative side of promoting amateur wrestling. from 1988-2001, he served as the Area Director and State Chairman for the USA Wrestling Board. In 1985, Bob founded the World Class Wrestling Club which introduced wrestling throughout the state of Florida and grew to over 300 members. The World Class Wrestling Club won five State Championships with over 100 individual State Championships.

Bob becamed a Bronze Level Certified Instructor and implemented Coaches Training. He relocated State Tournaments from high schools to Convention Centers and Arenas. From his efforts, Forida was selected to host the Greco Roman World Team Trials. Bob served as the Southeastern Representative to the USA Wrestling Committee of State Organizations.

Bob "Al" Walker's wrestling accomplishments and contributions have been recognized by his induction into the Florida Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003

. and into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2015 ,ref.' '' '.