University of Mary Athletics

The first undefeated University of Mary national wrestling champion, three-time All-American Jim Cudney was a dominant competitor on the mat for a Marauders program that was among the best in the nation.
 
A native of Huachuca City, AZ, and a graduate of Tombstone High School, Cudney arrived at the University of Mary in the fall of 1990 and joined a young but quickly improving program. Named the team’s Most Improved wrestler, he misses competing in the post season after being called up for Desert Storm by the United States Marine Corps. As a sophomore in 1991 Cudney made his debut at the NAIA national championships and placed 4^th at 190 to earn All-American status as UMary claimed 4^th as a team. In 1993 Cudney and the Marauders both improved at the national championships with both Cudney and the team taking 3^rd.
 
Cudney capped his career with a legendary senior season, winning all 31 matches on his way to earn the 1994 NAIA national championship at 190 pounds and securing another 3^rd place team finish for UMary. Cudney posted 13 pins, was awarded the Gorriaran Trophy for most pins in the least amount of time and picked up wins over wrestlers from NCAA Division I programs Arizona State and Fresno State. Cudney finished his UMary career with a record of 113-38.
 
The son of John and Dora Cudney, Henry “Jim” Cudney graduated from the University of Mary in 1995 with bachelor degrees in Social and Behavioral Science with minors in secondary education and history. The former head wrestling coach (1999, 2000) in Beach, ND, retired as a Colonel from the Wyoming Army National Guard and the United States Army in August 2020. Married to UMary graduate Renee (Diebert) Cudney (’94), he is the father of four children; Antoinette Yugend, and Ariana, Zachary and Alyssa Cudney.