Bob Dickman was termed too small for collegiate wrestling before enrolling at Indiana State but became a two-time All-American during his career at Indiana State from 1979 to 1983. He was inducted into the 22nd Class of the Indiana State Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 3, 2013.
Dickman was not highly recruited despite a stellar high school career at Stoughton (Wis.) High School.
Then Indiana State Coach Fran McCann stated when recruiting the high school champion that Dickman was a little small for college wrestling but he was really good and worth the risk. The enthusiasm at Indiana State and the solid Sycamore wrestling program convinced Dickman to come to Indiana State.
Dickman posted a 109-11-1 career record in high school including a 32-1 record as a senior in the 112 pound weight class, placing third in the Wisconsin State Championship as a sophomore and senior and winning the championship as a junior. He was also a three-time Wisconsin State Freestyle Champion, a National AAU Junior Champion, Chicago International Tournament champion, and won the Central USWF Championship as a junior while finishing second as a sophomore and senior.
Dickman compiled a record of 123-32-1 in the 118-pound class while competing for the Sycamores. He was 19-11 as a freshman at Indiana State and qualified for the NCAA Championships but lost in the first round. After red-shirting his second year, Dickman came back to post a 19-13 record as a red shirt sophomore, was 46-4 as a junior, and closed out his career with a 39-4-1 record as a senior.
Dickman advanced to the NCAA Championships in each of his seasons as a Sycamore.
As a freshman, Dickman placed third at the NCAA Midwest Regional and lost in the first round of the NCAA Championships.
He was second at the Regional as a sophomore as he lost to Leo Misdom of Illinois State in the championship match and then lost his opening match of the NCAA Championships.
During the 1981-82, Dickman won the Regional championship with victories over Glynn Mansfield of Kentucky, Bob Hallman of Northern Iowa, and Randy Blackman of Eastern Illinois. He won his first two matches at the NCAAs before losing a close match to eventual 118-pound champion Barry Davis of Iowa. He fought his way back through the consolation bracket to finish seventh and earn the first of two All-American recognitions.
Ranked as high as eighth by the Amateur Wrestling News and 11th by the National Mat News, Dickman won five tournaments as a senior including the Redskin Open, Muskegon Open, Indiana State Open, Michigan State Invitational, and NCAA Midwest Regional. His only two regular season defeats came from second ranked Randy Willingham of Oklahoma State and fifth ranked Kevin Darkus of Iowa State.
During the 1982-83 season, Dickman was ranked as high as third nationally and placed third in the NCAA wrestling championships defeating Iowa’s Tim Riley, the Big Ten Champion, and Iowa State’s John Thorn. His lone loss in the national tournament was to eventual national champion Adam Cuestas of California State-Bakersfield.
- Career Record at Indiana State 129-32-1
- Three time National qualifier
- Named All-American (1982, 1983)
- Third place at 1983 NCAA Championships
- Seventh place at 1982 NCAA Championships
- Second place at 1981 Midwest Regional
- Competed in 118-pound weight class
- Co-captain of 1982 & 1983 team
- 3 time Michigan State Invitational Champion
- 2 time NCAA Western Regional Champion
- 2 time Muskegon Michigan Champion
- Northern Open Champion
- 2 time Redskin Open Champion
- School Record holder in career take downs (985), season take downs (250), match take downs (11), most points in match (30)
- Inducted into Hall of Fame October 3, 2013
