Inductees

Northrup wrestled for four years at the University of Washington and graduated in 1933. During his 45 years of wrestling on all levels, his record is estimated at 1,500 wins and 200 losses. He was an alternate on the U.S. Olympic Wrestling team in 1948.
“Doc” won four National AAU Championships: in 1943 at 160.5 pounds, in 1944 at 174 pounds, in 1945 at 160.5, and the last one was in 1955 (after serving his country with distinction in the military) when he was 47. He may be the oldest man to ever win a National Wrestling title. He won the prestigious Far Western Wrestling Tournament 21 consecutive years!

Along with Wrestling Hall of Fame member Don Scrimnger, Doc helped to found, wrestled and coached for a team for the San Francisco Olympic Club in the late-1940’s. The SF Olympic Club’s Wrestling Team won the AAU team championships in 1962, 1963 and in 1968, developing several U.S. Olympic wrestlers, including Bronze Medalist Daniel Brand and his son, Ben Northrup.

He won a Gold Medal in the Pan American Games of 1951, and he followed with a Silver Medal in the 1955 Pan Am Games. Doc was a coach for the U.S. Team that participated in an international (World) tournament in Turkey in 1950. He coached through four decades until five years after his retirement from competitive wrestling — at age 62!
“Northrup was unusually strong, and if you were not careful, wrestling with him could be very painful,” said 1960 and 1964 Olympian Daniel Brand. “He taught several of us his signature front head and arm lock which was very successful in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.”

“Besides being extremely adept at the sport of wrestling, Doc took exceptional joy in being on the mat, always sporting a big grin whether he won or lost. He was a role model for any young wrestler because of his attitude and ability,” lauded Cy Lucas, wrestling All-American and Olympian. “Doc was a great sportsman, an outstanding veterinarian, and a fine human being,” said Brand. He worked tirelessly to promote the sport of wrestling at school assemblies and health events.