His accomplishments include becoming a World Champion in freestyle wrestling at the 1997 World Wrestling Championships,[1] the Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation's best college wrestler in 1996, becoming the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion in the 177 lb.

weight division in both 1995 and 1996, earning All-American status in 1994, 1995 & 1996, becoming a member of the 1996 United States Olympics freestyle wrestling team and winning numerous other tournaments and honors.

Les Gutches grew up in Southern Oregon and has the unique distinction of winning national championships in all of the wrestling age groups, including three state titles while a student at South Medford High School.

[3] Considered the university's best wrestler in modern history with a 134–10 record,[4] Gutches had a tremendous collegiate wrestling career as a four-year letterman[4] of the Oregon State Beavers wrestling team, culminating in winning the Dan Hodge Trophy as the best college wrestler in the United States in 1996.

He graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor's degree in Physical Anthropology and a minor in German Language in 1996.