Duane “Ottie” Ottness, Hastings Community TV, and KDUZ/KARP/KGLB Recognized
The Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association is delighted to recognize a broadcaster, a TV station, and a radio network with our 2023 Media Award. Each year, the MWCA accepts nominations for people or entities that go above and beyond promoting wrestling in their area. This year we have three outstanding recipients.
The first recipient is Duane “Ottie” Ottness, who is receiving this award posthumously as he passed away this past October. Ottie was nominated by Dustin Weege of Becker High School. Dustin shares:
Duane “Ottie” Otness has made some significant impacts as a sports broadcaster for Wright County radio for over 25 years. Ottie had been a wrestler in his prep days at Wayzata High School, and his love for the sport carried on throughout his life. Ottie traveled around to provide play-by-play for on-air broadcasts for listeners to experience the excitement of wrestling. Ottie provided updates from around Wright County and worked to set up for highlight matches in the area. Ottie broadcasted with a lot of passion and dug into each wrestler’s information and with coaches to gather insights to share over the air. Ottie always held a consistent presence at the State Wrestling tournament to provide updates about how local wrestlers were doing in the great event as well as to highlight neat things going on from around the state. Ottie and his wife Rita were great wrestling fans and partnered together in sharing incredible smiles and laughs. There was always a ton of energy surrounding the Otness family, and it was nearly impossible to ever leave a conversation without absorbing at least some of that joy and passion. Ottie’s daughters may not have wrestled, but they certainly got to know the sport from their father, and Ottie was excited to have grandchildren that were excited about wrestling.
The second recipient is Hastings Community TV, as nominated by Hastings Head Wrestling Coach Tim Haneberg. Tim shares that Hastings Community TV goes above and beyond for not only wrestling but all sports for Hastings High School. The high-level coverage includes broadcasters, team scores, and live replay.
The third entity is the radio conglomerate of KDUZ/KARP/KGLB and Sports Director Joel Niemeyer. The stations were nominated by Hutchinson Head Coach Todd Card. Not only is Hutchinson Tiger wrestling regularly on the airwaves, but so is wrestling coverage of six MSHSL Sections and over 13 teams. Joel has worked to build up broadcast teams that are knowledgeable about wrestling and can help paint the picture of the action for the listeners.