Composite list of SDWCA Hall of Fame Members Part 2

Part 2 is a composite for years 1999-2003, this is not complete yet… I want to confirm profiles and add some pics that I can find.  Any SD wrestling historians can add info or adjust any of these profiles… I surely need help…  dakotagrappler@gmail.com

 

Class of 1999

1. Forrest Lewis: from the Presho area, helped with coaching and wrestling at Harrison High School and trained with Carl Kit through the Air Force Academy. He wrestled in Germany, Korea and China. He attended Adams State College on a wrestling scholarship. In 1968, he qualified for the Olympics in both Greco and Freestyle Wrestling. Just before going to the Olympics he tore some ligaments in his knee and was unable to wrestle.  He also spent 10 years as the head coach of the SD Grand National Wrestling Team.
2. Doc Duncan: Tyndall contributor
3. Mike Durfee: For someone who had never seen a wrestling match before he got to college, the 1963 Highmore grad was a quick learner in the sport. While at Southern State, he was a three-time South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference heavyweight champion. And in nine years as head wrestling coach at his alma mater, then called USD-Springfield, Durfee’s teams won more than 80 percent of their duals. His 1974 team went 12-0 in duals, and his 1976 team won the SDIC title.Durfee was not even a full-time coach, as he spent most of his time as a diesel instructor at the school. He had no full-ride scholarships to offer, so perhaps his greatest asset as a coach was that he put together good teams every year from relatively unknown high school boys and made winning men out of them.Durfee also officiated football and wrestling. He was a state wrestling tourney official for six years.In high school, he competed in football, basketball and track (Highmore had no wrestling program). He was a two-time all-state football player.

Besides being a wrestling standout at Southern State, Durfee was a three-time all-SDIC fullback for the Pointers. The 5-foot-10, 210-pounder was twice named NAIA all-District 12, and he was named an NAIA All-American his senior year. He set school records for touchdowns in a game (5), season (16) and career (30). He drew interest froom NFL teams but chose a teaching/coaching career at USD-Springfield.

He is a member of the SDIC, Southern State and South Dakota Wrestling halls of fame. He was named the South Dakota College Coach of the Year for 1976. Durfee’s love of sports lives on as a scholarship is awarded in his memory every year at the state “B” wrestling tournament.

Class of 2000

1. Steve Peters: A successful wrestling coach at Huron high school, wrestling at USAFA Prep

 

2. Stann Opp: Stan Opp’s achievements and awards while attending Central High School in Aberdeen, South Dakota, include 4th place at State as a sophomore and State Champion as a Junior and Senior. His overall high school record was 60-5-1. His other achievements and awards include first place at the Junior Olympics in Greco Roman and third place in Freestyle during the summer of 1969. He was also named South Dakota Independent Athlete of the Year in 1969. While earning a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees at South Dakota State University, Stan’s collegiate record 94-19-1. His sophomore year he placed 2nd NCAA Division 2, junior year 5th place NCAA Division 2 and senior year 2nd place NCAA Division 2. He was also the National AAU Greco Roman Champion in 1970 and South Dakota AAU Outstanding Wrestler in 1970. Stan placed 5th in the World University Games in 1973 in Moscow, Russia and was a member of USA Wrestling teams to Russia, Poland, Yugoslavia and Romania from 1970-1976. Shan has also received recognition from Outstanding Athletes of America, 1973, NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship 1973-1974, and Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities in 1973-1974. During his time as assistant professor and head wrestling coach at Eastern Washington University from 1977-1982, his teams places 2nd and 3rd in the NAIA National Championships. He was also named Amateur Wrestling News Collegiate Rookie Coach of the Year in 1978. During his 21 years as head wrestling coach at Wenatchee High School, Stan coached 4 state champions and 40 state placers. His teams finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in the State 4A State Wrestling Tournaments and placed in the top eight at State for nine straight years. He was also named Coach of the decade in the 1990’s in North Central Washington, Washington State 4A Coach of the Year in 1999, and was the recipient of the Ralph Ginn Award for Coaching Excellence by South Dakota State University in 1999. Stan was named to the South Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Hall of Fame at Aberdeen Central High School in 2007.

3. Jack Niesen: Niesen was born August 25, 1936, in Britton, SD. Coached wrestling in Miller, SD, Tyndall, SD and Aberdeen.  Jack was also instrumental in starting the wrestling program in South Dakota also (refereeing seven state wrestling tournaments).

4. Frank Kurtenbach: Former SDSU wrestler and coach Frank Kurtenbach provided the lead gift for the facility at SDSU, which features four competition mats, plus a strength and conditioning area, locker rooms, team room, coaches’ offices and spaces for academics and nutrition.  Coached Sioux Falls Lincoln for 10 years and started their Christmas tournament. He served six years on the National Rules Committee. Known for Daktronics and contributions to SDSU wrestling.

5. Glenn Dozark: Dozark coached wrestling at Stanley County for 24 years. In addition, he coached cross country for seven years, from 1974-1981, as well as serving as an assistant football coach from 1984-1992 and as a girls track coach from 1975-1977.  Also found he was 1990 USA Wrestling SD man of the year.

Also a physical education and general science teacher at Stanley County, Dozark compiled a 28-4-68-3 record in duals as the Buffs coach. His teams finished in the top eight at the state tournament nine times, including second place in 1993 and 1997. He coached four state champions, including Mord, Justin O’Daniel, Ron Hutcheson and Chance Stoeser. Dozark was named regional coach of the year three times, and was a seven-time nominee for South Dakota coach of the year honors.

6. Wayne Willuweit: Willuweit was a three-time state champion for Burke in 1971-73 (98-112-105). He was a well-respected official for 15 years and officiated in the state “B” 12 years.

Class of 2001

1. Jerry Appl is a former wrestler and coach from Clear Lake, South Dakota. He was inducted into the South Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2001 for his contributions to the sport.

As a wrestler, Appl was a standout athlete at Clear Lake High School, where he won a state championship in 1967. He went on to compete at South Dakota State University, where he was a two-time North Central Conference champion and an NCAA Division II All-American.

After college, Appl returned to Clear Lake to begin his coaching career. He spent over 30 years coaching wrestling at the high school and middle school levels, and his teams won numerous conference and regional titles. Appl was also involved in the South Dakota Wrestling Coaches Association, serving as president and on various committees.

In addition to his coaching, Appl was also a respected official, serving as a referee for over 25 years. He was known for his fair and consistent officiating, and was highly respected by wrestlers, coaches, and officials alike.

2. Lee Wolf is a former wrestling coach who had a successful career coaching at Aberdeen Central High School in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Wolf coached at Aberdeen Central from 1977 to 2001, and during his tenure, he led the Golden Eagles to numerous state championships and coached many individual state champions.  The second head wrestling coach in Central’s history, and was at the helm of the program for 29 years.

Wolf’s coaching career at Aberdeen Central spanned over two decades, and he was known for his ability to develop talented wrestlers and build strong teams. He also played a significant role in promoting and advancing the sport of wrestling in South Dakota, and was inducted into the South Dakota Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2001.

3. Jim Thompson: A three-time South Dakota Sportscaster of the Year, the 1965 Sturgis High grad was well-known nationally for his pro rodeo announcing. Thompson has been selected to announce every major rodeo finals in the country: PRCA National Finals, Circuit Finals, Indian National Finals, College Nationals, High School National Finals and Senior Pro. He started announcing rodeos in 1976. He left radio management in 1988 to become a full-time rodeo announcer. He retired from rodeo announcing in 2000, though he continues to fill in occasionally for friends and he still announces Single Steer Ropings across the region. A knife accident led to Thompson’s radio career. In 1966, at age 18, he injured his hand working in the butcher shop and couldn’t play for Sturgis’ Legion baseball team. The local radio announcer asked Jim if he’d be interested in calling the game, and the rest is history. He has done a daily syndicated radio rodeo program called “On the Road Again” for more than 30 years. It’s on about 50 stations today. He has been doing a weekly rodeo newspaper column since 2004. It appears in about 50 newspaper and magazines across the country. He began his current daily talk show “Live with Jim Thompson” in 1999 on a four-state radio network. He was inducted into the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1998. Thompson grew up on ranches in northwest South Dakota and Oregon. He moved to Sturgis in 1962. He attended Brown Institute of Broadcasting in Minneapolis in 1965-66. He got his first radio job in Valentine, Neb., in 1966 before going back to Sturgis in 1967. He did radio and TV in the Armed Forces Korea Network in the service, then worked briefly at KBHB in Sturgis before becoming an announcer and sportscaster at KCCR in Pierre in 1970. In 1976 he moved to Watertown to manage KWAT. He also managed KSDR in Watertown and KNEB in Scottsbluff, Neb. He was the first broadcaster from Pierre and Watertown to win the Sportscaster of the Year award, winning the award while at Pierre in 1975 and at Watertown in 1978 and ’79. In 1980 he was a finalist to be the Minnesota Twins radio broadcaster alongside Herb Carneal.

3. Gary Keck: Gary Keck was a successful wrestling coach at Huron College in Huron, South Dakota. He served as head coach of the wrestling team from 1967 to 1971 and again from 1978 to 1985. During his tenure, he coached many talented wrestlers and led the team to several conference championships.
4. Ken Keck: Ken Keck who was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1998 for his contributions to the sport of wrestling in South Dakota. Ken Keck was a successful wrestling coach at Watertown High School, where his teams won multiple state championships. He also served as the Executive Secretary of the South Dakota High School Activities Association and was instrumental in the development and growth of wrestling programs in the state, he was an accomplished wrestler at Watertown High School and later served as a wrestling official and coach in South Dakota and Nebraska.
5. Bill Gibbons: attended Northern State College (1947-48) and South Dakota State College (1948-51) where he majored in physical education, with minors in history and science. Bill was a member of SDSU’s championship football teams of 1949 and 1950, and also earned letters in wrestling and track while obtaining his Bachelor of Science degree.  He started the wrestling program at Brookings HS in 1964, and his 1967 team was undefeated and won ESD Conference and State titles. He subsequently continued as an assistant coach, with teams winning State Championships in 1969, 1979, and 1989. Bill was also Director of the Intramural Program at BHS for 32 years. Bill frequently served as a counselor, listener, and friend to many troubled students. It was common to see students waiting to talk to him before and after classes, and no matter how busy he was he always took the time to listen to their concerns and try to help. In 1986 he was awarded the Governor’s Outstanding Citizen award for rescuing a BHS student from drowning.

Class 0f 2002

1. Les Tlustos: Les Tlustos is a former wrestler and coach who is known for his outstanding achievements in the sport. He was born on November 14, 1946, in Parkston, South Dakota.

Tlustos had a remarkable wrestling career during his time at Parkston High School. He was a two-time state champion and finished his high school career with a record of 66-3. After high school, Tlustos attended South Dakota State University where he continued to excel in wrestling. He was a four-time North Central Conference champion and a three-time NCAA All-American. He finished his college career with a record of 107-16-1.

Following his college career, Tlustos became a coach, and he had a very successful run at Parkston High School. He led the team to six state championships and had 21 individual state champions. He was named the South Dakota High School Wrestling Coach of the Year twice and was inducted into the South Dakota Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1991.

In addition to his success at Parkston, Tlustos was also a successful international wrestling official. He officiated at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games, as well as at numerous World Championships and other international events.

2. Lincoln McIlravy:

Lincoln McIlravy wrestled for Philip High School in Philip, SD where he won 5 state titles, going on to wrestle in college at the University of Iowa under celevrated coach Dan Gable.  He won three NCAA Div I championships in 1993, 94, 97, losing to Steve Marianettin of University of Illinois

Also an Olympic Medalist!  Much more Bio’s out there… I will add later.

3. Dale Westberg: Dale Westberg was a standout wrestler from Huron High School in the 1970s. He was a three-time state champion, winning titles in 1972, 1973, and 1974. Westberg went on to wrestle at Northern State University in Aberdeen, where he was a four-year letterman and two-time conference champion. He graduated with a degree in physical education and began his coaching career at Huron High School in 1980. Over the next 22 years, Westberg led Huron to five state championships and numerous conference titles. He also served as the head coach of the South Dakota team at the Junior National Duals for six years. In recognition of his achievements as a wrestler and coach, Westberg was inducted into the South Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002.
4. Gene Benthin: Benthin was a standout wrestler at Watertown High School 1966 state finalist and went on to become a successful coach at Aberdeen Central and Clark. He later served as the head wrestling coach at South Dakota State University.
5. Bruce Wendling: Wendling was a dominant wrestler at Wagner High School, winning four state titles. He went on to become a successful coach, leading his teams at Madison High School and West Central High School to many state titles

Class of 2003:

1. Dick Bleth, a McIntosh native, wrestling for Northern State, then coached Faulkton to three state titles from 1971-73. He also coached in Huron from 1974-78, then at Lewis Central in Council Bluffs, Iowa, amassing 288 career dual wins. He was a 10-time Southwest Iowa Coach of the Year and was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1996. He now resides in Council Bluffs. Faulkton: Bleth was a successful wrestling coach at Faulkton High School.  During his tenure, he led his teams to numerous state championships and produced numerous individual state champions. Bleth was known for his dedication to his athletes and for his ability to motivate them to reach their full potential.

 

1. Mark Manning, coach, Vermillion: Manning, a three-time champion for the Vermillion Tanagers from 1978-80 went on to become a two-time national champion and three-time all-American at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He was a member of the US freestyle team 1986-89, and won a Silver Medal in the PanAm games in 1989. He served as an assistant to the U.S Olympic Team in Sydney, Australia in 2000.

   He was an assistant at North Carolina for eight years, Oklahoma for four seasons, and then went on to coach at the University of Northern Iowa for three years. He is currently the head coach for the outstanding program at Nebraska. He was hired as the head wrestling coach at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2000 and has led the Cornhuskers to numerous conference championships and top 10 finishes at the NCAA tournament.

2. Koln Knight, wrestler, Beresford, Augustana: Knight was a standout wrestler at Beresford High School and Augustana College. He was a four-time state champion in high school and a two-time All-American at Augustana, where he won the NCAA Division II national championship. After college, Knight continued to compete at the national level and was a member of the United States national wrestling team.  Knight was a state champion for Beresford, earning Outstanding Wrestler honors at the 1981 tournament. He went on to become a two-time national champion at Augustana, winning four North Central Conference titles. He is currently an assistant principal in Cushing, Okla.
3. Ron Nelson, coach, Sisseton: Nelson, a 1960 graduate of New Effington High School and a 1965 graduate of Northern State, began his coaching career in Groton, then coached in Sisseton from 1967-79. He continued to be involved in wrestling in the 1980s and 90s as an official, and worked closely with the youth wrestling program in Sisseton. He now lives in Layton, Utah.
4. Brian Parlet, wrestler, Partlett, who earned a state championship for Sioux Falls Lincoln in 1976, went on to become a four-time all-American at Augustana, winning a national championship in 1980. He is a member of the NCAA Division II Hall of Fame and the Augustana Hall of Fame. He currently resides in Richfield, Minn.