2023 MWCA Award Recipients Honored
Benson, Minn. – Eleven new members were inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Dave Bartelma Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 30th, in Benson, Minn.
The new inductees honored were Blaine Dravis, Greg Dravis, Jeff Dravis, Todd Fuller, Chad Kraft, Steve Ricard, Darren Ripley, Bob Ruedy, Joel Toedter, Dalen Wasmund, and Neal Hofland. Each new inductee gave a speech.
On Saturday, April 22nd, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Minnesota Chapter, held their annual Honors Banquet. The celebration was held at the Austin Country Club in Austin, Minn. The banquet room was packed and included many former Hall of Fame inductees.
The 2023 Outstanding American Inductee was Steve Carlson. Inductees for the Lifetime Service Award were Loren Hacker, Mark Krier, Larry Mollins, Cindy Nelson, Al “Swede” Olson, Bill Olson, Steve Ricard, Richard Saxlund, and Joel Viss.
Two distinguished members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame – two-time Olympic Medalist Dennis Koslowski and Order of Merit honoree Sandy Stevens – will serve as co-grand marshals of Saturday’s Green Jacket Parade.
The event will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the Austin Country Club, 1202 28th St. N, Austin, MN, in conjunction with the 2023 NWHOF-MN Chapter Hall of Fame Day Celebration.
Due to a schedule conflict, The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Minnesota Chapter Banquet is moving from the Austin Holiday Inn Conference Center to the Austin Country Club, located at 1202 28th St NE, Austin, MN.
The Banquet will still take place on Saturday, April 22, 2023. The schedule includes a social hour at Noon, dinner at 1:00 pm, and program & inductions from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. A Silent Auction will be from Noon to 6:00 pm.
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Minnesota Chapter proudly announces the induction of ten new members for the Class of 2023. Inductees are Steve Carlson, Loren Hacker, Mark Krier, Larry Mollins, Cindy Nelson, Al Olson, Bill Olson, Steve Ricard, Richard Saxlund, and Joel Viss.
The Banquet will be held on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the Austin Country Club. The schedule includes a social hour at Noon, dinner at 1:00 pm, and program & inductions from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. A Silent Auction will be from Noon to 6:00 pm.
By Jeff Bro Olsen
Robert “Thors” Thorson has to be one the most unlikely wrestling coaches in the entire state.
He never wrestled in either high school or college.
Eventually, he became a renowned practice room wrestler after he arrived in Fertile in 1965 to teach elementary school.
Now retired, Thors, as he is called, turned 80 on August 16.
“I graduated from Halstad High School, which is about 70 miles north of Moorhead.
Play basketball in high school?
“Yeah, I did. I wasn’t worth a damn. I sat on the bench the whole damn time except my senior year. I think I scored a total of one point, but I could guard really well.”