Cornell College

Wright experienced individual and team success on the wrestling mat, where he fashioned a 52-6 career record and guided the Rams to Midwest Conference team championships in 1958, 1960 and 1961. Wright was rated one of the nation's top Division I heavyweights as a junior and senior. He qualified for the national championships both years.

Wright was dominant in claiming back-to-back conference titles in 1960 and 1961. As a senior, he won the conference heavyweight division in record time with three pins in three matches for a total duration of six minutes. The Rams never lost a conference dual during Wright's wrestling career.

Wright competed in the 1960 Olympic Trials, where he scored an impressive 10-point win over NCAA heavyweight champion Dale Lewis in the first round. Wright was crowned Iowa AAU heavyweight champion in 1957.