CLASS OF 2003
The second class of the Huskerland Wrestling Hall of Fame was inducted on
Sunday, April 13th, 2003 UNK Health and Sports Center. The second class is made
up of four individuals who have all provided outstanding service to youth
wrestling. Plaques for the inductees were provided by Camp Team Sports
Insurance. The Huskerland Hall of Fame was formed to honor those who have given
outstanding service to youth wrestling in this state but have not been inducted
into the NSWCA Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame Member Bios
|
 |
| L-R: New Hall of Fame
members Dave Hartman, Rusty Hunt, Rik Gropp, Tony Brown with Huskerland
Director Craig Hellewege |
Tony Brown - Norfolk Wrestling Club
 Tony has
served as the club director for the Norfolk Wrestling Club since 1977. Tony has
entered the Norfolk W. C. in all 18 Huskerlands and has done it with great
success. His club was overall champions for 5 straight years from 1991 to 1995.
His teams finished in the top 3 of Class A for the first 11 years of Huskerland.
Tony has coached the most 6-Time Huskerland champions with 4. They are Randy
Hansen, Jimmy Iron Thunder, Kasey Kohel, and Billy Kruger. Tony wrestled for the
Lexington W. C. from 1966-68 that was coached by his father, Richard. His dad
was an early Huskerland board member and is a NSWCA Hall of Fame Inductee. Tony
wrestled for Lexington High from 1968-72 and for Wayne State College from
1972-74. Tony helped his dad coach the the Lexington W. C. for 3 seasons from
1970-72. He was an assistant coach at Wakefield High in 1974-75. He coached the
Norfolk Junior High from 1977-84, was their Freshman coach from 1985-94, and has
been the Head Coach at Norfolk High since 1995. Tony coached the Nebraska
All-Star Team in the 1999 Disney Duals and worked as a volunteer in the 2000
Olympics at Sydney, Australia. Tony will be introduced by Jim Spanel, fellow
club coach and Norfolk freshman coach.
Rik Gropp - Lincoln Squires Wrestling Club
 Rik has
served as club coach for the Lincoln Squires since 1987. His wrestlers have won
a total 68 Huskerland titles in that time. Casey Roberts and Joey Morrison were
both 5-Time Huskerland champions for Rik. Six of Rik's wrestlers have went on to
be State High School Champions. Ted Butler, Kyle Emsick, and Mike Munter for
Southeast. Matt Wheeler, Jake Froscheiser, and Jeff Rutledge for East. Jeff, a 4
time state medalist, holds the Lincoln city career wins record with 134 wins.
Casey, Joey, and Jeff all medaled high the past two years while leading Lincoln
East to back-to-back State High School Championships. While Rik has produced
many outstanding wrestlers over the years he feels his real success has been
instilling his wrestlers to gain confidence, improving their wrestling skills,
and performing up to their ability. He strives to make his wrestlers believe in
themselves while teaching them the basic lessons of life. Rik began wrestling at
age 10 at Placerville, California. He later competed for the Nebraska Olympic
Club in Lincoln. He started his coaching career with the Lincoln Midget Program
in 1981. He was the assistant wrestling coach for Lincoln Southeast H. S. from
1986 to 2001. Rik will be introduced by Jake Froscheiser, a current UNK
Wrestling team member.
Rusty Hunt - Huskerland Wrestling Referee
 Rusty
became a wrestling official in 1982, has refereed at the Huskerland for the last
16 years, and done 5 State High School Meets. Besides working a full slate of
junior high meets every fall and high school events throughout the winter Rusty
does a high number of club events in the spring. He is one of the very few
referees who does this year after year. His wife, Karen, has "Ref Wido" on her
license plates for good reasons! Rusty along with his brothers, Robert, Tim, and
Phillip, were all highly encouraged by their father, Don, to wrestle and to
wrestle hard. Don is still an active fan and can be found at many of the events
Rusty is working. Rusty wrestled for Raymond Central and qualified for State 3
times. His 10 year son, Mitchell, is wrestling in the second session on Sunday.
His 5 year son, Nathan, will get started this fall with the Warrior Pee-Wee
program. His wife, Karen, works the State High School meet plus has been seen
doing a fine job of coaching her son. Rusty feels reffing club events gives him
more patience along with gaining a better understanding of the sport. What he
likes best about working youth events is the good friendships it has created.
Rusty is being introduced by Craig Hellwege, long time Huskerland State
Director.
Dave Hartmann - Adams Central Wrestling Club
 Dave
got the Adams Central Wrestling Club started in 1977 and has been their only
club director. Dave got involved because his boys, Shawn and Brandon, wanted to
wrestle. Dave brought his early teams to AAU Wrestling State Freestyle Meets at
Kearney and USA Wrestling State Freestyle Meets at North Platte. Dave is in a
very select group of club directors who have brought wrestlers to all 18
Huskerland State Meets. Dave coached both Shawn and Brandon to Huskerland State
titles. Both of his boys wrestled all four years for Adams Central High School.
Despite having a background limited to just wrestling in the intramural program
at Grand Island Senior High Dave developed a strong love for the sport that has
continued long after his sons were done with wrestling. Four of Dave's wrestlers
have went on to win State High School Championships. They are Jay Vontz, Dave
Wallins, Derek Schmidt, and Richard Waldron. Richard now teaches and coaches
wrestling for Holdrege High School. Dave has been real proud of the recent
success of Adams Central High School. All eight of their 2003 state qualifiers
wrestled for him at the Adams Central Wrestling Club. Dave is being introduced
by Dan Lonowski, head coach for Adams Central High School.
|
