Bill Hinchley dedicated over four decades to the sport of wrestling, making significant contributions as an official, administrator, and leader. He served as President of the Owatonna Wrestling Association and spent 30 years as the CEO for Minnesota USA Wrestling. A dedicated mat official for over 40 years, Hinchley was widely recognized for his officiating excellence, receiving the US Wrestling Officials Association Lifetime Achievement Award and being named USA Wrestling Official of the Year in 2007. He was inducted into the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2015 .
Bob Board 1935-2026
Hall of Famer Bob Board passed away on September 5, 2026. He was 90 years old. Board was a long-time coach at Coon Rapids High School, a University of Minnesota wrestler, and a state champion for Anoka High School. He was inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Dave Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1973 and the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2008.
View From The Matbird Seat
By Bruce Bartels
I am just about to give myself a new title—“Crown Prince of Procrastination.” I can find plenty of ways to point my finger to try to explain my tardiness in writing a season wrap-up column. I could blame my almost yearly visit to Fort Myers to stay with my brother Jim and get a preseason look at the Minnesota Twins. That pushes me back a week or two. Or, I could blame The Guillotine moving away from print copy and transitioning online. I used to cut out a copy of the print deadline dates posted in the upper left corner of my computer screen. With no paper copy of The Guillotine, there is no print deadline—and no sharp stick prodding me! I could go on with my long list of excuses, but now that I am at the keyboard, I might as well get going.
I usually do a quick review of the state tournament along with my suggestions for improvement. With the tournament moving to Wednesday through Saturday, plenty of readers did that for me on “The Forum.” Still, I have my own small list of suggestions. There is always my annual proposal that the press sections be moved from the two ends of the arena to the two sides. It would certainly make viewing all matches easier, as you would never be looking at a bout four mats away.
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NDSU Wrestling Adds Nick Magee to Coaching Staff
FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State wrestling and head coach Obenson Blanc have announced the addition of Nick Magee to the coaching staff on Tuesday.
The former Bison NCAA Division II All-American joins the coaching staff after serving as the North Dakota State wrestling director of alumni relations and the director of the Bison Wrestling Club for over a decade.
“Nick has been an invaluable member of our team for many years going back to his time as a student-athlete at NDSU,” said Blanc. “Nick has been a key bridge between our former Bison wrestlers and the current as the Director of Alumni Relations for NDSU Wrestling for many years as well as the leader of our Bison Wrestling Club as the Director/Head Coach.”
Bauer, Cagle, and Lewandowski among Augsburg’s 2026 Hall of Fame class
MINNEAPOLIS — Three national champion wrestlers lead the nine-member induction class for the 53rd Augsburg University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Former Auggie standouts Ben Bauer, Josh Cagle, and Nik Lewandowski are among the group, which will be formally inducted during Homecoming week on Thursday, Oct. 15 at Hoversten Chapel in the Foss Center.
2026 J-Club Hall of Honor Class: Fr. Otto Weber, OSB ’57
By Frank Rajkowski
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – When it came to Central Minnesota high school wrestling in the 1960s, there may have been no better rivalry than the one that existed between St. Cloud Cathedral and Saint John’s Prep.
The Crusaders – under head coach Terry Haws – won five State Catholic Tournament titles during those years. But the Johnnies – under the direction of Fr. Otto Weber – were always right near the top as well, winning a state title of their own in 1966.
The annual dual meet between the neighboring schools drew overflow crowds, packing gymnasiums to see two evenly matched teams. Continue reading at gojohnnies.com →
NDSU Announces 2026-27 Schedule
FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State wrestling program and head coach Obenson Blanc have announced the 2026-27 schedule, which features 16 duals overall, including eight home duals over seven dates inside the Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex.
The first whistle of the season will come on November 1, when the Bison take on UMary at home in the Dakota Duals, an event that will also feature a simultaneous dual between the women’s programs of Sioux Falls and Minot State.
The Bison will travel to the Daktronics Invite on November 8 in Brookings before heading to the Sunshine Wrestling Duals at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida on November 14, where the Bison will take on Iowa State and Wisconsin.
‘Coach Vav’ honored with a retirement party 53 years in the making
Chuck Vavrosky felt the appreciation and love from the Bloomington community and greater wrestling community during a recent celebration of his career at the Bloomington Eagles Lodge.
After 46 years of coaching Bloomington Kennedy wrestling, Vavrosky decided earlier this summer that it was time for him to step down.
“Actually, I started coaching BAA (Bloomington Athletic Association) when I was in seventh grade so it was 53 years in that room,” he said, reflecting on the many lives affected in that wrestling room. “Overall, it was pretty awesome to hear what people thought of my 53 years of putting time into it. Makes it feel like all those years were worth your while.” Continue reading at hometownsource.com →
InterMat Interview with Damion Hahn
South Dakota State Head Coach Damion Hahn joins InterMat’s Earl Smith to talk about all things Jackrabbit Wrestling. Coach Hahn talks about SDSU’s new home in the Pac-12 and some of the thought process behind the move. He also goes through some of the potential starters and lineup battles for the team in 2026-27. They finish by talking about how the program has grown during his eight-plus years at the helm.