The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honored six Individuals at the
7th annual Minnesota Chapter Banquet on April 11, 2009 at the Holiday Inn and
Suites in Owatonna, MN.
2009 Inductees. Front (L-R): Pete Veldman, James Carr, and
Ann Mueller (representing the late Dick Mueller). Back (L-R): Dave
Sohn, Mike Sterner, and Charles Bishop.
2009 Minnesota Dave Schultz High School Excellence State
Award winner Kevin Steinhaus of Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg and presenter
and Minnesota Chapter President Spencer Yohe.
One of the state's finest coaches from Northwestern Minnesota was
Charles Bishop. The Concordia College - Moorhead grad coached Oklee
High School and Oklee - Plummer High School Wrestling programs for 27
years, establishing a fine 216-118-4 record. He retired from coaching
in 1997.
Bishop graduated from Park Rapids High School in 1966 and then attended
Concordia College. After graduation in 1970 he accepted a health and
physical education teaching and wrestling coaching position at Oklee
High School. Oklee later paired with Plummer in 1982. Bishop
successfully coached during that transition.
Beyond the statistics, Bishop's coaching career reflects the respect
and loyalty of his wrestlers and even competitor coaches. Gary Brantl,
former Plummer High School coach, and later coaching partner to Bishop
at Oklee - Plummer said this about Bishop: "Even more important than
his wins and accomplishments. his success is shown by the respect and
loyalty of his wrestlers, and all those he has touched in his years of
coaching. Charlie always had time for every wrestler, whether he was a
20 match winner or a 20 match loser. It didn't matter.
The stats are worthy to mention too. Fifty of Bishop's wrestlers
qualified for the State tournament. Four of those wrestlers won State
titles with 17 State place winners. His 1979 team placed second in
Section and fourth in 1986. He was selected as Region1 Section "Coach
of the year" three times 1984,1995 and 1996. Bishop was inducted into
the Dave Bartelma Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2000.
As a wrestler, Bishop was a two-time NAIA national qualifier and won
two MIAC conference titles, capturing "Outstanding Wrestler" honors in
1970. He served as Team Captain for the Concordia College Wrestling
team. One of Bishop's greatest matches came after his college days when
he defeated the legendary multi - NCAA National Champion Chuck Jean in
a freestyle match in the AAU State Freestyle Open tournament at Coon
Rapids High School in 1972. Bishop had an impressive four-year career
record at Concordia, going 66-13 under the guidance of legendary coach,
Finn Grinaker.
What is a great part of Coach Bishop's legacy beyond his competitive
days on the mats or in coaching is that over ten of his athletes are
now coaching. These include such successful coaches as Paul Cyr at New
Richland - Hartland - Ellendale - Geneva, former two- time State
Champion Todd Bergeron at Greenbush - Middle River - Badger and his
son, Greg Bishop, at Catalina Foothills in Tucson, Arizona.
Charles now lives in Plummer, MN, with his wife, Connie. They have six
children: Greg, Loni, Brett, Quinn, Carl, and Talia. Charles enjoys the
time he gets to spend with his family and his five grandchildren.
Bishop's spare time is spent carving, hunting, and fishing.
Charlie Bishop brought greater recognition to northwestern Minnesota
Wrestling, both as a wrestler and coach. Many young men learned life
lessons from his mentorship and his legacy makes that part of our state
proud of him and the quality of wrestling from the area.
JAMES CARR
One of the finest coaches from southwestern Minnesota for 31 years was
that of Jim Carr. His Adrian teams were some of the state's best in the
1980's. They were well recognized on the floor of the old St. Paul
Civic Center with their traditional entrance unique only to those tough
Adrian Dragons.
Carr was the coach and mentor to some great individual standouts too.
Two of his wrestlers went on to capture national collegiate titles in
two-time NCAA I1 champion Pat Dora and two -time NJCC and NAIA champion
Leon Bullerman. In all, Carr's graduates captured eighteen All-
American honors and five national championships.
Coach Carr's Adrian teams went to state four times, capturing third
place honors twice and one fourth place finish. He also coached four
section runner-up teams. His Adrian teams also won nine conference
titles and eleven district titles. He coached 65 wrestlers to the state
tournament with 23 state place winners and six state champions. Eight
wrestlers earned academic all-state honors and six were named as senior
Minnesota All-Stars.
The coaching success of Carr earned him five region 2 "Coach of the
Year" honors. He was named District 8 "Coach of the Year" four times
and was also selected as an honoree coach for the Dream Team classic in
2000 at Apple Valley High School. He received the MWCA Lifetime
Achievement Award that same year. He was inducted into the Dave
Bartelma - Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1993.
With all the impressive credentials coach Carr has accumulated what is
most amazing is that he never was a wrestling participant himself. In
fact, his closest association to high school wrestling was his
experience with Steer Wrestling, when he placed third in the state of
South Dakota as a high school rodeo participant.
Carr's only other athletic experience was in football. He played for
Pine Riggs High School where he graduated in 1963 and later at General
Beadle State Teachers College in Madison, South Dakota, where he
graduated in 1967.
Carr excelled not only as a coach, but in teaching as well, being
selected as Adrian "Teacher of the Year" in 1973. He spent his entire
35 year career at Adrian High School teaching social studies,
geography, history and economics.
Jim and his wife, Karen, have a son, Todd. Todd and his wife, Bobbi Jo,
have two children: Josh and Sara. Jim now spends his time in retirement
as a substitute teacher, bus driver and participating in his hobbies of
golf, hunting, carpentry, restoring old cars and tractors, auctions,
collecting toys, gardening and spending time with his grandchildren.
They make their home in Yankton, South Dakota. While Adrian High School
still does well in wrestling, the routes of that success came with a
special coach in Jim Carr.
DICK MUELLER
One of the University of Minnesota Gophers brightest stars was the late Richard "Dick" Mueller.
Dick Mueller was a three-time high school State Champion at Anoka High
School. His first year of wrestling, his freshman year, he was
runner-up in the state tournament. His high school coach, the legendary
Garth Lappin saw something special in Dick. They were about the same
size and worked out each day together. Lappin told Mueller, "If you
want it badly enough, you could be a National Champion". Dick took this
to heart and began programming that into his mind.
After high school graduation Dick went on to wrestle at the University
of Minnesota. There he became Coach Wally Johnson's first NCAA National
Champion in 1953 at 123 pounds. 1953 was also the year he met the love
of his life and wife of 53 years Ann.
After his NCAA title Mueller helped to bring Wally Johnson his first
Big 10 Conference title in 1954. Then it was off to serve America in
the Army. While in the Service, Dick was a member of the All-Army team,
wrestling 22 months of his two year tour! During this time he qualified
as the alternate for the USA Olympic team and was part of the Pan Am
Team.
He returned to the U in 1956 and won two more Big 10 titles and helped
the Gophers win the Big 10 Team Championship. In 1958 Mueller served as
an assistant to Coach Johnson at Minnesota and the Gophers won the Big
10 championship.
After graduating from the U of M Dick taught and coached wrestling for
11 years, two year in Cambridge and nine years at Osseo High School.
With wrestling still in his system, he put on the stripes and
officiated for another 25 years.
In 1969 Dick went into the Real Estate business. He and 9 other top
agents formed one of the most successful agencies of their time, Real
Estate 10. Later they sold Real Estate 10 to Coldwell Banker where Dick
remained as a key salesman and mentor to others. He started the Rotary
Club in Brooklyn Park, became their first President and was their first
Paul Harris Fellow. Dick also joined the Masons out of respect for his
father in law who was also a Mason. He went on to the top ranks of the
Shriners.
Mueller was inducted into the Minnesota Dave Bartelma Wrestling Hall of
Fame in 1990. He is also a member of the University of Minnesota "M
Club" Hall of Fame.
His family and his faith are what brought him his greatest joy. 2
children, 5 grandsons and 3 great grandchildren. Loving the Lord and
sharing his faith, mentoring young men and showing others what is great
about life (and he didn't miss much!).
His teammate, Pete Veldman, described Mueller "as a great friend,
someone who was well-read, fun to be around and who would light up a
room the minute he walked in. He was even a better person than he was a
wrestler. And without question, he was the best Minnesota wrestler in
the 50's! Dick had a great love for his wife Ann, his children Tim and
Heidi, his grandchildren, great grandchildren and everyone who he knew
-and that was a LOT of people!"
DAVE SOHN
One of the great organizers, contributors and coaches in Minnesota High
school Wrestling has been Dave Sohn. This former Orono High School
Coach and State High School Wrestling champion played a significant
role in the development of wrestling in Minnesota.
Sohn got started in wrestling growing up in Blue Earth, Minnesota. He
placed fourth in State in 1955 and was 138 pound Minnesota State High
School Wrestling Champion in 1956. After high school Dave attended
Mankato State College, graduating with a B.S. degree in 1965 with a
major in Industrial Technology, with minors in health and driver
education, then completed his M.A. degree in 1978. Wrestling as a
college freshman under legendary Coach Rummy Macias, but due to family
obligations the last years was working out with the wrestling team.
His first teaching position was at Litchfield High School and also
served as assistant coach in football and wrestling. After four years
there he moved on to Orono High School taking a head wrestling coaching
position and teaching Graphic Arts Technology.
As coach at Orono Sohn turned out 22 State Tournament entries and eight
state place winners. Allen Eisinger ('77) and Mike Arne ('79) won State
Class AA titles. His most renowned wrestler tough was Evan Johnson who
wrestled for the U of M where he was a NCAA champion in 1976 and NCAA
runner-up in 1977. Johnson also made the 1976 United State Olympic
Greco Roman team, placing seventh.
Dave was selected to The MWCA Bartelma Hall of Fame in 1976 and was
also selected as an honoree Minnesota coach for the Dream Team Classic
in 2000 at Apple Valley High School.
Even as a successful coach, Sohn's greatest contributions to wrestling
probably came as a tireless contributor and organizer. Dave served as
Minnesota Junior's coach 1 director for the United States Wrestling
Federation. He was involved in establishing the first state USWF
training camp, USWF National team and the first State exchange teams
with Wisconsin. He also served as counselor and coach for the United
State Wrestling Federation developmental camps.
As one of the original members of the Minnesota State Wrestling
tournament committee, Sohn did much to organize and develop the State
Tournament in Minnesota to its high standards of today. Promoting
Minnesota Wrestling which involved raising money through donations or
the sales of mugs, buttons and pins was started to help the membership
money go further. From that came the largest sit-down brunch in St
Paul, wrestlers participation plaques, The (Bartelma) Hall of Fame
induction/social and the reunion of past state champions. Promotion of
a live television broadcast of the individual final matches, the parade
of champions that are still being used today. Dave also contributed in
other ways too, such as compiling individual point leaders and records
for The Minneapolis Star~Tribune for making easier selections for
Conference ratings.
Dave's family includes wife, Priscilla, sons Blake, Bradley (deceased
in 1986) and daughters Heidi (Sohn) Gobel and Jodi (Sohn) Lewis. Dave
retired in 1986 as an active high school coach and has continued to
work with the wrestling programs and youth programs up to the present.
He continued his classroom teaching in Technology until 1994 when he
retired from teaching and then continued with the Orono School District
computers and network program until 2002. He spends his time enjoying
his grandchildren and serving on the Lake Ada Board of Directors, while
working on his hobbies of woodworking, hunting, fishing, hiking and
gardening.
MICHAEL STERNER
One of the well known names in college wrestling in Minnesota is that
of Mike Sterner. Mike served as head wrestling coach at Southwest
Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minnesota for 29 years. His
amazing career as a coach. professor and athlete are legendary.
Mike, along with his twin brother. John, were outstanding athletes.
They attended Boys Town in Nebraska, graduating in 1957. Mike was named
scholar athlete and was named to the 'Tiger club" in football and was
state runner-up at 165 pounds in the Nebraska State High School
Wrestling Tournament.
Mike served in the Anny while at Boystown was honorably discharged in 1965.
Mike attended college at South Dakota State University in Brookings,
S.D. There he played two sports. He was named "Most Valuable Lineman"
in the North Central Conference in football and named to the Williamson
All-American team as a guard in 1961. He also served as Co-Captain of
the North Central Conference football team at SDSU. As a wrestler, he
was named "Most Valuable" in both his Junior and Senior years. He also
served as Co-Captain of the team. He was a three-time Division I
national qualifier and NCC Champion.
Sterner graduated in 1963 and secured his first teaching and coaching
position at Flandreau Indian High School in Flandreau, South Dakota. He
taught Math and served as head Coach in football and wrestling from
1963 to 1965. He had six qualifiers to the state tourney. He headed
back to South Dakota State University in 1965 to complete a Master's
Degree. Mike served as a graduate assistant. He did some teaching and
served as a Freshman Wrestling Coach, assistant Football coach and
assistant athletic trainer.
He moved to Hettinger High School in North Dakota in 1966. For three
years he taught physical education and biology. He was the head coach
in football and wrestling. The football team won the Badlands
Conference and wrestling won the regions. He coached two state
champions. Rick Wolf at 98 Ibs and Gary Schmaltz at 145 pounds and
numerous placers.
In 1969 Sterner made the move to the college ranks accepting the head
coaching position in wrestling, and history was made while serving 29
years. His teams won six Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference
titles. He was named NSIC "Coach of the Year" seven times. In 2000 he
was inducted into the NSIC Hall of Fame. In 1993 he was awarded the 25
year Service Award from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. He
was also awarded the 1993 Ralph Ginn Award for coaching Excellence from
South Dakota State University. He also coached the USA - NAIA National
Team to Russia in the Soviet Union in 1987. In 1998 he was inducted
into the SW Minnesota State University Hall of Fame. He coached 45
All-Americans and two National Champions at SW Minnesota State. One of
those Champions was his son, John. John later succeeded his father at
head coach at SW Minnesota State. Besides a coach, Mike is a scholar
and professor. He received his Education Doctorate from Brigham Young
University in 1984. He was Co-Valedictorian of his Doctoral Graduate
class. His doctoral dissertation was "Nutritional Knowledge of
Wrestlers and Wrestling Coach's in the State of Minnesota." He served
as Doctoral Adjunct Teacher at Brigham Young in Provo, Utah, while on
sabbatical from SW Minnesota State.
Mike was inducted into the NAIA National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1991
and named an Honoree Alumnus for Life by Southwest Minnesota State
University Alumni Association. He is also recipient of SW Minnesota
State "Merit Award" for Outstanding Accomplishments in Teaching.
Mike's family includes wife, Karen, his son, John and Tracy, grandson
Elijah and granddaughter Julia; his daughter Michele and Oak and
granddaughter, Kaziah. The Sterners live in Marshall. Minnesota.
PETE VELDMAN
One of the great contributors to the sport of wrestling in Minnesota is
Pete Veldman of South St. Paul. Pete has played an instrumental role in
the support of wrestling for many years. As a wrestler, coach, athletic
director, official, scholarship coordinator, and part of the MSHSL
management team at the State Tournament, Pete has served our state and
sport beyond the norm.
Pete was a great athlete growing up in Albert Lea, Minnesota. He
captured the Minnesota State heavyweight wrestling title in 1951. He
was a three-sport star in football, wrestling and track at Albert Lea
High School. He went on to compete at the University of Minnesota where
he placed third and fourth in the Big 10 Conference Championships. He
was a member of the 1957 and 1959 Big 10 Championship teams for the
Gophers. He also wrestled in three NCAA national tournaments. He was
recruited to Minnesota by Gophers legendary Coach Dave Bartelma, who
started the Gopher wrestling program and Wally Johnson.
Veldman served two years in the military from 1954 to 1956 with 18 months in Korea.
Pete started his career in education as a coach at South St. Paul High
School, coaching football and wrestling from 1959 to 1964. He had
already started officiating as a college student and continued in that
capacity for 42 years. He was one of the nation's best too, having
officiated in five NCAA Division I National Championships, seven NCAA
Division I1 National Championships and twelve Big 10 Championships. He
also officiated many high school state tournaments.
As a coach, Veldman coached Roys Andrews to second and third place
finishes in the State tournament in 1963 and 1964. His South St. Paul
teams also captured District 14 in 1963 and 1964.
Taking over as Athletic Director in 1964, Veldman was able to work on
several organizational aspects for the sport of wrestling. He was
Co-Coordinator of the MSHSL State Wrestling tournament for 25 years. He
also helped start the Le Roy Maas Wrestling Scholarship fund. To date
the Maas Scholarship has awarded 26 scholarships. It is named in honor
of Pete's high school coach at Albert Lea High School. Maas coached
Veldman in football, wrestling and track. Total scholarships have
reached $30,000 in funds awarded.
Veldman is the Executive Secretary of the Minnesota High School
Athletic Directors Association and helps raise six scholarships each
year on behalf of that organization. Veldman also was a charter member
of the first wrestling official's organization in the Twin Cities in
the early 1960's. In this capacity he has served as a head official,
was a tournament rules interpreter and was responsible for supervision
and evaluation of the State Tournament.
Veldman's many contributions to student - athletes, coaches and
programs have also brought great recognition. He is a member of Dave
Bartelma Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame. The South St. Paul wrestling
room is named in his honor, and so is the South St. Paul "Pete Veldman"
Invitational Wrestling Tourney. He is also a member of the Minnesota
State High School Athletics Directors Hall of Fame and the Minnesota
State High School League Hall of Fame.
Pete served on the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators
Association for 29 years. He is also a member of the University of
Minnesota Assembly Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics and was
President of the University of Minnesota "M" Club in 1974.
Few people have served so many students, athletes, coaches and
organizations as Pete Veldman. He is truly one of the great men in
Minnesota Wrestling history.
