Hall of Famer Tom Beyer passed away on July 23, 2022. He was 64 years old. A native of Morris, Minn., Beyer was a long-time coach at Willmar High School in Willmar, Minn. He was inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Dave Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2020.
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Local Special Ed Teacher Wins National Wrestling Title
Chad Otterness won the USA Wrestling Masters Division D 70kg championship
ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Wrestling and special education are a pair that don’t seem like they’d go together. But for JM’s Chad Otterness, he says his students inspire him.
“When I see them work as hard as they do, when they have certain particular limitations, that always tells me if they have that drive and fire to overcome their obstacles, then there’s no reason I can’t continue to work,” Otterness said.
Talk to Otterness, and there’s no doubt he has a fire in his belly. He says some of his students display that same fire — and that helps him want to stay on top of his craft.
“We’ve had some very competitive kids in my class that have played, they’ve been involved in Special Olympics, adaptive floor hockey, adaptive softball, and their love of competition has been higher than almost any other athletes I’ve been around because their desire to win really stands out,” he said. “They will go at lengths to be successful.” Watch/continue reading at kttc.com →
National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Minnesota Chapter Inducts 9
On Saturday, April 23rd the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Minnesota Chapter held their annual Honors Banquet. The celebration was held at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Austin, Minn. The banquet room was packed and included many former Hall of Fame inductees.
Inductees for the Lifetime Service Award were Steve Carr, Bill Germann, Jim Harstad, Mike Hendrickson, Dan Jinks, Don Krusemark, Jerry Reker, Chuck Siefert, and Joel Skillings.
NWHOF-MN Chapter Banquet to take place this weekend
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Minnesota Chapter Banquet will take place on Saturday, April 23rd. The event will be held at the Austin Holiday Inn Conference Center in Austin, Minn.
Let’s TakeDown Cancer Together – February 7th – February 20th, 2022
Since the inception of the TakeDown Cancer program, communities from the Midwest and beyond, have raised over $250,000 for the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund. Proceeds go directly to fund cancer research and programs that benefit cancer patients.
Due to the COVID pandemic, limited fan events, and stresses on coaches, TakeDown Cancer has decided to give everyone the opportunity to chip in with an online donation. From February 7th-20th, wrestling families can donate directly to the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund.
NWHOF to Induct 9 new members at the MN Chapter Banquet in the Spring
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Minnesota Chapter is proud to announce the induction of nine new members for the Class of 2022. Inductees for the Lifetime Service Award are Steve Carr, Bill Germann, Jim Harstad, Mike Hendrickson, Dan Jinks, Don Krusemark, Jerry Reker, Chuck Siefert, and Joel Skillings.
Chuck Jean 1949-2021
Hall of Famer Chuck Jean passed away on September 29, 2021. He was 72 years old. A native of Albert Lea, Minn., Jean was a Minnesota state champion and four-time college national champion. He was inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Dave Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1989.
Gerry Bakke 1950-2021
Hall of Famer Gerry Bakke passed away on September 25, 2021. He was 71 years old. A native of Albert Lea, Minn., Bakke was a long-time coach at Buffalo High School in Buffalo, Minn. He was inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Dave Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 20218.