North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame


2008 Inductees

Name
Accomplishments
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


Current Hall of Fame Members

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 Peterson
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 Humphreys
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" Anderson
One of two coaches to receive COTY Honors in both Class A and Class B, Coached several individual Champions at Napoleon and Bismarck Century.
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 2-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
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.



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