2008 NCAA II Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame
February 18, 2008
The Hall of Fame Committee for the NCAA II Wrestling Coaches
Association has announced that on March 13, 2008, four individuals will
be inducted into the Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame. The induction
will take place in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at the CROWNE PLAZA COMMERCE CLUB
(top floor) at 7:00 pm. A reception will precede the induction at 6:00
pm. The Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame Ceremony will be held in
conjunction with a reception for coaches and dignitaries on the
Thursday evening preceding the start of the 46th Annual NCAA II
National Wrestling Championships hosted by the University of Upper
Iowa. Tickets for the reception can be reserved at a cost of $25.00 by
emailing Mike Powicki at powickim@uiu.edu or calling him at 563-425-5336 no later than Wednesday, March 12th.
The thirteenth class of inductees includes four individuals being
inducted into the Athletes category. The hall of famers that are being
inducted into the Athletes category include: Gary Bentrim, wrestler at
the University of Northern Iowa from 1974-1978; Howie Gangestad,
wrestler at Minnesota State University-Mankato from 1962-1965; Larry
Amundson, wrestler at Minnesota State University-Mankato from
1965-1968; and Tony Kenning, wrestler at Minnesota State
University-Mankato from 1994-1996.
The NCAA II National Wrestling Championships were first held in 1963.
For the first eleven years it was called the NCAA College Division
Tournament. In 1974, when the NCAA started the divisional concept,
approximately half of the College Division schools continued competing
in the NCAA II Wrestling Championships and about half went into the
NCAA III. Since 1963, forty-five teams have been crowned National
Champions and four-hundred and fifty-four individual National
Championships have been awarded. The NCAA II Wrestling Coaches
Association feels that it is important to honor the NCAA II coaches and
wrestlers that have achieved greatness. These four inductees will join
the seventy-six inductees from the first twelve induction classes as
Division II Wrestling Hall of Famers.
Biographies of the new inductees and a list of all Hall of Fame members: 2008 Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee
Athlete
Gary Bentrim
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Gary Bentrim’s wrestling career began in Cedar Rapids, Iowa wrestling
for Jefferson High School. During his high school career he compiled an
82-8-1 record. During his junior year, he recorded a 28-1 record in
placing second in the Iowa State Championships. As a senior, he went
undefeated with a record of 27-0 at 126 pounds winning the 1973
individual state title and led his Jefferson High School team, coached
by Bill McNeil, to the Iowa class AAA State Championship. Following his
high school graduation, he placed third in Freestyle and fourth in
Greco-Roman at the Junior Olympic Nationals.
Gary enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa in the fall of 1973 to
wrestle for NCAA II Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Patten. He had a
phenomenal career wrestling for the Panthers. During his first two
years at UNI, he wrestled behind NCAA II Hall of Famers Jim Miller and
Ken Snyder. When he finally got his opportunity, he made the most of it
and won three consecutive NCAA II National Championships. In 1976, he
won the 142 pound championship, and his team placed third. In 1977 he
again won the 142 pound championship and his team again placed third.
In 1978, Gary’s season was marred with injuries and he missed several
competitions. Not wanting to bump out wrestlers that had competed most
of the season at 142 and 150 pounds, he entered the nationals up two
weights at 158 pounds. He was still able to win his third national
title and this time he helped lead his team to the NCAA II National
Championships. He became the third NCAA II wrestler to win three
national championships. He also won three North Central Conference
Championships. He ended his collegiate career with a record of 63-9-4
and graduated with a degree in Industrial Technology, Physical
Education and Health & Safety Education.
Since graduation he has worked in various engineering and managerial
positions and is currently the Director of Technical Publications for
Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Gary was inducted into the Cedar Rapids Jefferson High School Athletic
Hall of Fame in 1974 and the University of Northern Iowa’s Athletic
Hall of Fame in 2003. He was also named to the North Central
Conference’s All-Centry team in 1997.
Gary resides in Solon, Iowa with his wife Denise. They have three
children, son Ryan, daughters Tiffany and Jenni, and son-in-law Scott. 2008 Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee
Athlete
Howie Gangestad
Minnesota State University - Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota
Howie Gangestad began his wrestling career at Luverne High School in
Minnesota. He won a district championship but never placed at the state
tournament. He graduated from high school in 1961.
Following his high school graduation, he enrolled at Worthington Junior
College. He spent two years there and he won the 1962 NJCAA
Championship at 123 pounds. He pinned all of his opponents on his way
to the title.
After his junior college success, he was recruited by NCAA II Hall of
Fame Coach Rummy Macais to wrestle for small college powerhouse Mankato
State College. In Howie’s two years at Mankato, he won the 123 pound
championship in both the 1964 and 1965 NCAA II Nationals and he also
placed second in the 1964 NCAA I Nationals. The Mankato State team
placed first and fourth in his two years of competition. He was a
member of two Northern Intercollegiate Conference Championship teams
and was the team captain as a senior. He was inducted into the
Minnesota State University – Mankato Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989. He
continues to be a major contributor and supporter of Maverick
wrestling.
After graduating from Mankato State in 1966, he joined the United
States Peace Corp. and served in West Africa for two years. Following
his stint in the Peace Corp., he enlisted in the United States Marine
Corp. Part of his military service was spent on the Marines wrestling
team where he was named their most outstanding wrestler.
Howie and his wife, Silvana, reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he
has had a very successful real estate career. He has four sons, Eric,
Zach, Tyler and Austin. He enjoys traveling throughout the world. 2008 Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee
Athlete
Tony Kenning
Minnesota State University - Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota
Tony Kenning grew up in Luremburg, Minnesota. His wrestling career
began at St. Cloud Tech High School. He won the Minnesota State Class
AA State Championship as a senior in 1991 at 189 pounds.
After graduating from St. Cloud Tech, he enrolled at Ridgewater
Community College where he earned junior college All-American honors
twice. As a freshman, he placed third in the NJCAA nationals, and as a
sophomore, he won the national championship as a heavyweight. He
compiled an overall record of 66-6 at Ridgewater.
Following his Ridgewater career, he was recruited by Coach Jim Makovsky
to be a member of the Minnesota State University – Mankato wrestling
team. In his two years with the Mavericks, he posted a 77-7 record
winning the 1995 and the 1996 NCAA II National Championship at 285
pounds, despite weighing only 210 pounds. None of his losses were to
NCAA II competitors. He also won two North Cental Conference
Championships in his career.
After completing his eligibility at Mankato, Tony spent two years as a
assistant coach for the Mavericks while completing his degree in
teacher education. He served as the head coach at Mankato Loyola High
School before accepting his current position as a teacher and assistant
wrestling coach under head coach Greg Greeno at one of the top high
school programs in Minnesota, St. Michael – Albertville. He has also
served as a coach for the USA/Minnesota Junior Freestyle and Greco
Roman wrestling teams the past several years. In 2000, he was inducted
into the Ridgewater Community College Athletic Hall of Fame.
Tony and his wife, Kristi, reside in Clearwater, Minnesota. They are
the parents of three children: twins, Jaxon and Camryn Ann, and Sutton.
2008 Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee
Athlete
Larry Amundson
Minnesota State University - Mankato
Mankato, Minnesota
Larry Amundson was born and raised in Windom, Minnesota. His wrestling
career began at Windom High School. He graduated from there in 1964.
Despite not placing in the state high school meet, he was recruited by
NCAA II Hall of Fame Coach Rummy Macais to wrestle for the NCAA small
college powerhouse Mankato State College. In Larry’s four years at
Mankato State, the MSC team placed first, second, fourth and fourth. As
a sophomore, Larry placed third in the NCAA II National Championships
at 160 pounds. He did not place in the nationals as a junior, but as a
senior he moved up to the 177 pound weight class and earned
All-American honors twice. He placed first in the NCAA II Nationals and
then a week later he placed second in the NCAA I Nationals. Larry
graduated from Mankato State College in 1968 with a BS degree in speech
and communications.
After graduation, Larry joined the Athletes in Action Wrestling Team
which is affiliated with the Campus Crusade for Christ. Larry competed
with the AIA club until his retirement in 1975. Larry spent many years
as the director of the AIA Wrestling Club, including 1977, when he led
a freestyle team to Iran and Bulgaria in an effort to promote an
international emphasis for AIA. He was inducted into the MSU-Mankato
Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989.
Larry has been married to his wife, Ellen, since 1971. They have four
children: John Mark, Linne, Laura, and Jessica. Larry also has a
grandson, Jamison.
Through his experiences, Larry has visited more than 90 countries.
Larry is still involved in wrestling and attends Olympic and World
championship events frequently. Larry and his wife, Ellen, love to
travel the world and are involved in religious ministries.
Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame Members
1996
Tracy Borah, Coach, Western State of Colorado
Jack Hancock, Coach, Colorado School of Mines
Chuck Patten, Coach, University of Northern Iowa
Warren Williamson, Coach, South Dakota State University
Larry Kristoff, Coach and Athlete, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Rick Sanders, Athlete, Portland State University
Chuck Seal, Athlete, Portland State University
Masaru Yatabe, Athlete, Portland State Univerisity
1997
Arthur “Bucky” Maughan, Coach, North Dakota State University
Doug Parker, Coach, Springfield College
Jeff Blatnick, Athlete, Springfield College
Koln Knight, Athlete, Agustana College
Bill Demeray, Athlete, North Dakota State University
Brad Rheingans, Athlete, North Dakota State University
1998
Vaughan Hitchcock, Coach, Cal Poly University
Tom Beeson, Athlete, Western State of Colorado
John Woods, Athlete, Cal Poly University
Ken Bos, Athlete, Cal Poly University
Larry Morgan, Athlete, Cal Poly University
Glenn Anderson, Athlete, Cal Poly University
1999
Rummy Macias, Coach, Mankato State University
Mike Denney, Coach, University of Nebraska at Omaha
R. J. Nebe, Wrestler, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Mark Manning, Wrestler University of Nebraska at Omaha
Mark Rigatuso, Wrestler, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Jim Miller, Wrestler, University of Northern Iowa
Ken Snyder, Wrestler, University of Northern Iowa
Mike McCready, Wrestler, University of Northern Iowa
2000
Jim Koch, Coach, University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Paul Kendle, Coach, Augustana College
Brian Parlet, Wrestler, Augustana College
Tom Kline, Wrestler, Cal Poly University
Don Parker, Wrestler, University of Northern Iowa
Kent Osboe, Wrestler, University of Northern Iowa
Rick Jensen, Wrestler, South Dakota State University
Jeff Hohertz, Wrestler, South Dakota State University
2001
Jim Fallis, Meritorious Service, University of Northern Colorado
Mike Pantoya, Wrestler, University of Northern Colorado
Al Rozman, Wrestler, Western State College of Colorado
Dale Stryker, Wrestler, Western State College of Colorado
Glen Younger, Wrestler, Western State College of Colorado
2002
Ed Aliverti, Meritorious Service, Edmonds, Washington
Ted Price, Wrestler, University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Mark Burrell, Wrestler, Central Missouri State Unviersity
Mike Hahesy, Wrestler, Edinboro University of PA
2003
Vince Monseau, Coach, West Liberty State College
Pat Pecora, Coach, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
Stan Dziedzic, Wrestler, Slippery Rock University
Jeff Esmont, Wrestler, Ashland University
Ken Hackman, Wrestler, California University of Pennsylvania
2004
Lee Petersen, Wrestler, North Dakota State University
Mike Langlais, Wrestler, North Dakota State University
Bob Soulek, Wrestler, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Jack Eustice, Wrestler, Minnesota State University -Mankato
Jim Gale, Wrestler, Minnesota State University -Mankato
Booker Benford, Wrestler, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Chad Lamer, Wrestler, South Dakota State University
2005
David James, Coach, University of Central Oklahoma
Keith Cunningham, Wrestler, University of Central Oklahoma
Howard Moore, Wrestler, University of Central Oklahoma
Randy Zellner, Wrestler, University of Central Oklahoma
Greg Wilcox, Wrestler, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Scott Ruff, Wrestler, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Joe Wypiszenski, Wreslter, University of Nebraska at Omaha
2006
PJ Smith, Coach, University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Lars Jensen, Coach, San Francisco State University
Tim Wright, Wrestler, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Alan Grammar, Wrestler, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
2007
Bill Dotson, Wrestler, University of Northern Iowa
Ali Eliasi, Wrestler, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Todd Drake, Wrestler, University of Central Oklahoma
Mike Keim, Wrestler, University of Central Oklahoma
Wes White, Wrestler, University of Central Oklahoma
2008
Gary Bentrim, Wrestler, University of Northern Iowa
Howie Gangestad, Wrestler, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Larry Amundson, Wrestler, Minnesota State University-Mankato
Tony Kenning, Wrestler, Minnesota State University-Mankato