Oklahoma State University Athletics
Celebrating OSU Athletics Hall of Honor Inductee Ross Flood
September 19, 2024 | Cowboy Wrestling
Oklahoma State wrestling legend Ross Flood is joining the Oklahoma State Athletics Hall of Honor Friday night as part of the 2024 class. As a three-time national champion and one of Cowboy wrestling's original dominant forces, Flood was an essential pillar in Oklahoma State's journey to becoming the most storied program in the sport.
Born in 1910 alongside his brother, John, the Floods made their first headlines when they became the first pair of twins to win Oklahoma high school state championships. Following his success for Blackwell High School, Flood chose to continue his wrestling career at Oklahoma State under head coach Ed Gallagher.
That decision marked the beginning of a stellar career both collegiately and on the international level.
At Oklahoma State, Flood continued his winning ways to the tune of a 31-1 career record and NCAA championships in 1933, 1934 and 1935. Undefeated in 30 matches at his natural weight of 126 pounds and a winner of the last 27 matches of his career, Flood's efforts were paramount to the team's success as the Cowboys won the NCAA title each year he was in the lineup. In all, OSU's three consecutive championships kick-started a remarkable run in which the team won 10 of 11 NCAA titles.
As a senior in 1935, Flood capped off his career with a perfect 11-0 record, which included a fall over Southwestern Oklahoma's Gott in the NCAA championship match, his last for Oklahoma State. His pin in the finals was one of three in the tournament despite competing in just four matches, earning him NCAA Outstanding Wrestler honors.
Flood's impact on the program is still felt nearly 90 years later, currently holding top-10 spots in a number of program career-record lists. Most notably, Flood pinned 19 of the 32 opponents he faced throughout his career, good for a 59.4% pin percentage and the top spot in OSU history. Additionally, his 96.88% career winning percentage is tied for fifth-best ever by a Cowboy and he remains in the top 10 in bonus rate at 62.5%.
Immediately after his collegiate career, Flood earned a place on Team USA at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and won a silver medal. He was just the fourth Cowboy wrestler to ever medal at the Games, helping create a lineage at Oklahoma State that has now seen 32 different wrestlers earn Olympic Team membership 41 times.
Flood then captured gold at the Pan America Exposition the very next year, taking down three other national champions on the way, but suffered severe rib injuries that brought an end to his competitive career. Despite his untimely retirement, Hall of Fame coach Billy Sheridan often declared that Flood provided the best example he had ever seen of wrestling skill and technique.
For six years, Flood was a successful high school coach in Stillwater before entering the Navy as a physical instructor, which included wartime service in the Pacific theater. He returned to coaching in 1946 to revive the wrestling program at Southwestern Oklahoma State and eventually operated a livestock auction for three decades prior to his passing in 1995.
In recognition of his tremendous achievement, Flood was honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1978.
Born in 1910 alongside his brother, John, the Floods made their first headlines when they became the first pair of twins to win Oklahoma high school state championships. Following his success for Blackwell High School, Flood chose to continue his wrestling career at Oklahoma State under head coach Ed Gallagher.
That decision marked the beginning of a stellar career both collegiately and on the international level.
At Oklahoma State, Flood continued his winning ways to the tune of a 31-1 career record and NCAA championships in 1933, 1934 and 1935. Undefeated in 30 matches at his natural weight of 126 pounds and a winner of the last 27 matches of his career, Flood's efforts were paramount to the team's success as the Cowboys won the NCAA title each year he was in the lineup. In all, OSU's three consecutive championships kick-started a remarkable run in which the team won 10 of 11 NCAA titles.
As a senior in 1935, Flood capped off his career with a perfect 11-0 record, which included a fall over Southwestern Oklahoma's Gott in the NCAA championship match, his last for Oklahoma State. His pin in the finals was one of three in the tournament despite competing in just four matches, earning him NCAA Outstanding Wrestler honors.
Flood's impact on the program is still felt nearly 90 years later, currently holding top-10 spots in a number of program career-record lists. Most notably, Flood pinned 19 of the 32 opponents he faced throughout his career, good for a 59.4% pin percentage and the top spot in OSU history. Additionally, his 96.88% career winning percentage is tied for fifth-best ever by a Cowboy and he remains in the top 10 in bonus rate at 62.5%.
Immediately after his collegiate career, Flood earned a place on Team USA at the 1936 Berlin Olympics and won a silver medal. He was just the fourth Cowboy wrestler to ever medal at the Games, helping create a lineage at Oklahoma State that has now seen 32 different wrestlers earn Olympic Team membership 41 times.
Flood then captured gold at the Pan America Exposition the very next year, taking down three other national champions on the way, but suffered severe rib injuries that brought an end to his competitive career. Despite his untimely retirement, Hall of Fame coach Billy Sheridan often declared that Flood provided the best example he had ever seen of wrestling skill and technique.
For six years, Flood was a successful high school coach in Stillwater before entering the Navy as a physical instructor, which included wartime service in the Pacific theater. He returned to coaching in 1946 to revive the wrestling program at Southwestern Oklahoma State and eventually operated a livestock auction for three decades prior to his passing in 1995.
In recognition of his tremendous achievement, Flood was honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1978.
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