JACKSON - The inaugural group of inductees for the Jackson County
Wrestling Hall of Fame has been selected. There are 13 individuals and
one couple in the initial group of inductees.
The inductees will be honored at a ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec.
6 at the Jackson County Central Performing Arts Center, prior to the
Huskies’ dual meet with Blue Earth Area that night.
In addition to the induction ceremony prior to the match, a
fund-raising supper will be held at the JCC Commons, and a social is
planned for after the dual at Jackson Golf Club that same night.
The inductees will also be introduced between the JV and varsity matches
Following is a look at seven honorees. The remainder will appear next week.
Wayne Ailts
Ailts was the head coach at Jackson High School from 1960-1973, leading the Bluejays to the Southwest Conference title in 1965.
He coached several District 7 championship teams and 14 state tournament entrants. His teams had a dual-meet record of 99-41-3.
Jim Hart
Hart was the junior high coach in Jackson from 1967-1974, except for a
tour of duty in Vietnam from 1969-1971. He returned as a coach at JHS
from 1971-1974 and was head coach from 1974-1995.
He coached 11 District 7 championship teams in 15 years, including
seven in a row prior to the advent of the sub-section and section
format.
Hart coached 15 state entrants and four state place winners. His teams had a dual-meet record of 188-192-8.
Gary Natterstad
A 1959 Jackson High School graduate, Natterstad went on to wrestle at Augustana College, graduating in 1964.
He would later serve as an assistant coach for 26 years.
Natterstad was an assistant coach at Luverne from 1964-1967, an
assistant under Wayne Ailts at JHS from 1967-1973 and was also an
assistant under Jim Hart from 1973-1990.
Dean Libra
Libra wrestled for the Blue Jays from 1960-1962 and was Jackson High
School's first state tournament entrant, qualifying at 145 pounds in
1962 in a one-class format.
His career record at Jackson was 18-9-3. He would later wrestle at 167 pounds for Augustana College.
Rich Benda
A two-time state entrant at heavyweight, Benda wrestled at Jackson High School from 1964-68.
His record at Jackson High School was 39-6-2.
Larry Michelson
Jackson’s first state tournament finalist, he was the runner-up at 154 pounds in 1965.
Michelson wrestled for the Blue and Gold from 1962-65, compiling a record of 40-9.
In college, he was a two-time NAIA all-American at Wayne State College
from 1965-1969. Michelson won the national title in 1968 and finished
second in 1969. His career match record was 40-9 in four years. He is
also a member of the Wayne State Athletics Hall of Fame.
Bill Johnson
Johnson wrestled for JHS from 1962-1966, qualifying for the state tournament at 133 pounds as a senior.