Only four were worse than the Seelander: even King Stucki can’t match these swinging legends

9. Peter Vogt († 55)

The strongest Basel player in history was three times in a federal final: in 1945, after the final against Willy Lardon, he was named the first crowned. In 1948, Vogt became king thanks to a victory over Walter Haldemann. Two years later, the northwestern and northeastern Swiss faced each other again. Because both behaved too passively in the 35 minutes (!) long final, the king’s crown was not awarded. Because Vogt tore his wreath at the award ceremony, he was suspended for a year.

8. Eugene Hasler (57)

The Schwyzer is the king without a crown. In 1989 “Geni Schränz” stumbled in Stans in the ESAF final as the big favorite over Adi Käser and his own nerves, in 1995 the postman from Galgenen was also the victim of a wrong decision by the judge in the federal final against Thomas Sutter . But the man with the distinctive mustache won at Kilchberg-Schwinget and five times at Brünig.

7. Willy Lardon († 76)

The giant from the Bernese Jura not only caused a stir as wrestling king of 1937 and 1943. Lardon made a name for himself as a wrestler beyond the national borders. In 1937 and 1943 he won silver at the European Championships as a freestyle wrestler.

5. Matthias Sempach (37) and Christian Stucki (38)

Besides Abderhalden, Stucki is the only one who has won the «Sawdust Grand Slam». In the biography of Sempach (König 2013, Kilchberg Champion 14) the really big hit on Unspunnen did not make it, but the Emmentaler has the better record in direct comparison with the Bernese Seelander: “Mättu” ground the “Chrigu” five times could Beat Stucki Sempach only three times.

4. Ernst Schlapfer (67)

Jörg Abderhalden’s uncle and godfather modernized the “farming sport” in the 1980s. As an agricultural science student, he was the first wrestler to complete between seven and ten workouts a week. Schläpfer was wrestling king in 1980 and 1983. In 1984 he triumphed on the Kilchberger. After his sporting career, the Appenzeller also made it to the top as a civil servant: between 2008 and 2011 he played the role of ESV chairman.

3. Karl Meli († 73)

The Winterthur policeman was crowned king in 1961 and 1964, and was dethroned in 1966 by the then 20-year-old Ruedi Hunsperger. Meli, who died in March 2012, was the first wrestler to cross the magic mark of 120 wreaths and remains the only villain with nine federal wreaths.

2. Jörg Abderhalden (43)

In terms of swinging, the Toggenburger was comparable to the Hunsperger. And “Tschüge” was the first string gladiator to win not only the ESAF, but also the Kilchberger and the Unspunnen. But today’s referee “Samschtig-Jass”, with his unapproachable appearance, has won fewer hearts in the wrestling community than Ruedi Hunsperger, who is close to the people.

1. Ruedi Hunsperger († 72)

Besides Jörg Abderhalden, Berner, who died in August 2018, was the only “bad guy” to win the crown three times (1966, 69 and 74). It is very likely that he would have triumphed in 1972 with the Swiss Confederation in La Chaux-de-Fonds if his father had not died shortly before. Hunsperger therefore declared default despite his top sport form and thus paved the way for the Bernese Oberlander David Roschi to the throne. His palmares is also unique. Hunsperger also made a historic mark at the most prestigious mountain wreath festival: in 1974, the passionate YB fan reached the top of the Brünig with the maximum of 60 points!

Swing: Christian Stucki’s last wreath party was so full of tears