Greg Hansen's top 10 unbreakable Tucson sports records
- Updated
Star sports columnist Greg Hansen counts downΒ the top 10 winning streaks in Tucson sports history.Β
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Editorβs note: This summer, Star columnist Greg Hansen is counting down the top 10 of just about everything related to Tucson sports.
Todayβs list: the top 10 winning streaks in Tucson sports history.
Arizonaβs 81-game basketball winning streak at Bear Down Gym has been handed down from generation to generation as something of a mythical dimension.
From December 1945 until December 1952, the Wildcats never lost at the old gymnasium. But on further inspection, the streak is more legitimately 67, which is a streak to be admired anytime, anywhere by any generation.
It was the almost unreachable figure of 81, listed for posterity in UA record books, that continues to make it shine. Not the more legit 67.
The list of 81 straight victories includes 14 flawed opponents: two games against the Los Angeles Club for the Deaf; a win over Phoenix Webbco, an amateur team put together by the Del Webb retirement community builders; the University of Mexico; seven games against San Diego-based Marine and Naval forces; and two victories in 1947 against the UA Alumni team and another against Chihuahua University.
In short, coach Fred Enkeβs long winning streak, 67 or 81, whichever you prefer, didnβt crack our top five.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Finch was already an established sophomore, 49-10 overall, when she won her final eight games of the 2000 season. She then rolled to the 2001 national championship, 32-0 overall, perfect, running her personal winning streak to 40.
Finch set the NCAA record of 51 straight on Feb. 24, 2002, beating Cal-Northridge 6-0 at Hillenbrand Stadium. Finch had rolled to 60 straight in early April when No. 1 UCLA arrived in Tucson. The then-largest crowd in Hillenbrand history, 3,161, watched the Bruins take down Finchβs streak, 6-5.
βAt least it was a legit loss,β she said, spilling a few tears. She would finish the season 31-5.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
After losing to UTEP in the first and last NCAA Tournament game the Wildcats played at McKale, March 1987, Lute Olsonβs team went undefeated at home for four years, 64-0 overall. The streak reached 71 when No. 2 UCLA arrived on Jan. 11, 1992. Don MacLean scored 38 points and the Bruins won 89-87 on a short jumper by Darrick Martin with 1.4 seconds remaining.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The Badgers won back-to-back state titles in 1948 and 1949, finishing 28-0 and 23-0. Alas, in the 1950 opener, THS was beaten by Nogales. Bryan "Bud" Doolen was head basketball coach at Tucson High from 1935 and 1954.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Sunnyside High School senior-to-be Roman Bravo-Young is 130-0 with three state wrestling championships.Β The state record is believed to be 178 in succession.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
As an Arizona sophomore in 2002, Ochoa set an NCAA record by winning seven consecutive tournaments, capped by the Sun Devil Ping Invitational in which she had a hole-in-one.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Or 67, depending on 14 non-NCAA teams that played at Bear Down from 1945-52.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The Blue Devils practically wrote and rewrote the state wrestling record books. The only one in dispute is the 187-match streak from 1976-92. Some say the Blue Devils lost No. 64, when it forfeited a 1988 match to Flowing Wells because of an ineligible wrestler. Either way, Sunnyside won the next 123.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
One could sense something special was in the works when the Wildcats went 17-0 to finish the 1996 season, including the national championship. Arizona opened 30-0 a year later, 47 straight, before losing to Oregon State in a Southern California tournament.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The irony of Schimpfβs streak, the longest in school baseball history, is that it ended in the NCAA Tournament against Northern Colorado when the No. 1-ranked Wildcats were 58-5 and heavily favored. He won his final seven decisions of β73 and his first 13 of β74.
- Greg Hansen Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
You canβt say the Badgers of 1943-45 ducked anybody. Their three consecutive state championships were sandwiched by a loss to Santa Barbara (California) High to end the 1942 season, and a loss to Austin (Texas) High in a game in El Paso to start the 1946 season.
Editorβs note: This summer, Star columnist Greg Hansen is counting down the top 10 of just about everything related to Tucson sports.
Todayβs list: the top 10 winning streaks in Tucson sports history.
Arizonaβs 81-game basketball winning streak at Bear Down Gym has been handed down from generation to generation as something of a mythical dimension.
From December 1945 until December 1952, the Wildcats never lost at the old gymnasium. But on further inspection, the streak is more legitimately 67, which is a streak to be admired anytime, anywhere by any generation.
It was the almost unreachable figure of 81, listed for posterity in UA record books, that continues to make it shine. Not the more legit 67.
The list of 81 straight victories includes 14 flawed opponents: two games against the Los Angeles Club for the Deaf; a win over Phoenix Webbco, an amateur team put together by the Del Webb retirement community builders; the University of Mexico; seven games against San Diego-based Marine and Naval forces; and two victories in 1947 against the UA Alumni team and another against Chihuahua University.
In short, coach Fred Enkeβs long winning streak, 67 or 81, whichever you prefer, didnβt crack our top five.
Finch was already an established sophomore, 49-10 overall, when she won her final eight games of the 2000 season. She then rolled to the 2001 national championship, 32-0 overall, perfect, running her personal winning streak to 40.
Finch set the NCAA record of 51 straight on Feb. 24, 2002, beating Cal-Northridge 6-0 at Hillenbrand Stadium. Finch had rolled to 60 straight in early April when No. 1 UCLA arrived in Tucson. The then-largest crowd in Hillenbrand history, 3,161, watched the Bruins take down Finchβs streak, 6-5.
βAt least it was a legit loss,β she said, spilling a few tears. She would finish the season 31-5.
After losing to UTEP in the first and last NCAA Tournament game the Wildcats played at McKale, March 1987, Lute Olsonβs team went undefeated at home for four years, 64-0 overall. The streak reached 71 when No. 2 UCLA arrived on Jan. 11, 1992. Don MacLean scored 38 points and the Bruins won 89-87 on a short jumper by Darrick Martin with 1.4 seconds remaining.
The Badgers won back-to-back state titles in 1948 and 1949, finishing 28-0 and 23-0. Alas, in the 1950 opener, THS was beaten by Nogales. Bryan "Bud" Doolen was head basketball coach at Tucson High from 1935 and 1954.
Sunnyside High School senior-to-be Roman Bravo-Young is 130-0 with three state wrestling championships.Β The state record is believed to be 178 in succession.
As an Arizona sophomore in 2002, Ochoa set an NCAA record by winning seven consecutive tournaments, capped by the Sun Devil Ping Invitational in which she had a hole-in-one.
Or 67, depending on 14 non-NCAA teams that played at Bear Down from 1945-52.
The Blue Devils practically wrote and rewrote the state wrestling record books. The only one in dispute is the 187-match streak from 1976-92. Some say the Blue Devils lost No. 64, when it forfeited a 1988 match to Flowing Wells because of an ineligible wrestler. Either way, Sunnyside won the next 123.
One could sense something special was in the works when the Wildcats went 17-0 to finish the 1996 season, including the national championship. Arizona opened 30-0 a year later, 47 straight, before losing to Oregon State in a Southern California tournament.
The irony of Schimpfβs streak, the longest in school baseball history, is that it ended in the NCAA Tournament against Northern Colorado when the No. 1-ranked Wildcats were 58-5 and heavily favored. He won his final seven decisions of β73 and his first 13 of β74.
You canβt say the Badgers of 1943-45 ducked anybody. Their three consecutive state championships were sandwiched by a loss to Santa Barbara (California) High to end the 1942 season, and a loss to Austin (Texas) High in a game in El Paso to start the 1946 season.
Tags
View this profile on Instagram#ThisIsTucson π΅ (@this_is_tucson) β’ Instagram photos and videos
Most viewed stories
-
Over 30 fun events happening in Tucson March 27-29!
-
Bloomfest celebrates palo verde blooms and Tucson culture
-
New Eats! 20 new restaurants that opened up in Tucson this winter π½οΈ
-
5 basement bars and speakeasies to visit when you want a fun drink and cool AC
-
Snickerdoodle pancakes all the time! Baja Cafe is creating boxed mixes featuring their beloved pancake flavors
-
A Jets fan and a Bills fan walk into a bar: My tasty journey at Anchor Bar
-
Over 70 fun events happening in Tucson in April π‘π°
-
Over 40 exciting events to check out this weekend! π±
-
OaxaRico opened their first brick-and-mortar, serving up delicious mole and gorditas