Marty Morgan

Where are they now: 10 years after vanishing, Cole Konrad is one of MMA’s greatest what-ifs

The saga of Cole Konrad has long been an obsession of mine. Or rather, how it ended and what happened afterward. The mystery and absurdity beneath it all.

I may be the only person under age 35 to feel that way, but I can’t help it. Because 10 years later, Konrad is still the unicorn. The undefeated champion who pulled off one of the sport’s great escapes. The 300-pound goliath who woke up one morning, tiptoed out the back door and vanished into thin air, never to be heard from again. Why? It’s a page of MMA lore that will forever read like a Mad Libs on meth: One of the most decorated American heavyweight wrestlers of his era, famously hailed by Brock Lesnar as “the strongest son of a b**** I’ve ever met,” yet he throws it all away overnight without even a look back?

Just to work in dairy??

“Cole Konrad was the toughest guy in the room. In Brock Lesnar’s room, with all the Minnesota wrestlers, he was the guy,” remembers longtime coach Erik Paulson. Continue reading at mmafighting.com →

The Guillotine – March 18, 2021

The March 18, 2021 issue of The Guillotine has arrived! Content in this issue includes: The Best Is Yet To Come - Mounds View Wrestling | Overcoming Adversity and Near Misses Together - Rob Ullyott and Detroit Lakes Wrestling | Lace 'Em Up | Camps-Clinics-Training | MWCA Report | High School Rankings | Ask The Doc | View From The Matbird Seat | The Secret Weapon - Garrett Nelson | Officially Speaking | Where Have They Gone? - Steve Carr | Performance Nutrition - Power-Up With Produce.

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The Best Is Yet To Come

Mounds View Wrestling

By Brian Jerzak

Minnesota wrestling fans are used to seeing some of the blue blood programs with a zero in the loss column late into the season. Programs like Simley, Kasson-Mantorville, Shakopee, and St. Michael-Albertville routinely post outstanding regular-season records. One team that stayed undefeated late into the regular season this year might surprise you. The Mounds View Mustangs won their first seventeen dual meets. The season is shaping up to be their most successful since the Mustangs took fourth place at the state tournament in 2007. The best thing for head coach Dan Engebretson – if they make it to State this year or not – is the best is yet to come.

"We are a young team," Engebretson said. "We have three ninth graders and three eighth-graders starting on varsity. We didn't know what to expect, and they are overproducing. They are performing great. Different wrestlers have been stepping up every week. It has been a fun ride so far."

The team is wrestling with confidence beyond their years.

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National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Minnesota Chapter Inducts 9

On Saturday, April 21st the NWHOF Minnesota Chapter held their 16th annual ceremony and inducted nine distinguished members who have contributed significantly to Minnesota Wrestling. The Awards Ceremony was held at the Holiday Inn Austin, Minn.

Inductees/honorees were Tim Penny as Outstanding American from Minnesota. Donny Wichmann received the State Medal of Courage Award from Minnesota. Honorees for the Lifetime Service Award were Gerry Bakke, Dale Benjamin, Gary Hindt, Ted Lelwica, Marty Morgan, John Oxton, and J Robinson.

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NWHOF to Induct 9 new members at the Minnesota Chapter Banquet on April 21st

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Minnesota Chapter Banquet will take place on Saturday, April 21st in Austin, Minn.

Inductees/honorees will be Tim Penny as Outstanding American from Minnesota. Donny Wichmann will receive the State Medal of Courage Award from Minnesota. Honorees for the Lifetime Service Award are Gerry Bakke, Dale Benjamin, Gary Hindt, Ted Lelwica, Marty Morgan, John Oxton, and J Robinson.

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The National Wrestling Hall of Fame to Induct 9 new members at the Minnesota Chapter Banquet on April 21st

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Minnesota Chapter is proud to announce the induction of Tim Penny as their Outstanding American from Minnesota. Donny Wichmann will receive the State Medal of Courage Award from Minnesota. Honorees for the Lifetime Service Award are Gerry Bakke, Dale Benjamin, Gary Hindt, Ted Lelwica, Marty Morgan, John Oxton, and J Robinson.

The Hall of Fame Banquet will be held Saturday, April 21, 2018, at the Austin Holiday Inn Conference Center, right off I-90, Exit 178A. The reception will begin at 2 p.m. and a Silent Auction will be held from 2 to 4 p.m.The banquet and induction ceremonies will begin at 3 p.m. This is an opportunity for you to honor these great individuals and to promote the positive aspects of our oldest and greatest sport – wrestling!

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Wrestling is a Family Affair

By Brian Jerzak

From a very young age, Marty Morgan has been involved in some aspect of wrestling. From youth wrestling, through his time as the Minnesota Gophers' head wrestling assistant, and beyond, Morgan has been involved in the sport. Wrestling has always been a big influence on his life. It has had almost as much influence as his family. For Morgan, wrestling has always been – and always will be – a family affair.

"My three oldest brothers were all professional boxers, and my dad ended up switching to wrestling. Three of us, the younger brothers – we had six boys total – the three younger ones, we all switched into wrestling. I just followed my brothers who were older than me. We were at Kennedy High School, which was a strong program in the early 80’s in which we were state champions twice. My brothers both went on to become college All-Americans and were both on the Olympic team. I had some good mentors right in my own house."

Morgan was a very good high school wrestler, but could never get over the hump and become a state champion. After he got into college Morgan got over the hump. He won two national championships – one with (at the time) Division II North Dakota State and one with Minnesota.

"When I got to college I became an NCAA champion which is probably my number one athletic moment."

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The Guillotine – October 17, 2008

The October 17, 2008 issue of The Guillotine has arrived! Content in this issue includes: Lace ‘Em Up, MWCA Report, Open Tournament Calendar, Officially Speaking, One-On-One with Marty Morgan, Fall Wrestling Clinics, Where Have They Gone?, Ask the Doc, A numbers game - Dassel-Cokato, Summer Wrestling in Review, Coaching Changes, Through the Eyes of Mom, MWCA Fall Clinic, RevWrestling.com Rankings, USA Wrestling Junior/Cadet Nationals, MN/USA Wrestling Awards Banquet.

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