Leopold and McVey Inducted Into Mound Westonka Hall of Fame
January 7, 2010
On Tuesday, Decemeber 22, two huge contributors to the Mound Westonka
wrestling program, Howard Leopold and Brandon McVey, were inducted into
the Mound Westonka Wrestling Hall of Fame. Howard Leopold, a long-time
employee of the Westonka district, was inducted as a coach, while
recent graduate Brandon McVey was inducted for his wrestling
accomplishments.
Howard Leopold
Howard was the head wresting coach at Mound Westonka High School for
twenty four years, from 1969-1993. During that time, he coached 32
state entrants, 15 state place winners, and earned 199 dual meet
victories, becoming 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 five individual entrants,
including his oldest son, Cory, who was a senior and four-time state
entrant and two-time place-winner. Coaching his son was a highlight of
Howard’s career. Cory went on to wrestle at the University of
Minnesota-Duluth for Neil Ladsten, and earned All-American honors in
the NAIA National Tournament. Howard retired in 2003 after 34 years of
teaching and coaching in Mound, Minnesota. Besides being an excellent
coach, Howard was an elite wrestler, and was inducted into the
Concordia College Hall of Fame and named to the 60 year Minnesota
“Dream Team”, both in 1998. This spring Howard will be inducted into
the Minnesota chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Howard’s family includes his wife Carolyn and their son Jason; his wife
Bradie and their three daughters: Beau, Mikhail and Nevin. Howard and
Carolyn’s 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. Congratulations, Howard!
Brandon McVey
Brandon was a 2007 graduate of Mound Westonka High School, and was
captain his junior and senior year. Brandon was a three-time
all-conference selection in both the Metro Alliance and Wright County
conferences, and was part of four conference championship and two
section runner-up teams. Brandon was a four-time state entrant and
two-time section champ. Brandon capped of his senior year with a 30-5
record, and was the class AA 130 pound third place finisher. Brandon
ranks third in Mound Westonka history for career victories with 134.
Brandon is currently a junior at St. Cloud State University.
Congratulations Brandon!
