Inductees

After coming from Europe, Wenzel started wrestling at Polytechnic HS in 1950. After high school, he wrestled at the Los Angeles Y.M.C.A. until he joined the U.S. armed forces where he and two other wrestlers stayed, coached and competed for a military service wrestling team from 1954-1956. It is here that he exploded on the International level, representing the USA at the World Championships in Japan. His 4th place medal in 1954 was the first for a U.S. wrestler at the event. He was an All Armed Services Wrestling Champion in both 1955 and 1956.

In 1955 he won Gold in Freestyle on the USA team at the Pan American Games. He also won Gold in the U.S. Nationals in Greco-Roman. In 1956 and 1958, Wenzel also won Gold at the U.S. National Freestyle Championships. He was also a National Y.M.C.A. Champion in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman techniques. Along with his wrestling in the United States, he also wrestled in Europe.
Wenzel was a German National Champion in Freestyle in 1955, and he wrestled for Germany in the European Championships in 1958.

After his military service, Wenzel coached and wrestled for 20 more years at the Los Angeles Y.M.C.A., placing second five times in the National Wrestling Championships in Freestyle and Greco-Roman. He won 12 California Senior A.A.U. Wrestling Championships, and he was a Pacific Coast Wrestling Champion six times. In 1975, he started and organized the Los Angeles Y.M.C.A. “Old Timers” Reunion which he directed until 1995 when it was handed off to Jaques Fernandez who continues the event. Wenzel was inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007.