David Whinfrey (2003) - Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame

David Whinfrey

Induction:
2003
Class:
1950

A four-year letterwinner and two-time captain of the Rutgers wrestling team, David Whinfrey was the 1950 Coursen Award recipient, capping a brilliant scholastic career on the Banks. Whinfey was the MAC heavyweight champion in 1947, the same year he earned the inaugural Nist-Sachel Trophy as the team's most improved grappler. A year later, he captured the MAC championship at 175 pounds and was a finalist in the 174-pound weight class at the United States Olympic trials. He won the 1949 Eastern Regional AAU Championships at 175 pounds before winning the 1950 Championship at 191 pounds. That same year, Whinfrey won the National AAU Championship at 191 pounds and was named a First Team All-American ' the first in RU wrestling history. Whinfrey posted a 33-3-1 dual meet record at Rutgers and, including his 45-5-0 tournament record, finished his career with a 78-8-1 mark, which still ranks as the best all-time winning percentage in program history (.902).