The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Minnesota Chapter Banquet originally set for April 25, 2020, has been moved to Sunday, September 13, 2020. The event will still be held at the Austin Holiday Inn Conference Center in Austin, Minn.
Continue readingNWHOF-MN Chapter Banquet Rescheduled to September 13
MANHEIM, Pa. – Augustana head wrestling coach Jason Reitmeier has been announced as a 2020 inductee into the National Wrestling Coaches Association Jim Koch Division II Hall of Fame.
A 1997 graduate of Augustana, Reitmeier is a member of the 2008 Augustana Hall of Fame Class as a student-athlete while he will join the NWCA Hall of Fame as a coach.
At the helm of the Vikings’ wrestling squad since 2003, Reitmeier is the all-time winningest coach in Augustana history, has coached four national champions and has had a wrestler earn All-America accolades in 15 of his 16 completed seasons. He has guided the Vikings to 11 top-five region showings along with a third-place and two runner-up finishes at nationals.
Continue readingAugustana’s Reitmeier Selected to NWCA Hall of Fame 2020 Class
By Jeff Bro Olsen
Let’s cut to the chase. Brian Bakke, a gifted athlete, got a raw deal in life being born with cystic fibrosis, an inherited life-threatening disorder that damages the lungs and digestive system.
But don’t tell that to Brian or his father, Jeff, the retired East Grand Forks High School head wrestling coach. They know that life throws spitballs and knockdowns. You just get right back up.
Jeff Bakke, a smaller version of Arnold Schwarzenegger and a former infantry officer in Vietnam, didn’t coddle his son. No sir!
Continue readingBrian Bakke is the National Medal of Courage Award Recipient
By Frank Rajkowski, SJU Writer/Video Producer
COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – When Maury Meyer heard the National Wrestling Coaches Association’s Minnesota Chapter was honoring the late Fr. Otto Weber ’57 with its Lifetime Achievement Award, the longtime coach and administrator at nearby Albany High School could not have been more pleased.
The award will be presented to the former coach and employee at both Saint John’s Prep and Saint John’s University in a ceremony to be held on Nov. 24 in the Great Hall.
The event runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The program itself is scheduled to begin at 2. The event is free, but donations are being accepted. Checks can be made payable to NWHOF-MN Chapter.
Continue readingFr. Otto Weber ’57 to be Honored by NWCA’s Minnesota Chapter Nov. 24
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Minnesota Chapter is proud to announce the induction of Bud Heidgerken as their Outstanding American from Minnesota. Brian Bakke will receive the State Medal of Courage Award from Minnesota. Honorees for the Lifetime Service Award are Tom Beyer, Mary Davis, Larry Goodnature, Mark Jensen, Don Kuusinen, Bill Schmidt, and the late Father Otto Weber.
By Matt Krumrie
It’s no secret wrestlers are tough, hardworking, and resilient.
Kevin Ahern was all of those and more as a student-athlete, wrestler, and football player at Simley High School in Inver Grove Heights in the late 1980s. After high school, Ahern went on to become an All-American wrestler at the University of St. Thomas, and for these accomplishments, and more, he is being inducted into the Simley High School Hall of Fame Friday, September 13 at halftime of the Simley football game against North Saint Paul.
Ahern – the 1988 Simley High School Male Athlete of the Year, finished in the top 10 in his class, was a three-time state qualifier, two-time state placewinner, 1988 state runner-up, and key member of Simley’s 1987 and 1988 state championship wrestling teams – the first in school history. He also earned Academic All-State honors in wrestling and finished his career with a record of 102-28-2.
Continue readingKevin Ahern to be inducted into Simley High School Hall of Fame
Eight new members were inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association (MWCA) Dave Bartelma Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 4th, 2019 in Benson, Minn.
The new inductees honored were Marty Aho, Chad Erikson, Brad Gibson, Maury Meyer, Doug Paulson, Dennis Schermerhorn, Bill Schmidt, and Wes Tessman.
Continue reading8 inducted into the 2019 Bartelma Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame
On Saturday, April 27th the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Minnesota Chapter held their 17th annual banquet and ceremony and inducted eight distinguished members who have contributed significantly to Minnesota Wrestling and beyond. The celebration was held at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Austin, Minn.
Over 300 people were in attendance, including 28 former Hall of Fame inductees.
Paul Marquart was honored as Outstanding American from Minnesota. Inductees for the Lifetime Service Award were Randy Baker, Jim Bartels, Paul Bengston, Paul Cyr, Lyle Freudenberg, Neal Skaar, and Randy Zimmer.
Continue readingNational Wrestling Hall of Fame, Minnesota Chapter Inducts 8