Wabash College Athletics

Probably the most decorated athlete in Howe High School history, Matt Langenbacher entered Wabash in the Fall of 1978, fresh from Indianapolis City Ath­lete of the Year honors. Matt wrestled for Coach Jim Arvin at Howe and qualified for the State three times, placing fourth, third, and second. He competed in wrestling nine years, five as a schoolboy and four as a Little Giant, compiling a record of 102-8-1 in high school to become a highly sought-after student­ athlete. Matt chose Wabash over 40-odd colleges and quickly contin­ued to excel on the collegiate level for the Little Giants. The limber, unorthodox and indefatigable Langenbacher, with his tremendous con­ditioning and fighting spirit, put Wabash on the map in wrestling. His opponents couldn't believe him to look at him, but they soon grew to fear and respect him. He 'also lettered in cross country, tennis, and track while a student here, and became one of the most popular men on campus with his wide range of interest and humane concern. Matt left Wabash after his sophomore year to live in California with a sister while studying the Church of Scientology under his major professor, Hall Peebles. The following year, he came back to finish his last two years with renewed energy and ended up breaking all of Wabash's individual wrestling records: Three-time MVP, 87-12 record, and 423 team points; Four-time NCAA qualifier, three-time Little State Cham­pion at 142 pounds and twice Outstanding Wrestler in that tourna­ment; 3-1 record vs. Notre Dame; four-year team record of 57-6; Most Sweat Club points in a season and in a career and best individual record at 142 pounds. His senior year he really turned some heads when he led the Little Giants to third place at the Wheaton Invita­tional Tournament, only one point away from Wisconsin-Parkside and nine points away from Drake University with his individual champion­ship at 142. Matt's fighting spirit and work ethic in the classroom defeated dyslexia, a condition that was unknown throughout his grade school years, when it was finally discovered that he could not read with the rest of his class. Matt finished Wabash with a B-average with the help of his professors in the use of tapes of books and oral exami­nations · What a College this is! The hardest worker Max Servies ever had in his 35 years with the "Victory is Sweat Club", Matt Langenbacher is truly Some Little Giant! He has been employed with the Warren Township Fire Department as a Captain, EMT, and Hazardous Materi­als Coordinator for the past several years· an occupation of which he had always dreamed.