The David Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame inducted six new members, October 28, 2000 at the Majestic Oaks Golf Club in Hamm Lake. Introductions were made by long time Hall of Fame chairman, Dennis Roos. All former inductees present were introduced by noted Minnesota wrestling historian, Spencer Yohe.
William Brunner – Contributor
Within the Minnesota Wrestling Community one would be hard pressed to name any single person who has fostered the advancement of high school wrestling monetarily as much as Bill Brunner. Bill is a graduate of Elmwood High School in Wisconsin. Bill earned his bachelors degree from the University of Minnesota, as well as a Masters degree and doctorate from the University of Minnesota. He retired after 38 years of collegiate teaching.
In 1988, following a request from coaches and fans in Region 1 to produce a commemorative shirt, Bill underwrote the entire beginning cost, designed, and offered for sale t-shirts which have since been worn with pride throughout the United States. Most importantly, what became of the profits from the shirt sales of the past thirteen years? Every cent raised by the sale of the shirts has gone to fund the John R. Philo Wrestling College Scholarships. Over these years, more than $60,000.00 has been awarded to college sophomores, juniors, and seniors who plan to give back to wrestling some of what they have received by becoming educators and particularly wrestling coaches. Every scholarship applicant has received some funding depending on his year in college and successful advancement towards a degree. At times there was not enough money to help everyone in need; then Bill would dig into his own pocket to aid needy students. With a shortage of educators and wrestling coaches, Bill has made a commitment to help keep the sport of wrestling stocked with quality young men to fill coaching openings.
Bill has been a driving force to get this program underway, to keep it going, and to see that it has a secure future.
Bill resides in Owatonna with his wife, Renee. He has three children, Kent, Todd, and Vicki.
Kenneth A. Ebert – Coach
Ken began his wrestling career at Osseo High School under Lloyd Belford. From Osseo, he continued his education at St. Cloud State University. Ken was a four-year letter winner at St. Cloud State, placing all four years in the NCC Conference Tournament. A member of the 1963 NCC Championship team and NAIA 3rd place team coached by Willis Wood, he was runner-up in the NCC and placed 6th in the NAIA National Championships as an individual.
Ken began his 32 years of coaching at Cannon Falls in 1963. He was an assistant coach the first four years, and then twenty-seven as head coach and the last year as a junior high coach. Teams coached during the twenty-seven years compiled a 235-135-3 record, won fifteen district/subsection championships, placed 2nd once in the Regional Tournament, and had six conference championships. Individually, 55 wrestlers have won 99 district or subsection titles and there have been 28 Minnesota State Individual Tournament qualifiers, including a Individual State Champion and a Runner Up State Champion. For Ken’s outstanding contribution to the sport of wrestling he has twelve times been named District Coach of the Year and was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award by the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association.
Ken and his wife, Marilyn, are the parents of four children: Jacqueline, Karl, Theresa. and Elizabeth. The Ebert’s reside in Cannon Falls where he retired from teaching in 1999.
Elwood “Woody” Ferry – Contributor
Woody is a native of Fort Dodge, lowa. He received his bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University. He completed his master’s degree from St. Cloud State University.
Woody began his teaching and coaching career at Mapleton High School, in Colorado. He then moved to Osseo High School where he has served as an outstanding assistant wrestling coach to four different head coaches. While assisting at Osseo, the teams have compiled a record of 272-93. They have won 17 Regional Championships. Woody has been actively involved in coaching 59 Minnesota State Individual Tournament place winners, 28 State Championship Finalist and 17 State Individual Champions.
Besides Woody’s accomplishments on the mat, he has given a great amount of his time and energy to help make Minnesota wrestling what it is today. He has designed the lapel pins that the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association has used as a form on revenue to help finance their many programs to help wrestling. One of these programs is the Scholarship Program that has provided thousands of dollars to wrestlers statewide. Other funds raised by his efforts go to recognizing the All State Academic Team and Individuals. Woody also designed and produced the placemats for the State Wrestling Tournament Brunch for 10 years.
Woody and his wife, Janice reside in Champlin. They are the parents of two daughters: Nicole and Alicia.
Reid Lamphere – Athlete
Reid began his wrestling career under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Darrell Sohn at Robbinsdale Cooper High School. At Cooper he wrestled for three seasons, ending his high school career by winning the 127 pound Individual State Championship. Upon graduation he went to the University of Minnesota to study and wrestle. At the U of MN, Reid twice placed second and once third in the Big Ten Championships. In 1969 he placed 4th in the NCAA National Championships.
Following graduation from Minnesota, Reid continued his wrestling career with great distinction. His accomplishments are great. Reid three times placed second in the National Greco Championships and was National Greco Champion in 1973. He was a member of the World Championship Team in 1974 and 1977 in Greco. He placed third in 1975, fourth in 1974, and fifth in 1973 in the National Freestyle Championships. Reid was also involved in the Olympic Trials where he placed 2nd in 1976 and third in 1980. Besides his USA wrestling competition, Reid won the Austrian National Championships.
Once Reid’s competition days concluded, he stayed close to his sport of wrestling. He has served on the 1996 Atlanta Olympic staff and was the Chaplain for the 2000 Sidney Olympic wrestling team. Reid has been very active in “Athletes in Action.” He has served AIA as their director in Europe. While residing in Prague, Czechoslavakia.
Reid and his wife, Carolyn, reside in Powder Springs, Georgia. They have two children: Tiffany and Jeremiah
Marty Morgan – Athlete
Marty began his high school wrestling career at Bloomington Kennedy High School under the direction of Hall of Fame coach David Arens. Marty established a career record of 94-20-4 at Kennedy. He placed second in the 1986 Minnesota State Individual Championships. While in high school, he placed second in the Junior Nationals in Freestyle and third in the Junior Nationals in Greco. In 1986, Marty was named “Minnesota High School Wrestler of the Year.”
Marty continued his wrestling career first at North Dakota State University. At NDSU, Marty had a record of 24-12-1 and was the 1987, NCAA Division II Individual Champion at 167 pounds. He then transferred to the University of Minnesota. His accomplishments at the U of MN were outstanding. He recorded a record of 110-12 with 41 pins including a single season record of 21 pins in 1991. Marty was twice Big Ten Champion and was honored with the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 1991. In 1989, Marty placed sixth and second in the 1990 NCAA Division I Championships. In 1991, he won the NCAA Division I National Championships at 177 pounds.
Following college, Marty competed in many events. He was a two time National Greco Champion. He was a three time USA World Team Champion and placed fifth in the 1995 World Cup. Marty was the 1986 U.S. Olympic Festival Champion as well as the 1986 and 1988 Espoir National Champion. He placed third in the 1988 Espoir National Championships and was the 1994 Concord Cup International Champion. Marty was also an alternate to the 1996 U.S. Olympic team.
Marty now served as an assistant coach with duties of recruiting for the University of Minnesota. He was named National Assistant Coach of the Year in 1998.
Marty and his wife, Tracy reside in St. Paul.
Jack Willhite – Coach
Jack began his wrestling days at St. Cloud Tech High School. While at Tech he wrestled for two years and had a varsity record of 15-8 and was a qualifier to the Minnesota State Wrestling Championships in 1949. Upon graduation from Tech, Jack went to Itasca Junior College and then onto Bemidji State University. He wrestled two years at Bemidji where he was 19-2. An important note that needs to be pointed out is that Jack started both wrestling programs at Itasca and Bemidji State. Besides being a student when he started each program, he also served as the “Student Coach” while wrestling!
Following graduation from BSU, Jack started an outstanding coaching career where his teams established a combined record of 127-63-8. Jack has served as Head Coach at Bemidji High School, Grand Rapids High School, St. Louis Park High School and as an assistant at St. Louis Park. Besides his excellent record, Jack’s teams were Runner Up State Champions and won four Regional titles. He had the opportunity to coach six individual Minnesota State Champions and 34 Minnesota State Individual Tournament qualifiers.
For Jack’s outstanding contribution to Minnesota High School Wrestling he was earned many honors. He is a member of the Grand Rapids and the Bemidji State University Halls of Fame. He was selected as the National Special Olympics Coach of the Year in 1988. He has also earned the Outstanding Alumni Award at Bemidji State and the Minnesota Football Coaches Association – Butch Nash Award.
Jack and his wife, Karen, reside in Minnetonka. There are the parents of two daughters: Linnea and Kirsten. Jack and Karen are proud grandparents of three granddaughters.