The Mayo Civic Center Region I Wrestling Hall of Fame Committee has selected nine new members for induction on Saturday, March 13, 2020.
The class will be inducted in person or virtually (TBD). Updates regarding format, location, and times will be made as the event gets closer.
To purchase tickets or for more details, contact Rick Ties rickties@gmail.com.
2021 MCC Region 1 Hall of Fame Class
Brad Fisher (Austin High School) Athlete
Brad Fisher was the first 8th-grade MSHSL state champion. He earned a pair of state titles and four state place finishes. Brad had a high school record of 154-14. He was a member of four NCAA Division III National Team Championships while at Augsburg. Brad also earned three individual All-American Honors. He had a 118-30 collegiate record for The Auggies. Brad has been an assistant coach for ten-plus years at Augsburg and has helped win three team national championships. Brad teaches special education at Fridley High School and serves as head Cross Country coach.
Jason Rhoten (Kasson-Mantorville High School) Athlete
Jason Rhoten was an outstanding wrestler at Kasson-Mantorville High School. He finished with a 164-28 varsity career record. Jason is one of the few wrestlers to finish on the top of the podium at both the high school and college levels. Jason closed out his high school career in 2002 with a 140-pound state title for the KoMets. A two-time state placer at K-M, Jason took his talents to Minnesota State University, where he earned four NCAA Division II All-American Honors. He won the 157-pound title in 2008 in his final collegiate match. Jason has been elected to the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Hall of Fame and The Minnesota State University Athletics Hall of Fame. He finished his collegiate career with a 136-23. Jason is second for all-time career wins in school history for Coach Jim Makovsky. He has been a Regional Fisheries Manager in Great Falls, Montana. Jason and his wife Brianna are the proud parents of four children.
Chris Steele (Hayfield High School) Athlete
Chris Steele was a two-time state champion for Hall of Fame Coach Dave Erickson at Hayfield High School. Chris ended his career in style with a 34-second pin in the 160-pound championship his senior year, going against another undefeated wrestler in the finals. Chris finished his high school career with a 114-16-2 Record, including 106 falls, second only to Corey Olson, his high school hero and teammate. Chris’s pin in the final was his 83rd straight win to close out his career! Chris, one of the top recruits in the country, headed for Nebraska and competed for two years. He has returned to the Hayfield area and is farming today.
Thomas Theede (Lewiston-Altura High School) Athlete
Tom Theede competed for Hall of Fame Coach Frank Murphy at Lewiston-Altura High School. Tom had a 68-14-1 high school record. He won the 1982 state high school championship for the Cardinals at 167 Pounds in the two-class system. Tom also placed third his junior season. Tom’s two sons Jordan and Ryan, were standouts for the Lewiston-Altura wrestling program. He also coached in the L-A elementary wrestling program. Tom farms today in the Lewiston-Altura area and also is a Pioneer Plant Seed Corn Dealer. He also has a spraying operation.
Mike Buringa (Plainview-Elgin-Millville High School) Athlete/Coach
Mike Buringa wrestled for Hall of Fame Coach Jim Campbell at Plainview-Elgin-Millville, where he won a state title and also placed third and fourth. His high school record was 139-20-2. Mike was 33-0 in his championship year. He took over the PEM program while he a student at Winona State. While head coach at Kasson-Mantorville, his team finished fourth in the 1997 State Tournament. Mike had a 113-41-3 high school coaching record. He also served as an athletic director. Mike organized and was the head coach for Team Minnesota at the NHSCA National Wrestling Championships, winning the national title in 1998. Mike teaches at Lewiston-Altura Elementary School and coaches softball, and helps with football at St. Charles High School.
Rod Hoesley (Winona & Fountain City, WI) Offical
Rod Hoesley officiated for 28 years and comes highly recommended by the Southern Minnesota Wrestling Officials Association. He has worked four Clash National Duals and also worked a number of Wisconsin high school state tournaments. Rod is a member of the Winona High School Wrestling Hall of Fame. As a wrestler at Winona HS, he placed sixth at state for Coach Dave Moracco. Rod wrestled at Winona State, was recruited by Fran McCann, and was an NSIC runner up. He taught science and other subjects and coached wrestling at Rushford-Peterson High School for ten years. Rod was also the coach of the Track & Field boys program that won the state team true title in 1991. Rod was an assistant track coach for the girls that won the 2006 state team true title and was Section 1 Assistant Coach of the Year.
Matt Ryan (Kenyon-Wanamingo High School) Coach
Matt Ryan finished his high school coaching career with an outstanding 363-172-2 record. He served 21 years as head coach of the Knights. The last 12 years, Matt was a remarkable 284-78. He retired from coaching in 2019. Matt’s teams won the state title in 2016 and were runners-up in 2009 and 2019. The Knights advanced to the Section 1A finals for 12 straight seasons, winning six times. Matt was chosen as Section Coach of the year in 2009 and 2016 and was the State’s Wrestling Coach of the Year for all three classes – A, AA, AAA in 2016. Matt had three individual state champions in 2019, including son Tyler, now at St. Could State. He is currently the high school principal at Kenyon-Wanamingo.
Jay Wheaton (Caledonia/Houston) Assistant Coach
Jay Wheaton has been involved with the Caledonia/Houston Program for over 25 years as an assistant coach and with the youth program. He has been “the glue” that has sent outstanding wrestlers from Houston; in a highly successful pairing with Caledonia. Jay was the top assistant at Caledonia under successful head coaches Jay Tolleson and Dan Goergen. Houston usually sent between 10-12 wrestlers every year to the program. Some of those athletes included state champ Zach Schneider and recent placewinner Alex Francis. Jay himself is the all-time winningest Houston wrestler (114-31-2) from when it was a stand-alone program. He shares the record with brother Kyle for most wins. Jay is the Vice President and Project Manager for Mead & Hunt Engineering Firm in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Donita Flodeen (Cannon Falls) Meritorious Service
Donita Flodeen is the wife of long-time Cannon Falls Coach Dudley Flodeen. Mother of three sons that all wrestled, Donita has been a table worker/helper for over 20 years. She has volunteered at countless local and regional events. There’s always a need for tournament help. Donita has worked at the MSHSL State Tournament for over two decades. She has also been a table worker at many National Collegiate Wrestling Tournaments, USA Wrestling Nationals in Fargo, MN/USA Kids State, Freestyle and Greco Tournaments, and USA Wrestling Events in Las Vegas. Donita has served as the Membership Director Chair for MN/USA Wrestling. Wrestling has been lucky and blessed to have such outstanding long-time help in the likes of Donita Flodeen!
— Spencer Yohe, MCC Region 1 HOF Chair