Minnesota Chapter National Wrestling Hall of Fame
April 19, 2010
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honored seven individuals at the
8th Annual Minnesota Chapter Banquet on April 17, 2010 at the Holiday
Inn and Suites in Owatonna, MN.
National Wrestling Hall of Fame
2010 Inductees. Front Row (L-R): Andy McCarty, Howie Schultz
(Representing Ken Schmoker), and Neil Ladsten. Back Row (L-R): Phil
Richards, John M. Sterner, Jim Beshey, and Howard Leopold.
2010 Inductees:
Phil Richards - Outstanding American
From a strong wrestler to a great businessman Phil Richards has been a
true success story all his life. Richards has also always given back to
the sport and people that have helped him along the way.
This Easton, Pennsylvania native learned much of his work ethic and
competitive drive as a wrestler at Easton High School under a great
coach in John B. Maitland. Richards served as team captain and was a
District XI champion. Easton is part of the highly acclaimed “LeHigh
Valley” where programs like Easton, Nazareth, Parkland and other
well-known PA teams compete. Phil went on to be a successful wrestler
at Temple University, where he was a Team Captain. At Temple he also
served as Student Body President and received the prestigious Sword
Award as an outstanding Senior Classman.
Richards true success though came years later in the business world and
as a writer of the book “25 Secrets to Sustainable Success”. A winner
of numerous industry awards. Phil is the 2005 Inductee into the GAMA
International Hall of Fame and is the only firm leader in the world to
have received the International Management Award from GAMA
International each and every year (37 years) since the inception of the
award. In 2007, Phil was named recipient of the 66th annual John Newton
Russell memorial Award, the highest honor in the insurance industry
from the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
Phil’s book “25 Secrets for Sustainable Success” was published in March
2007.
Phil is also an adjunct Professor Emeritus of Insurance for the Carlson
School of Management at the University of Minnesota and Adjunct
Professor at Central University Finance and Economics in China; is
four-time chairman of Securian’s National Advisory Board; served on the
Executive Board of Directors for the Minnesota Council for Quality; and
is past President of GAMA International (2002-2003). He is an
arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau and a GIFT Faculty Member; is
a past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Minnesota/North Dakota
Better Business Bureau and served on the Board of Directors of the
Arizona Quality Council. He also chairs or serves on several other
organizations too numerous to mention.
Beyond all his work and business he has been a featured speaker in over
a dozen countries. He has addressed numerous meetings for over eighty
companies and been a major speaker around the world.
What sets Phil Richards apart from some other successful people though
is how he has never forgotten where his routes began and he has helped
pave the way for others. One of several examples of this is the annual
$100,000 perpetual scholarship he established at his Alma Mater Easton
High School in Pennsylvania in honor of his wrestling coach John B.
Maitland. He has also pledged $250,000 to the Mayo Clinic Foundation
Endowment for Alzheimer’s Research under the “Mayo Clinic Foundation
Endowment for Alzheimer’s Research under the “Mayo Clinic Endowment
Matching Gift Program.” Phil has also led a campaign to return the
sport of wrestling to his college alma mater in Temple University.
Richards leadership qualities as a wrestler and businessman demonstrate
the best in setting one’s goals high, working hard to achieve them and
never forgetting where you came from. He exemplifies the best of the
work ethic, competitive drive and integrity the sport of wrestling
instills in all who have participated.
Jim Beshey - Lifetime Service Honoree
One of the well known wrestling names in Minnesota is that of Jim
Beshey. Already a successful high school coach at the time, Beshey
certainly increased his name recognition by wresting enthusiasts across
the state when he purchased the Guillotine in l986.
Jim is a graduate of Britt High School in Britt, Iowa. There he
participated in football and wrestling. He went on to attend Mason City
Junior College and completed his post secondary education at Mankato
State College with majors in health and physical education.
Jim’s wife, Jeri, also a teacher, has been a great help to Jim over the
years too. They have three children in Mark, Jeff and Dawn. All three
have been active with wresting with their involvement with the
Guillotine. Mark also has worked as an official. Jeff, a two-time high
school state qualifier, is the current owner of the Guillotine. Dawn
served as a wrestling cheerleader and team statistician.
Beshey’s first teaching and coaching position was at Brownton High
School in l968. He coached and taught at Brownton until l974. During
that span he led them to their first District 12 title in l970 and an
undefeated 13-0 season. Beshey moved on to Glencoe High School where he
coached from l974 to l986. He took time off from coaching from l986 to
l998 to serve as Publisher of the Guillotine, but returned to coaching
Glencoe-Silver Lake from l999 to 2003.
At Glencoe Beshey led his l977 team to their school’s first state
tournament appearance, winning District 16 and Region 4A titles along
the way. That team placed 6th in the State Tournament. Beshey’s overall
coaching record at Brownton and Glencoe was a winning l94-161-4. He
also captured 2003 Region 4 “Coach of the Year” honors.
Jim coached 18 individual state tourney qualifiers and two wrestlers
winning state titles. Pat Halloran (Glencoe) was a 3-time state
qualifier and state champion. Nate Matousek (Glencoe-Silver Lake) was a
6-time state qualifier and 3-time state champion.
Beyond coaching, Beshey always did his part to help wrestling prosper
beyond his own program. He first served as a Region Coaches
Representative and was later elected President of the Minnesota
Wrestling Coaches Association. During that time he served as “Team
Leader” for the Minnesota verses Iowa High School Wrestling Classic. He
also led a cultural exchange team to South Africa. He is a member of
the Dave Bartelma – Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame.
The efforts of Jim Beshey and his family were highlighted in 2003 when
the Guillotine won the National Media Award for “Best State Wrestling
Publication.” Son, Jeff, continues that tradition today, and some of
his family still help.
Minnesota Wrestling at all levels is well publized today due in part to
the great efforts of Jim Beshey. Many thanks go to Coach Jim Beshey for
his passion and contributions to our the great sport of wrestling with
his induction to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Neil Ladsten - Lifetime Service Honoree
One of Minnesota’s great college coaches was that of Neil Ladsten at the University of Minnesota – Duluth. Ladsten developed
the UMD program from the ground up, developing highly competitive teams
competing annually for conference championships and high placing in the
NCAA II and NAIA national tournaments.
During Ladsten’s reign, UMD produced 24 All-Americans, 10 conference championships and three top ten finishes in
NCAA II national tournaments. He also coached an individual national
champion and three runner-ups. Without Neil’s coaching ability and
commitment none of this would have been possible, according to several
of his former wrestlers.
Former All-American wrestler Jim Paddock says “Ladsten was the kind of
coach that put his athletes first. If you needed academic help, a place
to stay or even a summer job he was there to help you.”
As a football player at UMD, Ladsten was a good one! In l965 he was awarded Freshman “MVP” honors. He earned
All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors in l967 and l968. He also served as Team Captain in l968.
Ladsten was drafted into the military during the Vietnam conflict. He
was part of the U.S. Army military police corp. He returned to UMD to
coach and teach in the physical education department. He served as an
assistant coach in football and head wrestling coach.
Neil married Colleen Johnson in l996, just months prior to his
resignation from UMD after a long battle to keep the wrestling program.
He then pursued a second career in higher education in the fall of l996
at Lake Superior College, a newly organized community college under the
Minnesota State college and university system. He spent eight years,
developing a new wellness center and developed a broad based curriculum
in Health and Physical Education. He retired in December of 2004.
Since retiring Neil has numerous hobbies including fishing on Lake
Superior, making things like bird feeders, bat houses, squirrel feeders
to flag and firearms display boxes.
The success of the University of Minnesota – Duluth wrestling program
will be remembered for years to come and the name always associated
with that success will be coach Neil Ladsten. Ladsten helped many young
men succeed on the mats and in their lives. The UMD wrestling alumni
are a proud group that left their mark in the wrestling world. Neil
Ladsten directed those accomplishments.
Howard Leopold - Lifetime Service Honoree
One of the most memorable names in the history of Minnesota wrestling
is that of Howard Leopold. By the time he graduated from Redwood Falls,
Minnesota, High School in l964, Leopold was a three-time state
wrestling champion and the holder of a 120-10-2 career record. In his
freshman year at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, Howard won the
l965 MIAC Championship at 137 pounds. As a sophomore, he again won the
championship at 145 pounds and was named the “Most Outstanding
Wrestler”. Advancing to the NAIA National Tournament that year, Howard
placed second at 145 pounds, earning All-American honors. In l998 he
was inducted into the Concordia College “Athletic Hall of Fame” in
recognition of his outstanding achievements as a Concordia athlete and
a lifetime of service as an educator and coach. In l991 he was inducted
into the Minnesota State High School Hall of Fame. In l998 he was
selected to the 15 member “All-Time Minnesota High School Dream Team”
from the past 60 years.
Howard had a 44-1-2 career record at Concordia College when a back
injury in his junior season prematurely ended his wrestling career. But
that injury also marked the beginning of an outstanding coaching
career. He served as an assistant coach for Coach Finn Grinaker the
following two seasons. After graduating from Concordia College in l969,
Howard began a teaching career in Mound, Minnesota and continued his
love of coaching. He also went on to earn a master of arts degree from
the University of St. Thomas.
Howard retired in 2003 after 34 years of teaching and coaching in
Mound, Minnesota. During his 24 years as head wresting coach at
Mound-Westonka High School (1969-1993), he coached 32 state entrants
and 15 state place winners. Howard became one of the most highly
respected wrestling coaches in Minnesota. In 1988 he was named the
Region 6AA wrestling “Coach of the Year” and his team was the 6AA
(large school) entrant in the State Tournament. Along with the team
were 5 individual entrants, including his oldest son, Cory, who was a
senior and 4-time state entrant and two-time place-winner. Coaching his
son was a highlight of Howard’s career. Cory went on to wrestle at
University of Minnesota-Duluth, for Neil Ladsten and earned
All-American honors in the NAIA National Tournament.
Howard’s family includes wife, Carolyn and son, Jason, wife Bradie and
3 daughters, Beau, Mikhail and Nevin. Son, Cory died in an automobile
accident in l993 at the age of 23. Howard’s hobbies include hunting,
and fishing, four-wheeling in the mountains.
Andy McCarty - Lifetime Service Honoree
One of the longtime well-known officials and coaches from Northern
Minnesota is that of Andy McCarty. A member of five Hall of Fames,
McCarty not only was known for officiating and coaching in wrestling
but excelled as a coach in other sports too.
Born in Beardsley, MN and one of 13 children. Andy grew up during the
depression era. He learned how to work hard. In high school he competed
in football, basketball and baseball. After graduation in l950 he
entered the Air Force, enlisting for four years and serving in the
Korean War.
Upon returning from the war, Andy enrolled at Moorhead State College
and played football. He also met his wife, Karen, and they were married
in l958. The McCarty’s have six children in Nye, Dan, Pat, Amy, Ann and
Meg.
McCartys first teaching and coaching job was at Red Lake Falls, MN. He
coached football, basketball and cross country. In l962-63 Andy went
back to Moorhead State to get his Masters degree. There a friend, Al
Homes, got him interested in Wrestling. From then he got a job at
Parkers Prairie in l963. Besides football and track he served as
assistant wrestling coach. He later took over as head wrestling coach
and led his team to a second place finish in the District tournament.
In l970 the McCarty’s moved to Park Rapids. There he assumed head
coaching position in football, wrestling and track. He also began a
long career in officiating. As a head coach in football for 17 years
his team accumulated a record of 104-60. They won the Mid State
Conference 6 times and captured 5 section titles. In their five state
play off appearances they captured a State Runner-up finish in 1983.
McCarty served as head coach for the Out-State Football team in the
All-Star Game in l984. His track team won the conference five times and
Region three times. He also coached his track team to the “True Team”
Track State Championship in l987. In wrestling this team captured a
District title and he was named District Coach of the year in l975.
Andy’s notoriety in the sport of wrestling though comes mostly as an
outstanding official. For 25 years he officiated (1971-1996). He was
head official of Region 6A for many years. He also did some officiating
in Region 7 and 8. He officiated at the Minnesota State tournament for
ten years.
McCarty retired from teaching in l993. Even after that, he came out of
retirement to coach football at Menahga for five seasons. He was
inducted into the 2000 Minnesota Football coaches’ Hall of Fame, the
2003 Moorhead Dragon Hall of Fame, the 2008 Minnesota Dave Bartelma
Wrestling Hall of Fame and the 2008 Park Rapids School’s Hall of Fame.
Northwestern Minnesota is proud of their wrestling and Andy McCarty
exemplified the excellence of the coaches and officials from that area,
and he did it in every sport he coached. He was an outstanding
wrestling official too.
John Sterner - Lifetime Service Honoree
One of the fine college coaches Minnesota produced was that of John
Sterner. Sterner led the Minnesota State University – Moorhead Dragons
for 15 years. During that term the Dragons won six Northern Sun
Intercollegiate Conference titles, eight national place winners and 25
All-Americans, including Nate Hendrickson, a national champion and NCAA
II “Wrestler of the Year” He dedicated 38 years of his life to coaching
wrestler and helping his athletes better their lives.
The odds that John Sterner and his twin brother, Mike, would succeed in
life were stacked against them from the start. Born in l939, he and his
brother survived their first weeks in an incubator. Soon after, their
father abandoned the family. Their mother, who worked as a cook placed
them in an orphanage. After 11 years at the Presentation Children’s
Home, a Catholic orphanage school in Sioux Falls, the Sterners enrolled
at “Boys Town” in Nebraska. After Boys Town they did six-month stints
in the Army Reserves.
As an athlete in college John lettered three times in football and
wrestling. He was also named to the All-Conference teams in football
and wrestling at South Dakota State University.
John first started out coaching as a graduate assistant back at SDSU
for one year, and then began his teaching and coaching career in l963
at Chariton (Iowa) High School. There, he led his team to a third place
finish at the l964 Iowa State H.S. Wrestling Tournament. John later
coached at St. Mary’s High School in New England, N.D., to the l969
North Dakota State Class B Championship, and was honored as North
Dakota State Class B “Coach of the Year” that season as well. John
would build a stellar five –year prep dual meet record of 71-7. John
later moved to Stevens High School in Rapid City, S.D, that next year
to serve as the school’s head football coach. Three years later he
joined the South Dakota Tech Staff and served as wrestling coach for
four seasons, posting a 24-8 mask, before the sport was discontinued.
In l978 John accepted a teaching and coaching position in the public
school system in Rapid City. Ten years later, he came to MSU –
Moorhead, where he took over the wrestling team in l988.
The rest is history as he guided the Dragons back to success like they enjoyed back in the early 1960’s.
Finally, longtime sports information Director for MSU-Moorhead, Larry
Scott says this about Coach Sterner in his nomination letter:
“Sterner’s rich legacy as supportive colleague, dedicated teacher,
trusted mentor and inspiring coach left a positive imprint and enriched
us all. He taught us about competition, teamwork, fairness and he
showed us how to reach for the stars while keeping our feet planted
firmly on the ground.”
John and his wife, Jo Ann, have one daughter, Kay.
Ken Schmoker - Lifetime Service Honoree
A great wrestler and a great coach was Ken Schmoker of Bemidji,
Minnesota. Ken was a highly successful wrestler in college and went on
to coach successfully at the high school level for 23 years.
A graduate of Fort Dodge High School in Fort Dodge, Iowa, Schmoker grew
up in a community and state that strongly regarded the sport of
wrestling. As a high school wrestler Ken placed second in state at 145
pounds. He was also an All-State guard in football and lettered in
track.
After high school Schmoker entered the military, joined the United
States Air Force and served in the European Theatre. After his
discharge he attended Fort Dodge Junior College, there he captained the
football team. He then transferred to Colorado State in Greeley,
Colorado. At Colorado State he was a three year letterman in football
and in wrestling he captured three Rocky Mountain Conference
championships. He also Lettered three years and competed in the
national tournament three times. In l950 he earned All-American honors
as a senior with a college record of 33-12. He participated on three
conference championship teams. Ken was also a member of the Colorado
State Student Council and a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Delta Phi
Delta.
Schmoker started his coaching and teaching career at Trinidad High
School for one year then moved to Pueblo Centennial High School where
his 1954 team captured the Colorado State Championship. He and his
wife, Mabel, then moved back to the Midwest and he accepted a job at
Bemidji High School in l958, after a one year stint at LaPorte H.S. in
Minnesota. At Bemidji three wrestlers(Jerry Lee, Ricky Lee, and Nestle
Grimes) won State titles and 13 others were State place winners. His
teams won ten District titles and eight Region championships. His
wrestling team won ten District titles, eight Region titles, won two
Northwest Conference titles and one team placed as high as 6th in State
in the old one class system. His career coaching record was 129-83.
Ken’s involvement went well beyond his coaching efforts too. He served
as President of the Colorado Wrestling Coaches Association and served
on the National High School Federation Rules Committee. He also
organized and directed many wrestling tournaments, including District
and Regional tournaments. Schmoker is a member of the Bemidji High
School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Minnesota “Dave Bartelma”
Wrestling Hall of Fame and now being inducted into the National
Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Ken Schmoker will be remembered well beyond the successful stats. Howard Schultz, former Bemidji State
Wrestler and an assistant coach to Schmoker at Bemidji High School
says, “Ken lived by example and still does. He is an example of what
hard work, dedication and yet being humble are virtues we all wish we
had.”
Minnesota Chapter Board of Directors:
Spencer Yohe, President
syohe@acegroup.cc, 507-495-3213, or 320-766-1934
Mike Bredeck, VP-Nominations
Scot Davis, VP-Programs
Don Dravis, Secretary
Bill Schmidt, Treasurer
John Grygelko, VP-Promotions
Al Hendrickson, VP-Promotions
Roy Minter, VP-Promotions
Alan Olsen, VP-Finance and Development
Steve Ricard
Dewaine Silker
Ron Ackerman
Bob Dettmer
Darrel Sohn
Mike Niemczyk
