West Liberty University Athletics

    A severe injury during his freshman season forced Dave LaMotte to put his college career on hold for a four-year stint in the military but the delay proved to be worth the wait as the Bridgeport, Ohio native returned to become a 2-time NAIA All-American and the school's second national champion.
    The three-year starter earned his first All-America honor as a junior when he placed third at 150 pounds in the 1978 NAIA Nationals but the best was yet to come. West Liberty hosted the 1979 NAIA Nationals at the Wheeling Civic Center and LaMotte nearly brought down the house when he won the 150-pound national championship, capping a spectacular collegiate career with a 103-14-2 record.
    LaMotte turned to coaching after graduation, producing numerous state champions at his high school alma mater, Bridgeport (Ohio) High School, and leading the Bulldogs to the 1988 Ohio state championship. LaMotte's sons, Matt and Jeff LaMotte, followed in their father's wrestling footsteps by earning NCAA Division II All-America honors in 2001.