DAVID BARTELMA “FATHER OF MINNESOTA WRESTLING”
David C. Bartelma, or “Bart” as he was affectionately called by his wrestlers and known by wrestling fans, was largely responsible for planting the wrestling seed in Minnesota. Bart was a transplanted Iowan. He had spent a decade coaching wrestling in Iowa, first at Iowa Falls and then at Cresco, where he also served as principal. He directed six undefeated teams and his 1933 and 1935 teams won the Iowa State High School Championships.
Bart joined the University of Minnesota Athletic Staff as the first full-time wrestling coach in 1935. He nurtured the wrestling seed in Minnesota not only by profound wrestling knowledge but also by his contagious enthusiasm and ability to convince others of the merits of this sport. In addition to these attributions, Bart worked indefatigably to popularize amateur wrestling. He staged the first high school wrestling tournament in 1937 (not sanctioned by the MSHSL). The first tournament was held at the University of Minnesota Field House with only eight weight classes (95#, 105#, 125#, 135#, 145#, 155#, 165#, and Unlimited); Minneapolis Marshall was the first team champion. From the first state tournament, where only 13 schools participated, to our present very successful state tournament, where 260 schools support wrestling teams, wrestling has come a long way. The success of Minnesota Wrestling is the direct result of the hard work and dedication fostered by David C. “Bart” Bartelma, “The Father of Minnesota Wrestling.”
-From Acorn To Mighty Oak, by John Matlon, 1969
Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame Nomination Application
- Blaine Dravis, Athlete
- Greg Dravis, Athlete
- Jeff Dravis, Athlete
- Todd Fuller, Athlete
- Chad Kraft, Athlete
- Steve Ricard, Contributor
- Darren Ripley, Coach
- Bob Ruedy, Athlete
- Joel Toedter, Contributor
- Dalen Wasmund, Coach
- Neal Hofland, Pioneer
- Steve Carlson, Athlete
- Neil Jennissen, Coach
- Dan Lefebvre, Coach
- Tony Nelson, Athlete
- Jim Repke, Contributor-Official
- Ron Sanders, Coach
- Zach Sanders, Athlete
- Kevin Steinhaus, Athlete
2021 Inductees
- Jeff Becker, Contributor
- Troy Haglund, Contributor
- Bob Mueller, Coach
- Chris Steele, Athlete
- Tom Campanaro, Contributor
- Mark Costello, Athlete
- Tom Gravalin, Coach
- Gary Heydt, Official
- Don Krusemark, Coach
- Joel Skillings, Coach
- Dave Droegemueller – Athlete
- Loren Hacker – Contributor
- Dan Jinks – Coach
- Don Kuusinen – Contributor
- Brian “Buck” Lindberg – Contributor
- Brian Bakke – Contributor
- Tom Campanaro – Contributor
- Mark Costello – Athlete
- Bob Mueller – Coach
- Marty Aho – Contributor
- Chad Erikson – Athlete
- Brad Gibson – Athlete
- Maury Meyer – Coach
- Doug Paulson – Contributor
- Dennis Schermerhorn – Contributor
- Bill Schmidt – Contributor
- Wes Tessman – Coach
- Larry Goodnature – Coach
- Mark Jensen – Coach
- Ed Kane – Contributor
- Paul Kuznik – Athlete
- Pat McNamara – Athlete
- Chris Nelson – Athlete
- Jim Williams – Contributor
- Roger Wilson – Contributor
- Glenn Gerdes – Pioneer
- Merv Jensen – Pioneer
- Fred Stoeker – Pioneer
- Russ Holland, Coach
- Bill Germann, Coach
- Bill Olson, Contributor
- Jim Nunn, Coach
- Tom Press, Athlete
- Dick Saxlund, Contributor
- Steve Saxlund, Athlete
- Mark Voyce, Coach
- Gene Lybbert, Pioneer
- LeRoy Maas, Pioneer
- Harry Bockhaus, Pioneer
- Paul Cyr, Coach
- Lyle Freudenberg, Coach
- Tom Keating, Contributor
- Al “Swede” Olson, Contributor
- Brad Pike, Athlete
- Eric Sanders, Athlete
- Paul Vaith, Coach
- Joel Viss, Coach
- Dave Cummings, Coach
- Jay Johnson, Coach
- Chris Lembeck, Athlete
- Jeff Mergen, Coach
- Corey Olson, Athlete
- Gary Pelcl, Athlete
- Mick Rose, Contributor
- Ivan Zastrow, Athlete
- Perry Fink, Coach
- Nate Hendrickson, Athlete
- Don Hunke, Coach
- Ron Jacobson, Athlete
- Matt Nagel, Athlete
- Rick Rud, Contributor
- Jon Rhodes, Coach
- Randy Zimmer, Coach
- Steve Johnson, Coach
- Roger Knutson, Contributor
- Kory Mosher, Athlete
- Rodd Olson, Coach
- Jerry Reker, Contributor
- Dan Snobl, Contributor
- Dan Stifter, Coach
- Dave Zuniga, Athlete
- Gary Alexander, Athlete
- Luke Becker, Athlete
- Bill Hinchley,Contributor
- Dean Hiscocks, Contributor
- Duane Koslowski, Athlete
- Chuck Ofsthun, Athlete
- Jeff “Bro” Olsen, Coach
- Howard Schultz, Contributor
- 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
- Jim Anderson, Athlete
- Dale Benjamin, Contributor
- Tom Beyer, Coach
- Stan Christ, Athlete
- Brandon Paulson, Athlete
- Ken Vogt, Coach
- Vik Wilson, Coach
- Ron Ankeny, Athlete
- James Baker, Contributor
- Ronald Cram, Contributor
- Ed Ferkingstad, Coach
- Mike Houck, Athlete
- Dennis Koslowski, Athlete
- Lynden Nelson, Coach
- Jim Axtell, Athlete
- Bill Farmer, Coach/Contributor
- Mike Farrell, Athlete
- Brian Gust, Athlete
- Terry Hawes, Coach
- Les Kertscher, Coach
- Andy McCarty, Contributor
- Chris Short, Athlete
- Bruce Bartels, Coach
- John Miller, Athlete
- Ray Miller, Coach/Contributor
- John Panning, Athlete
- Albert Russ, Athlete
- Pat Short, Contributor
- Harlan “Butch” Steen, Coach
- Jim Tanniehill, Athlete
- Ron Ackerman, Contributor
- Al DeLeon, Athlete
- Pat Dorn, Athlete
- Dennis Kaatz, Coach
- Mark Krier, Athlete
- Larry Lyden, Athlete
- Pat Marcy, Athlete
- Clay Nagel, Coach
- Steve Bechtold, Coach
- Jerry Cleveland, Coach
- Jeff Lamphere, Athlete
- Pat Neu, Athlete
- Steve Techam, Coach
- Dale Lund, Contributor
- Gordy Morgan, Athlete
- John Morgan, Athlete
- J Robinson, Coach
- Jeff Swenson, Coach
- Eugene Hildebrandt, Coach
- Bob Thorson, Coach
- Harlan Leopold, Athlete
- Byron Olson, Contributor
- Bill Bredeson, Contributor
- Douglas Dufty – Contributor
- Jack Eustice – Coach/Athlete
- George Graff – Contributor
- Gregg Greeno – Coach
- Ken Schmoker – Coach
- William Brunner, Contributor
- Kenneth A. Ebert, Coach
- Elwood “Woody” Ferry, Contributor
- Reid Lamphere, Athlete
- Marty Morgan, Athlete
- Jack Willhite, Coach
2000 Inductees
- Charles Bishop, Coach
- Kenneth Leuer, Athlete
- Mike Mazzitelli, Coach
- Milroy Tollin, Coach
- Gerry Bakke, Coach
- Richard Ericksrud, Coach
- Mike Langlais, Athlete
- Mike McArthur, Athlete
- James Slifka, Coach
1998 Inductees
- Barry Bennett, Athlete
- Scot Davis, Coach
- Matt Demaray, Athlete
- Neal Skaar, Coach
- Dan Zilverburg, Coach
1997 Inductees
- Richard Chakolis, Coach
- David Hazewinkel, Athlete
- Jim Hazewinkel, Athlete
- Larry Zilverburg, Athlete
1996 Inductees
- Mike Bredeck, Coach
- Ron Gadberry, Coach
- Bill Hubbard, Coach
- Mark Lange, Athlete
- Mike Rybak, Athlete
1995 Inductees
- Jeri Beshey, Contributor
- Jim Beshey, Contributor
- David Erickson, Coach
- Evan Johnson, Athlete
- Lewis Kennedy, Athlete
- Mike Niemczyk, Coach
1994 Inductees
- Charlie Coffee, Athlete
- Douglas Dahl, Coach
- Joe Frank, Coach
- Dale Hanson, Athlete
- Gary Hindt, Coach
- Gary Rettke, Coach
1993 Inductees
- Noel Bailey, Coach
- James Carr, Coach
- Roger Gorham, Contributor
- Wayne Johnson, Coach
- Richard Pullen, Coach
1992 Inductees
- Dan Chandler, Athlete
- John DeLozier, Coach
- Tom Jean, Athlete
- Richard Kelvington, Coach
- Larry Mollins, Coach
- Leo Simon, Coach
- Walt Wenholz, Coach/Contributor
1991 Inductees
- David Arens, Coach
- Buzz Cummins, Coach
- Howard Leopold, Coach
- Dennis Roos, Coach
- Earl Stottler, Coach
1990 Inductees
- Dick Shiels, Coach
- Steve Carr, Wrestler
- Bill Demaray, Coach
- Gerry Gingles, Coach
- Dick Mueller, Coach
- Jim Short, Coach
- Virg Vagle, Coach
- Spencer Yohe, Contributor
1989 Inductees
- Jim Campbell, Wrestler
- Lyle Clem, Wrestler
- Ken Droegemueller, Coach
- Marlyn Hyland, Coach
- Charles Jean, Wrestler
- James Kamman, Wrestler
- James Martinez, Wrestler
- Kermit Selke, Wrestler
- Terry Sworsky, Coach
1988 Inductees
- Jim Bartels, Contributor
- Konnie Bartels, Contributor
- Burt Block, Jr., Contributor
- Paul Ehrhard, Coach
- John Fremling, Coach
- DeWaine Silker, Contributor
- Bill Sutter, Coach
1987 Inductees
- Richard Maher, Coach
- Horace Mayo, Coach
- James Van Gorden, Athlete
1986 Inductees
- Robert Dettmer, Athlete
- Dean Fox, Coach
- Clyde Ridenor, Coach
- Fr. William Wey, Contributor
1981 Inductees
- Chet Anderson, Coach
- Kermit Anderson, Coach
- Don Dravis, Coach
- Finn Grinaker, Coach
- Ron Malcolm, Coach
- Sky Wilcox, Coach
1980 Inductees
- Ray Christenson, Coach
- Eiler Hendrickson, Coach
- Chuck Lunder, Coach
- Jim Nelson, Coach
- Gene Olson, Coach
- John Philo, Coach
- Brad Rheingans, Athlete
- Harry Schlleff, Coach
- Fritz Soule, Coach
- Pete Veldman, Coach
- Bill Wasnick, Coach
1979 Inductees
- Jack Bengston, Coach
- Roy Minter, Coach
- Chuck Prunty, Coach
1978 Inductees
- Jim Kiffmeyer, Coach
- Bob Ryan, Coach
1977 Inductees
- Frank Heulskamp, Contributor
- Wally Johnson, Coach
1976 Inductees
- David Sohn, Coach
- Glen Swenson, Coach
1975 Inductees
- Ken Bergstedt, Coach
- Skip Nalan, Coach
- Virg Sales, Coach
1974 Inductees
- Dee Gause, Contributor
- Jack Gause, Coach
- Charlie Peterson, Coach
- Darrell Sohn, Coach
1973 Inductees
- Conrad Emerson, Coach
- John Grygelko, Coach
- Garth Lappin, Coach
- John Matlin, Coach
- Dr. Bill Manning, Coach
- Bob Board, Coach
- Alan Hendrickson, Coach
- Paul Krueger, Coach
- Rummy Macius, Coach
1972 Inductees
- Howard Peterson, Coach
- Alan Rice, Athlete
1971 Inductees
- Dick Black, Coach
- Luverne Klar, Coach
- Mike Tatone, Official
1970 Inductees
- Vern Gagne, Athlete
- Don Meyers, Coach
- Sue Meyers, Contributor
1969 Inductees
- Paul Becker, Coach
- Dave Bartelma, Athlete/Coach
- Paul Bengston, Coach
- Dr. Norman Borlaug, Athlete
- Mark Woodward, Coach