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Former Coach, Two Former Wrestlers Receive Lifetime Service Award From National Wrestling Hall of Fame

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Former wrestler and head coach at Cal Poly, Lennis Cowell, along with two former wrestlers, Ken Bos and Kent Wyatt, have been selected to receive the “Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award” from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The Lifetime Service to Wrestling is given in recognition of years of dedication to the development of leadership and citizenship in young people through the sport of ...

Published May 29th, by B. Thurmond

Cowell served as head coach of the Mustangs for 18 seasons before retiring in 2003.

During his tenure as the head coach, Cowell recorded 12 winning records in dual matches, 14 Pac-10 Conference individual champions, eight Division I All-Americans and three top-five individual place winners at the NCAA Division I Championships. Cowell tallied a 167-147-8 dual match record in his 18-year career.

As a collegiate wrestler for the Mustangs Cowell twice earned All-American honors after finishing third in the 1965 NCAA Division II Championships in the 130-pound weight class and again in 1966 with a fourth in the same weight class. The 1966 team won the school's first ever NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship.

Following his collegiate career, Cowell was an assistant at Cal Poly before becoming the head coach at Cuesta Community College. He had a one-year stint with Allan Hancock College in 1972 before returning to Cuesta in 1973.

Cowell then went on to coach at the high school level, coaching at San Luis Obispo High School from 1974-78 before beginning a seven-year run at Clovis West High School.

At Clovis West, Cowell won state titles in 1983 and '84 and amassed an 85-dual match winning streak. In 1985, he won the National High School Coach of the Year award and earned Southern Regional Coach of the Year honors in 1983.

Bos was a three time All American at Cal Poly while winning the NCAA College Division as an individual and finishing fourth at the University Division. He wrestled at Cal Poly from 1967-69 and posted a 47-18-2 overall record at the 177 lbs class.

After his career at Cal Poly, Bos worked as an assistant coach for two years at Santa Barbara High School before going to Rio Hondo College to become head coach. Under his direction and leadership he led the Rio Hondo College wrestling team to eight Conference Championships, three Regional Championships, two State Championships and he coached 34 JC All-Americans.

Wyatt posted a 36-1 overall record at Cal Poly during the 1967-68 at 145, earning All-American honors. Wyatt won the NCAA College Division as an individual and placed four in the University Division.

He was a two-time state junior college champion at 147 lbs. while attending El Comino Community College.

The Hall of Fame Honors Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, at the Sun and Sail Club II in Lake Forest, Calif.