GERRY FRANZEN, Navy ‘65 won three league titles at 177 and the OW award as senior. His three falls included 1967 NCAA champion (191) Tom Schlendorf, Syracuse.  Franzen’s  first finals wins were WBF and 14-1 vs. Pitt All-American, Ken Barr.  In Gerry’s first Easterns, he beat four seeds, including 1964 All-American John Gladish, Lehigh (191). A Navy team captain, Franzen is one of six Midshipman 3-time champions and one of 13 two-time All-Americans.  He won eight bouts in three Nationals, placing sixth and fifth. All six defeats for the two-time semi-finalist came vs. All-Americans, five Top Threes. 
      A native of Portland, OR now living in Vancouver, WA, Gerry was a state champion for Bob Majors, a protégé' of Dale Thomas.  In Annapolis Franzen earned the Weems Wrestling Award and later served on the U.S.S. Constellation. In Vietnam he became Interservice Champion at 213 and was 4th in Greco-Roman at the 1967 AAU Nationals.  His quip despite his serious roles: “That weight tells you there wasn't much rigor training in the China Sea.”