The 1980 Wrestling team produced a 10-4 dual meet record, a RMAC Championship, and the program's seventh NAIA National Championship. At the national tournament, Adams State scored 86 points to fend off second place finisher Huron College (S.D.) who tallied 76.5 points. Adams State placed four wrestlers in the NAIA Championship finals resulting in runner-up honors for Lawrence MacErnie (134), John Sheridan (142), and Herb Stanley (HWT). Scott Ritzen (126) was the lone individual champ in 1980. MacErnie, Sheridan, Stanley, and Ritzen each earned All-American honors as Head Coach Dr. Richard Ulrich was named NAIA Coach of the Year.
At the RMAC Championships in Grand Junction, Adams State handled the competition with 105.75 points as Fort Lewis College placed second with 61.25 points. The sizeable team win featured RMAC individual titles by Charlie Amaya (118), Scott Ritzen (126), Lawrence MacErnie (134), Greg Dixon (158), Chuck Gentry (177), and Herby Stanley (HWT). John Sheridan (142) and Todd Simmons (150) each placed second as Andy Vetter (158) took third.
In total, eight Adams State wrestlers notched 15-or-more match wins paced by a 28-2 record from Stanley who was named the team's MVP and Co-Captain along with teammate Greg Dixon. Other team awards included Most Improved Wrestler (John Sheridan), Most Inspirational Wrestler (Lawrence MacErnie), Rookie of the Year (Scott Ritzen), Scholar Athlete (Greg Dixon), and the Coaches Award (Paul Burgess).
The program featured 12 lettermen: Charlie Amaya, Dino Aragon, Paul Burgess, Greg Dixon, Chuck Gentry, Lawrence MacErnie, Bob Nelson, Scott Ritzen, John Sheridan, Todd Simmons, Herb Stanley, and Andy Vetter.
Adams State defeated several NCAA DI opponents in dual meets and/or tournaments. The list of defeated DI opponents includes Utah State University, University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University, University of New Mexico, Southern Utah State College, U.S. Air Force Academy, and the University of Northern Colorado.
The 1980 Adams State team was inducted into the RMAC Hall of Fame in 2010. Dr. Richard Ulrich was inducted into the RMAC Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Adams State Hall of Fame in 2001. Scott Ritzen and Herb Stanley were inducted into the Adams State Hall of Fame in 2004 and 2001, respectively.
