Western Colorado University Athletics

A national champion wrestler was one of three individuals entering the Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame during the 15th induction ceremony Oct. 2, 2009. Jack Garrison won the NAIA championship in 1981 in the 150-pound class.

“Although my father, the late Tracy Borah, is not here to endorse the nomination for Jack, he would whole heartily stand before you and state there is no finer individual who deserves this honor  of being inducted into the Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame,” Candi Borah said in her nomination letter. “Jack’s unique, tenacious ability to be the outstanding wrestler he was helped mold Jack into the person he is today. My dad believed in Jack not only on the mat but as a person.”

Garrison went undefeated at 25-0 as the 1977 state champion at Montrose High School. He earned the All-American AAU Scholastic Award in 1977 after he finished his career with a 125-7 record and 18 tournament championships. Garrison also finished third in the 1975 state tournament.

Garrison went 125-9 with three state titles and 18 tournament titles in freestyle wrestling during his prep career. He was named the outstanding wrestler in 12 tournaments. Garrison went 12-0 a member of the 1977 United States All-State Cultural Exchange Wrestling Colorado team that traveled to Japan. He also placed second at the AAU Junior Olympics in the freestyle in 1976.

Garrison received a full-ride scholarship to Colorado State and was a two-time Western Athletic Conference champion, Mountain Intercollegiate Wrestling Association champion and NCAA Division I national qualifier with the Rams through the 1978-80 seasons. He went 97-12 and won eight tournaments during his three-year career.

Garrison transferred to Western State for his senior season to compete under Tracy Borah, but could only compete as an unattached athlete until after the winter break due to transfer regulations. In his open season before the spring semester, Garrison defeated a Division I All-American and placed second in the Cowboy Open in the 177-pound class. He moved back to the 150-pound class for the season in January.

In going for his third MIWA title, Garrison injured his knee in the semifinal match but managed to win the match in overtime. He was forced to forfeit the championship match because of his knee in what was believed a season-ending injury.

Garrison managed to practice when he could and wrestled in the RMAC tournament. He reinjured the knee during a semifinal win, but was again forced to forfeit the championship match to a wrestler he had defeated earlier.

In the two weeks leading up to the NAIA championships, Garrison conditioned and trained as best as he could without aggravating his knee. He won all his matches in the national tournament by technical fall, fall or wide margin except for his semifinal match. Garrison went on to become the first Western State national wrestling champion in 15 years and led the Mountaineers to a fourth-place finish.

Garrison remained at Western State for the next four years as an assistant coach for Borah and helped coached four different All-Americans to multiple All-America titles. The Mountaineers finished ninth at the national tournament in 1985.

Garrison continued coaching after he left Western State and eventually became the head coach at Montrose High School in 2001. In eight seasons, he coached the Indians to four Southwestern League Championships and several state tournament appearances.