MINNEAPOLIS — Augsburg College wrestling alumnus Joe Hoialmen ’93 will be inducted into the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Hall of Fame in a ceremony on Thursday evening in La Crosse, Wis., site of this year’s NCAA Division III Wrestling National Championships.
Hoialmen will be the seventh Auggie to be inducted into the NWCA Division III Hall of Fame. Last year, Nick Fornicioia ’93 was inducted. Steve Gliva ’85 was inducted in 2010, John Beatty ’90 was inducted in 2007, Gary Kroells ’93 was inducted in 2005 and Dan Lewandowski ’97 was inducted in 2003. Former head coach Jeff Swenson ’79 was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.
He will be honored at a ceremony at the La Crosse Center on Thursday. Joining Hoialmen in the induction class of 2012 are wrestlers Yan White of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Tom Hogan of Wartburg (Iowa), along with coaches Daryl Arroyo of Springfield (Mass.) and Roger Crebs of Lycoming (Pa.).
Hoialmen earned All-America honors three times as an Auggie, including winning the 134-pound national title in 1993. A four-time national tournament qualifier, he finished fourth nationally at 126 in 1990 and sixth nationally at 134 in 1991. A four-year starter, Hoialmen finished 42-15 his first season, 36-12 as a sophomore, 29-12 as a junior and 39-7 his senior year. His career record was 146-46. Hoialmen was a part of Augsburg squads that won two national titles (1991, 1993) and had two national runner-up finishes (1990, 1992). He also finished his career with 437 takedowns, a school record at the time.
Hoialmen proved to be one of the keys in Augsburg earning its 1993 team national title, the second team title for the Auggies in program history. Hoialmen was one of three national titlists for the Auggies, enabling the squad to edge traditional rival Wartburg by just one point — 93-92 — in the team race.
He also earned Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles in 1990, 1992 and 1993, as part of Auggie squads that won conference crowns each of his four seasons. As a team, Augsburg went 57-3 in dual meets in Fornicoia’s career, including part of a 65-match winning streak that spanned from 1988 to 1992.
As a high school wrestler at Winona High School, he was a state titlist in 1989 and a three-time state tournament placewinner.
After graduation, Hoialmen served Augsburg for several seasons as an assistant coach. He was a business management major at Augsburg. He has also served as an assistant coach for the Maple Grove High School wrestling program in recent years, and currently lives in Maple Grove, Minn.
The NWCA Division III Wrestling Hall of Fame has honored NCAA Division III wrestlers, coaches and contributors since 1989. Augsburg has been an NCAA Division III member since 1983. To be considered for Hall of Fame induction, wrestlers must be three-time All-Americans or two-time national champions.