Cal Poly All-American Chris DeLong passes away at age 58
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by Eric Burdick, Cal Poly
Chris DeLong graphic courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Former Cal Poly wrestler Chris DeLong, a two-time NCAA Division I qualifier and an All-American in 1984, passed away on Wednesday, August 28, 2019, in Los Angeles, Calif.
DeLong, who battled leukemia for over five months, was 58.
Born Dec. 31, 1960, DeLong graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma in 1979, where he earned a third-place finish in the California State High School Championships as a senior after claiming league, county and CIF-Southern Section titles to complete a 40-1 season. He compiled a 98-12 career prep record and also placed fourth in the state meet as a junior.
At Cal Poly, DeLong accumulated a 68-30-2 record in his final three seasons as a Mustang, qualifying for the nationals as a sophomore in 1982 and as a senior in 1984. He earned All-American honors with a fourth-place finish at 134 pounds in 1984.
DeLong was 12-9 as a sophomore, finishing second in the NCAA Division I Western Regionals. He posted a 22-12 mark in his junior season and 34-9-2 in his final Mustang season (1983-84) with a first-place finish in the Portland State Tournament as well as in the NCAA Division I Western Regionals.
DeLong, who served one year as a volunteer assistant coach during the 1984-85 season, earned his bachelor’s degree in social sciences at Cal Poly in 1987. He owned DeLong Construction in Arroyo Grande for many years and was a field service technician at Mr. Handyman in Orange County during the final months of his life.
DeLong is survived by two sons, Nick DeLong and Derek DeLong, two daughters, Ashleigh DeLong (Lopez) and McKenzie DeLong, two brothers. Daniel DeLong and Torch Lloyd DeLong, three sisters, Lisa DeLong (Renteria), Cherie DeLong (Ailes) and Michelle DeLong (Clark), and one granddaughter, Florence Amara.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday (Sept. 7, 2019) from 1-4 p.m. at the home of Cherie DeLong (Ailes), 6251 Bannock Road, Westminster, Calif., 92683. For information, call (951) 818-0765.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Former Cal Poly wrestler Chris DeLong, a two-time NCAA Division I qualifier and an All-American in 1984, passed away on Wednesday, August 28, 2019, in Los Angeles, Calif.
DeLong, who battled leukemia for over five months, was 58.
Born Dec. 31, 1960, DeLong graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma in 1979, where he earned a third-place finish in the California State High School Championships as a senior after claiming league, county and CIF-Southern Section titles to complete a 40-1 season. He compiled a 98-12 career prep record and also placed fourth in the state meet as a junior.
At Cal Poly, DeLong accumulated a 68-30-2 record in his final three seasons as a Mustang, qualifying for the nationals as a sophomore in 1982 and as a senior in 1984. He earned All-American honors with a fourth-place finish at 134 pounds in 1984.
DeLong was 12-9 as a sophomore, finishing second in the NCAA Division I Western Regionals. He posted a 22-12 mark in his junior season and 34-9-2 in his final Mustang season (1983-84) with a first-place finish in the Portland State Tournament as well as in the NCAA Division I Western Regionals.
DeLong, who served one year as a volunteer assistant coach during the 1984-85 season, earned his bachelor’s degree in social sciences at Cal Poly in 1987. He owned DeLong Construction in Arroyo Grande for many years and was a field service technician at Mr. Handyman in Orange County during the final months of his life.
DeLong is survived by two sons, Nick DeLong and Derek DeLong, two daughters, Ashleigh DeLong (Lopez) and McKenzie DeLong, two brothers. Daniel DeLong and Torch Lloyd DeLong, three sisters, Lisa DeLong (Renteria), Cherie DeLong (Ailes) and Michelle DeLong (Clark), and one granddaughter, Florence Amara.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday (Sept. 7, 2019) from 1-4 p.m. at the home of Cherie DeLong (Ailes), 6251 Bannock Road, Westminster, Calif., 92683. For information, call (951) 818-0765.
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