WRESTLING HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

Name Accomplishments
Harold L. Peterson Father of North Dakota Wrestling, began in Williston

Dean Bachmeier First NAIA Champion from North Dakota, wrestled for Dickinson State.

Dave Stewart First 4-time North Dakota State Champion, wrestled for Willison.

Bill Demaray First NCAA Division II Champion from North Dakota.

Adrian Nelson Williston Sportswriter who reported the 1st two State Tourneys from Williston.

Vern Gale First North Dakota College Wrestling Coach, started at Valley City State.

John Pederson Sportswriter from Bismarck who actively promoted wrestling in its early and
formative years.
Jerry Halmrast North Dakota's first National Wrestling Coach of the Year, a leader in North Dakota
wrestling for many years from Bismarck.
Lee Petersen NCAA Division II Champion from NDSU & Bismarck.

Gary Hoffman NJCAA 2-time National Chamption from BJC and Ashley.

Ed Maisey 4-time WAC Champion for BYU, NCAA Division I All-American, State Champion from
Williston.
Phil Reimnitz NCAA Division II Champion from NDSU & Bismarck.

Tom Lowe NCAA Division II placewinner for NDSU, 3-time State Champion from Minot.

Roger Kellar First North Dakota NJCAA Champion, wrestled for BJC and St. Mary's

Tony Huck 2-time NAIA Champion for Valley City State College from New Salem.

Al Larson Carrington coach started foreign exchange programs in North Dakota.

Don Lemnus Valley City State College coach for 22 years, produced 44 Conference Champions
and 13 All-Americans
Rodney Anderson 2-time State Champion and longtime promoter of North Dakota wrestling from
Lisbon.
Malcolm McLeod 4-time NCAA Division III All-American and 1-time NAIA All-American from West
Fargo
Mark Reimnitz NCAA Division II Champion for NDSU from Bismarck.

Bill Barney Longtime Fargo wrestling coach and co-originator of North Dakota Wrestling Hall of
Fame.
Dean Hermes Williston coach and co-originator of North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Dave Haas NCAA Division II placewinner from Valley City.

Kurt Lesser NAIA Champion for Dickinson State College from Minot.

Paul Syvrud 3-time NAIA Champion for Jamestown College from Mandan.

Lon Brew 3-time All-American for NDSU from Bismarck High.

Andy DeCoteau 4-time NDCAC Conference Champion for Mayville State from Belcourt.

Gary Dietz Bismarck Junior College All-American from Bismarck High.

John Christen NCC Champion, NCAA Division II placewinner, Academic All-American for UND from
Minot Ryan.
Kent Ness 2-time State Champion for Devils Lake, NDCAC Champion for BSC, NCC Champion
for NDSU.
Mike Norland Coach of 6 State Championship teams from Velva.

Mark Carter 2-time State Champion for Mayville-Portland, 2-time NAIA All-American, At Bismarck
High, his 1991 team ranked #2 in USA & 1992 team ranked #1 in USA.

Randy Burwick 2-time State Champion for Dickinson, 4-time NDCAC Champion and 1985 National
Champion for DSU.
Keith Burwick 2-time State Champion for Dickinson, 3-time NDCAC Champion, 1977 North Dakota
Athlete of the Year.
Hank Pankratz 3-time State Champion for Dickinson, 2-time NDCAC Champion for DSU.

Mike Schaff 2-time NJCAA All-American. Ten State Championships at Bismarck High.

Jeff Schumacher 4-time All-American NJCAA and NCAA Division II. National NJCAA Coach of the
Year at BSC.
Bert Gums Coached at Garrison and coached 4 State Championship teams at Napoleon.

Troy Humphrey State Champion from Carrington. Nationsal NAIA Champion at Western Montana in
1988.
George Bowman 2-time State Champion from Grand Forks Red River, NCAA Division I national
qualifier for University of Minnesota.
Stan Halling Longtime coach at Hughes Junior High in Bismarck. Coached many Century &
Bismarck High State Champions.
Dave Mellen All-American at Dickinson State College. Coached 21 years at Mandan High School

Charlie Wagner State Heavyweight Champion for Bismarck High, 3-time NDCAC Champion, 2-time
college All-American.
Terry Steiner 2-time State Champion for Bismarck Century. All-American and National Champ at
Iowa.
Troy Steiner 3-time State Champion for Bismarck Century. All-American and National Champ at
Iowa.
James Buchli State Champion for Fargo Central, USA Astronaut.

Lance Koenig 3-time State Champion for Carrington and All-American at NDSU.

Brett Maughan 4-time State Champion for Fargo North, formerly held State record for consecutive
individual victories (126).
Mike Armstrong 1970 Captain at Bismarck High, 2-time Rotary Champion, Founder of Dickinson
Wrestling Club.
Nick Storhaug State Class B 2nd Best Career Won/Lost Record (217-27) at Lisbon.

Duane Hennessy Longtime Grand Forks Central Coach and Wrestling promoter for North Dakota.

Dan Unruh Coach and veteran State Wrestling Official from Wahpeton.

Joel Vettel NCAA National Placewinner from NDSU and High School State Champion for
Hillsboro.
John Richter 1983 State Champion for Bismarck St. Mary's, 2-time All-American for Bismarck
State College
Tom Christen Williston High School Coach for 22 years, Overall record of 253-158-1, Longtime
promoter of wrestling.
Mike Seeger 5-time Placwinner (1992 Champion), 2-time National Champion, University of Mary
Outstanding Wrestler, NAIA and 1996 ND College Athlete of the Year.
Howard "Bucky" One of two coaches to receive COTY Honors in both Class A and Class B, Coached
several individual Champions at Napoleon and Bismarck Century.
Anderson
Linda Anderson Organized first Northern Plains Regional for Kids and Cadets, Served 25 years as
Secretary to USA Wrestling of ND.
Clay Nagel 2-time North Dakota State Champion, Coaching record 304-83-5.

Scott Braun 2-time State Champion at Bismarck Century and 3-time Division II National Runner-
up.
LeRoy Boesflug State Runner-Up, Coach and Official.

Chad Renner 3-time undefeated State Champion at Bismarck, USAW Jr. Nat'l Freestyle Champ &
Runner-up, NCAA Division I All-American at Oregon State.
Kasey Gilliss 3-time State Champion for Bismarck Century, 1995 Mr. Wrestler of North Dakota,
High school record of 143-3; NCAA Division I All-American at University of Iowa

Garry Opp 8-time Region COTY, State COTY, 49 consecutive dual victories, 9 consecutive
tourney victories, 1993 State Champions, 7 individual champions.

Ken Gabriel 3-time Rotary Champion & 1973 State Champion, Coached 5 State Champion teams
and 41 individual Champions as assistant/head coach, and 4 Mr. Wrestlers.

Leroy McCormick 1981 State Champion at Bismarck, 1984 NDCAC Champion & 1985 NAIA All-
American at DSC, 3 Mr. Wrestlers and 13 individual champions as HC at Century.

Brian Biel 3-time State Champion at Beulah, NAIA Runner-up 2000 and Champion 2001 for
University of Mary
Dale Beckman Coaching record 362-191-8, 27 Individual State Champions, 115 State placers
during 32 years as head coach at New Salem, coached 3 National Champions.

Clint Lien Larimore head wrestling coach for 31 years with 228 Dual and Triangular wins, 20
years elementary wrestling coach, 13 years wrestling official, 40 years Athletic
Director and promoter of wrestling.
Ron Zehren Four-year letterman at NDSU. Coached 28 years at Jamestown High School, 22
years as head coach with a record of 214-69-5.
Milo Trusty Mandan High School's first State Champion, 110-11 career record at VCSU,
pioneered 3 successful ND wrestling programs: Century HS, U of Mary and Matpac
WC, 4 time National NAIA Coach of the Year at U of Mary.
Dave Hilliard First 5-Time Lakota State Champion in North Dakota, career record 162-9, 87 pins,
lives in Center now.
Kris Nelson Two-time high school State Champion, three-time collegiate All-American, National
Champ and MVP of the 2000 NCAA Division Tournament from NDSU.

Jeff Enzminger High School Record 171-21, College Record 101-24, two-time State Champion, four-
time Regional Champion and 1994 Outstanding Graduating Senior, two-time All-
American in college.
Vince Ames 3-time UND letter winner at University of North Dakota. 23 years as head coach with
a record of 292 -171-4. Over 40 years of involvement with wrestling. Inducted into
the GFC Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003.
Duane Barnhardt 2 time state wrestling champion for Century High School. Career high school record
of 108 wins and 15 losses. All -American at Bismarck State College. 2 time All-
American at University of North Dakota.
Dennis Friestad Head Wrestling Coach at Valley City High School for 39 years. Class A Wrestling
Coach of the Year in 1987. 2 time state wrestling champion for Napoleon High
School. 4 year letter winner and 2 time MVP in wrestling at Valley City State
University. 4 time NDCAC wrestling champion for Valley City State University. NAIA
All-American placing third at 157 lbs in 1965. NDCAC Outstanding Wrestler Award in
1965. Valley State University Athletic Hall of Fame member .

Mark Pazdernik High school record 197- 4 time high school state champion from New Salem. 1998
National Champ in NCAA Div II 3 time All-American from NDSU.
Frank Fish Coached 29 individual state champions and 3 state championship teams at Watford
City.
Roger Loerch Broadcasted 20 state wrestling tournaments and is “The Voice” of wrestling in
Harvey.
Mike Peterson Three time state champion, high school All-American from Carrington.

Dave Reimnitz State champion at Bismarck High, Junior College Hall of Fame Member & National
Champ (BSC), NAIA All-American (Eastern Washington), Junior Pan Am Champion.

Ryan Wolters State Champion; Second Place-Folkstyle Senior Nationals; Second Place-USA
Wrestling Greco Nationals; Three time All-American at NDSU including 1995
National Champion
Theo Shalesky Long-time Hettinger assistant high school coach and head coach of Hettinger Kids
Wrestling Club
Brandon Lemer Two-time state champion from Harvey; three-time All-American at Jamestown
College
Lee Nagel Long-time head coach in Wahpeton

James Kisgen Two-time state champion from Devils Lake; two-time NJCAA All-American at BSC;
two-time NCAA D2 All-American at UND; Head coach of McKendree University since
starting the program
Norman Kleppe Head coach in Lakota where he coached David Hilliard; long-time assistant coach in
Napoleon; part of the staff that coached Napoleon to six consecutive state dual &
individual championships
Jack Maughan Two-time state champion at Fargo North; two-time All-American at NDSU under
father Bucky Maughan; head coach for 22 seasons at University of Northern
Colorado
Dave Michaelson Long-time assistant and head coach at Dickinison High; produced 15 individual state
champions & 76 state placewinners; WDA coach of the year 4 times; state coach of
the year in 2003.
Scott Owens Two-time state champion from Devils Lake; state Triple Crown winner; two-time
Cadet National champion, three time Junior National champion. NAIA national
runner up twice at U-Mary
Adrian Simmons Two-time state champion from Grand Forks Central; coached Grand Forks Freestyle
Club out of high school; four year wrestler at UND; three-time D2 national qualifier

Mark Slater Three-time state champion from Minot Bishop Ryan; played football at the University
of Minnesota and in the NFL for six years with San Diego and Philadelphia

Jason Wagner Two-time state champion from Carrington; US Army National champion; wrestled at
the University of Minnesota and UND
Rhett Hilzendeger Bismarck High state champion in 1972, All-American at Bismarck Junior College,
conference champion at D-1 Arizona, All-American at Moorhead State

Bill Kelly Started wrestling programs in Wyndmere and Enderlin; head coach at Central Cass
from 1968-1976; middle school wrestling coach at Jamestown from 1976-2001

Rick Mellmer Coach for the Dickinson Wrestling Club for 25 years coaching 18 high school state
champions and 10 triple crown (state freestyle, state Greco-Roman, & state high
school title) champions
Chuck Seamands 128-25-1 career record at Hettinger High School including 65-0-1 record during his
junior and senior years and state titles at 105 and 112 pounds
Dusty Swanson Three-time state champion from Fargo South compiling a 128-28 reocrd and earning
Mr. Wrestler in 1998; qualified for World Team Trials in 2005; wrestled at NDSU from
1998-2003
Rich Voegeli Three-time state place winner at Ellendale High School; All-American wrestler at
Northern State in Aberdeen; wrestling official and wrestling broadcaster for Oakes

Jason Anderson Three-time state champion from Carrington High School; national high school honorable
mention wrestler by ASICS; NCAA Division II All-American at University of North Dakota
where he placed 6th; volunteer wrestling coach for Carrington and Jamestown wrestling
programs

Delaney Berger Two-time undefeated state champion for Mandan High School; wrestled at the University of
Minnesota; was a Freestyle Espoir National Runner up, Greco Roman All-American and
University National freestyle All-American.

Ron Gadberry Long-time wrestling coach for Moorhead High School and Hillsboro High School; leading
voice for the state dual tournament championships; North Dakota record was 241-89 with
28 tournament championships.

Cy Kittleson Assistant wrestling coach at Velva for 31 years; A two-time state place winner at Velva and
went on to wrestle for NDSSS where he was a national qualifier
Kris Lengenfelder Undefeated state champion and runner up from Bismarck High; two-time NJCAA National
Tournament runner up; two-time Division II third-place finisher at UND
Mike McCormick Two-time state champion and one-time runner up from Bismarck Century; Division II All-
American at NDSU; placed third in Espoir Nationals in freestyle, second in the Junior
Olympics in Freestyle and Greco, and third in the Junior Olympics in Sambo

Troy Sabot Four-time state champion from Bismarck Century; won the 1995 prestigious Ohio Ironman
championship; All-American at North Idaho College