Benson, MN – Eight new members were inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association (MWCA) Dave Bartelma Hall of Fame on April 9th in Benson, MN.
The new inductees honored were: John Barrett, Jim Carrington, Jim Dotseth, Jeff Gallagher, Ed Homan, Bruce Thompson, Stephen “Pete” Saxe, and Joel Sharratt. Many Hall of Fame members were in attendance.
The MWCA selected Jim Jackson of Apple Valley as State Head Coach of the Year. Selected as State Assistant Coach of the Year was Dave Pfaffinger of Blue Earth Area.
Jim Jackson and Dave Pfaffinger, along with MWCA Mr. Minnesota of Wrestling selection Matt Kelliher of Apple Valley represent Minnesota as The National Wrestling Coaches Association’s State (NWCA) award winners, which qualified them for further NWCA honors at the Regional and National levels.
Dwight Burman of St. James was honored with a Lifetime Achievement award, given to coaches for their service to wrestling and long coaching careers.
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| 2011 Dave Bartelma Hall of Fame |
Inductees:
- John Barrett, Athlete
- Jim Carrington, Contributor
- Jim Dotseth, Coach
- Jeff Gallagher, Coach
- Ed Homan, Contributor
- Bruce Thompson, Athlete
- Stephen “Pete” Saxe, Athlete
- Joel Sharratt, Athlete
2011 MWCA Hall of Fame Inductees Biographies
John Barrett, Athlete
John Barrett attended school in Annandale, Minnesota, where he wrestled for Bruce Bartels. John earned a spot on the varsity in 8th grade. He went undefeated his sophomore year, earning a state title at 112 lbs. He was third his junior year at 132 lbs. John capped off his high school career by winning a second state title at 138 lbs. His career record was 142 wins and 19 losses.
John attended St. Cloud State University, where he was a 3-time NCC champion and 3-time Div. II All-American. (2nd as a sophomore, 2nd as a junior, and third as a senior). He was St. Cloud State’s first Division I National Qualifier for wrestling. (did so two times). He finished his collegiate career with 123 wins and 19 losses. After graduation from college with a Physical Education major, John coached at Sartell High School. He later coached at Annandale. He is known as a very good official around the state, and he has officiated the state wrestling tournament several years. Today John owns and operates a painting company. John’s wife’s name is Julia, and they have two children; Lindsay and Brianna.
Jim Carrington, Contributor
Jim attended Scotch Plains High School in Union County, New Jersey, graduating from there in 1956. He attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, graduating with a BA in journalism in 1950.
Jim has been writing for the Bemidji Pioneer for 51 years, covering not only wrestling but all sports. He has been writing an article called Mat Chatter of the North for 40 years. New ownership of the Bemidji Pioneer forced this article into “retirement”, but Jim continues to write his articles on wrestling. In 1969 he received the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Media Award, given to a broadcaster or writer each year for outstanding news coverage of amateur wrestling. Jim has covered wrestling at the elementary, high school, and college level. He has been the official “man on the mike” at Bemidji High School Wrestling matches for many years, and he has never received one dime for his efforts. Jim’s articles have helped fill the scrapbook pages of many athletes in the northern part of the state. He is well-known for not only for covering wrestling, but for quality journalism as well.
Jim Dotseth, Coach
Jim grew up on a farm and attended high school in Clarkfield, MN where he lettered in football, basketball, track and baseball. After graduating in 1961, Jim attended Waldorf Community College, in Iowa, where he played football and basketball and earned All-Conference and All-State honors respectively. Jim later finished his Bachelor of Science degree in 1968 and Master of Education in 1972 at the University of Minnesota. He completed his administrative degree from St. Mary’s University in 1997. In 1968, with no wrestling background, Jim was pressed into filling an assistant coaching vacancy at Minneapolis Roosevelt. One year later he was asked to take over the head coaching duties when Jack Osberg left Roosevelt for Bloomington Kennedy. Jim accepted the challenge and coached his team to a conference title in 1976. Between 1982 and 1989 Roosevelt won eight consecutive conference championships and four Twin City championships. He coached at Roosevelt from 1969-1981 and from 1982-1989. In 19 years as a head coach his teams had a record of 187 wins, 96 losses and 8 ties. Several of his wrestlers won Section and State championships; several others were place winners. He spent 11 years as head football coach at Patrick Henry and two years at Robbinsdale Armstrong.
Jim spent 30 years teaching and coaching in the Minneapolis Public School System. During his years in the Minneapolis system Jim coached a variety of sports including wrestling, football, track and badminton. Jim was recently awarded the George Haun Award from the Minnesota High School Coaches Association which is a service award recognizing his years of service in the Minnesota Football Coaches Association. He was inducted into the MN High School Football Hall of Fame this past year; in 2000 he was inducted into the Waldorf College Hall of Fame. Jim finished his career in education in the Chaska school system as an administrator. He is currently Secretary-Treasurer of the Minnesota Football Coaches Association. His fondest memories are the time spent working with athletes and coaches. Jim and Wanda have been married 47 years. They have two daughters and three grandchildren: Jennica and Paul Burgh, and their children Caleb (11) and Hannah (8); Deena and Wade Laugen, and their daughter Avery (3).
Jeff Gallagher, Coach
Jeff attended Benson High School, graduating in 1969. While there he earned a trip to the state his junior year tournament and amassed a record of 60 wins and 17 losses. He was a four year lettermen in wrestling, and he also excelled in football and baseball.
Upon graduating from Benson Jeff attended Willmar Community College. Jeff placed fourth in the MN State Junior College Tournament. Jeff graduated from Mankato State University with a Bachelors of Science in Health and Physical Education in 1975. His college record in wrestling at both schools was 56 wins and 34 losses.
Jeff began coached at Windom High School from 1975 to 1978 He coached at Montevideo High School from 1978 to 2006. He compiled a record of 320 wins, 254 losses, and 3 ties. His teams earned numerous West Central South Conference Wrestling titles, including 6 in a row. He coached 53 state entrants, 17 place winners, two state champions, and three college All-Americans. He coached most of his career in the “old Region 3”, competing against the likes of Canby and Olivia and other very strong schools in that area. He started the Knights of Columbus Youth Wrestling Tournament in Montevideo, which is still going strong today.
Jeff was a fiery competitor. His teams were in shape and physical. They were known for a great cross-face cradle and a good Grandby roll. Jeff loved to win, but he won-and lost-with class. This was evident in how he treated area coaches whose teams might not have been as strong.
Jeff enjoyed great success not only in wrestling, but in baseball as well. He is one of the only coaches ever in the state of Minnesota to earn over 300 wins in two sports-wrestling and baseball.
Jeff’s is married to Ruth; they have two kids, John and James.
Ed Homan, Contributor
Ed attended Hutchinson High School, graduating from there in 1966. He compiled a 64-8 record and qualified for the state wrestling tournament at 103 lbs. in 1965 and 1966. He wrestled at Bemidji State College and Worthington State Junior College where he place 3rd at 118 lbs. in the NJCAA Tournament.
Ed served as a youth wrestling coach in Hutchinson, prior to becoming a wrestling official. Ed has since officiated High School wrestling for 40 year and also work numerous Division II, III and Junior College matches. He has worked both team and individual tournaments in Sections 1-6 and has been selected as a MSHSL State Tournament Official for the past 28 years. He has also worked the Clash, a National High School Wrestling Team Tournament for 8 consecutive years and refereed the European High School Championship held in Wiesbaden, Germany in February 2010. He has served on the Gold Country Board of Directors as a Mentoring Official, served as Clinician for the Minnesota Officials Wrestling Clinic that has been held since 1993 and served on the Minnesota State High School Officials Advisory Committee.
He consistently receives some of the highest ratings in the state, and is considered to be one of Minnesota Wrestling’s top officials. Ed served in the U.S Army during the Vietnam era and continues to serve on the Hutchinson American Legion Honor Guard (Rifle Squad). He retired from the Hutchinson Fire & Rescue Department after 25 years of service as Lieutenant of Rural Company, Photographer, Fire Police and Arson Investigator. He is a member of the Peace Lutheran Church and has worked for McLeod County as the Planning & Zoning Administrator and Solid Waste Director since 1973.
Ed wife’s name is Sue and they have two children; Jennifer and her husband Nathan and their son Max, Andrew and his wife Christen.
Bruce Thompson, Athlete
Bruce attended Prior Lake High School, graduating from there in 1969. He was a sixth place finisher at the 103 lbs. weight class, and he helped start the team at Prior Lake High School, along with his brother Brad. He graduated from St. Cloud State in 1973. Bruce was a two-time NCAA Division II All-American, placing 6th in 1972 and 5th in 1973.
Bruce excelled in international Greco-Roman wrestling. He served as assistant at St. Cloud State when his eligibility was completed, and worked with Olympians Dave and Jim Hazewinkel. Bruce earned 9 Senior National AAU and USWF Championships from 1974-1980. He was a 2-time gold medalist at the Pan-Am Games. He made 4 World Teams, and represented the United States at the Olympics at 114.5 pounds in 1976 in Montreal, Canada. Bruce was a member of the 1980 United States Olympic Team that boycotted the Moscow Games due to the decision of President Jimmy Carter. He passed on his knowledge of wrestling as a coach for both high schools and Junior Nationals. Bruce is considered by many to be the best lightweight AmericanGreco-Roman wrestler in Olympic history.
Today Bruce is the bank manager for Harris Bank in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
Bruce has three children: Jonathan, Benjamin, and Ryan.
Pete Saxe, Athlete
Pete started his wrestling career at Forest Lake High School. He was a state entrant in 1967. In his senior year, 1968, he became Forest Lake’s first state champion. Pete went on to Bemidji State University. He graduated from Bemidji State University with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education. While at BSU, Pete was a four year letter winner in wrestling, where he garnered three NAIA national championship runner-up titles, was a three time NAIA All American and a four time NIC champion. Pete also won a championship title at the NDSU Bison Open and was a two time champion at the BSU Open. He was twice selected team captain, and was nominated for the Harry F. Bangsberg Outstanding Athlete of the Year Award his senior year. During his college career, Pete posted a 74 – 7 win / loss record. Pete’s tenacity and “never quit” attitude allowed him and his teammates to enjoy success because of his leadership and dedication on the mat. He pushed his teammates very hard. Pete continued his involvement in wrestling as a coach after leaving BSU. He was the head wrestling coach at Normandale State Junior College in the 1973-74 season where his team posted a sixth place finish at the MJCCA tournament, which is a state junior college qualifier for the national tournament. He also served as the assistant coach at the North Branch High School from 1988-90, guiding three individuals to the state tournament. He coached at the North Branch summer wrestling camp and in the Stacy-Lent summer girl’s softball program for four years each. Pete has spent the past 21 years employed by the City of Arden Hills in the public works department. He and his wife, Julie, have five grown children, seven grandchildren and make their home in Stacy, Minnesota.
Joel Sharratt, Athlete
Joel wrestled for wrestling-rich Bloomington-Kennedy High School, winning 2 state AA titles and a third place finish before graduating in 1990 (3rd in 1988, 1st in 1989, and 1st in 1990). He then attended the University of Iowa, and under the coaching of Dan Gable he became a 3-time NCAA finalist; 2nd in 1993, 1st in 1994, and 2nd in 1995. After graduating from Iowa in 1995 he continued to wrestle competitively. He was third in the 1996 U.S. Olympic Trials in Freestyle. He was a two-time U.S. National Team member, and he earned a bronze medal in the 1997 Pan-Am Games.
Joel served as an assistant coach at Iowa, Lehigh, and the United States Naval Academy. He also assisted at the University of Minnesota while pursuing a Masters of Sports Administration. He is currently serving as the Head Wrestling Coach for the United States Air Force Academy. He was selected as Western Conference Coach of the year in his first year (2006-07). He has qualified 16 wrestlers for the NCAA Tournament, and his wrestlers have earned a number of NWCA and WWC All-Academic Team accolades. Joel is remembered for being not only one of the best high school wrestlers in Minnesota, but one of the best in college wrestling as well.
Joel’s wife name is Jamie, and they have four kids; Toni (5), Taylor (3), Carly (1) and Trista (9 months).