Minnesota Chapter of The National Wrestling Hall of Fame inducts seven

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame honored seven individuals at The Minnesota Chapter Banquet in Austin, Minn. on Saturday, April 5th, 2012.

The Class of 2012 included Outstanding American Reid Lamphere, former U of M All-American, who westled for Hall of Fame Coach Darrell Sohn. Lamphere has been the head sports chaplin for Athletes in Action (AIA), International in 118 different countries through the World. He has directed or coached at a number of International, Olympic, and World Events for AIA.

Torrey Westrom from Elbow Lake, is serving his eighth term in the State House as a Representative. He is the only blind person ever elected to the Minnesota State Legislature. Torrey turned to wrestling after losing his eyesight as a freshmen in high school. Torry received The State Courage Award.

Lifetime Servie Honorees include the late C. Dean Fox, who coached over forty years at Pelican Rapids; Gregg Greeno, long-time highly successful coach at St.-Michael-Albertville; Al Holmes, long-time collegiate coach at Moorhead State, MN, Mayville, ND, and Brainered Community College. Al also coached at Frazee and Fergus Falls High Schools.

Lifetime Servie Honorees also include Mike McArthur of Osseo, who had a storied career at the University of Minnesota and coaching for twenty-nine years with Athletes in Action and a number of big-time colleges and USA Wrestling in Colorado Springs, CO; and Harry Schlieff, long-time successful Head Coach and Athletic Director at Mounds View High School.

Photo Gallery – Minnesota Chapter of The National Wrestling Hall of Fame 2012

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Inductee Biographies

Reid Lamphere

Outstanding American recipient for 2012 is this highly accomplished Minnesota wrestling native who has helped spread the word of Christianity throughout the world. Not only did his wrestling accomplishments on the mat help him pursue his life work, but his hosting of wrestling camps, clinics and teams he organized for international competition served well with his character and leadership. Dan Moskowitz, former member of Athletes in Action (1976-1978) says, “His (Reid Lamphere) selfless devotion to the greater good of others, reflected by his work with Athletes in Action over the last 40 years, has been nothing short of heroic.”

Reid wrestled for Hall of Fame coach Darryl Sohn at Robbinsdale-Cooper High School where he was a State Champion in 1967. While in high school he also was a member of the Key Club , and was recipient of the highest level of achievement in the Boys Scouts of America earning the rank of “Eagle Scout.”

From high school Lamphere was recruited by the University of Minnesota, and he did well as a “Gopher”, finishing as runnerup in the Big 10 conference in 1969, 1970, and 1971. Two of those Big 10 title losses were to NCAA National Champion Tom Milkovich of Michigan State. Lamphere earned NCAA-I All-American honors in 1969, placing fourth in the NCAA National tournament.

Reid says his most exciting match in high school was against Mike Good of Fridley in the state semifinals, which Reid won 11-9. In
college he said he had a similar experience against Larry Owings of the University of Washington (Owings is known for his famous NCAA Championship victory over legendary Dan Gable in 1970). Reid defeated Owings 14-12. These great matches are extraordinary considering Reid only started wrestling as a sophomore in high school.

Where most athletes complete their careers in college, this was just the start for Reid Lamphere. Upon graduation Reid was recruited by John Klein (U of M class of 1966) to join the staff of Athletes in Action, a post college wrestling club that competed with college teams, hosted wrestling camps and clinics and put together teams to compete internationally. This organization not only competed on the mat but helped spread moral character and the word of Christianity around the World.

Lamphere’s wrestling trips took him to the summer Olympics in Munich in 1972, Montreal in 1976, Seul in 1988, Barceloma in 1992, Atlanta in 1976, Sydney in 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing in 2008. There were also numerous trips to many countries for such events as the Pan American Games, Asian Games, World University Games, Central American Games, Caribbean Games, South American Games and World Wrestling Championships.

John Klein states “Reid provided chaplains for the Olympic Games and other major international sports events such as the Pan American Games, the World University Games, the World Cup, as well as major events in Africa, Asia, South America and Europe. Reid served as a mentor to thousands of athletes and young people around the globe in leadership, moral values, character and spiritual faith.”

Steve Michel, a 1974 Robbinsdale High School graduate, whose family organizes the annual “Lamphere Open Golf Tournament” (This tournament helps raise money for Reid’s ministry) says “In nearly 40 years of ministry fulfilling his call through A.I.A. to God’s Great commission proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Reid has worked diligently to help wrestlers become better athletes and better men. He has sacrificed comfort and convenience to do this work putting up with bad food, bad accommodations, barely enough money, time away from family, hot weather, cold weather, political unrest, and more.” Certainly this kind of sacrifice and dedication more than qualify Reid Lamphere as an “Outstanding American.”

Torrey Westrum

Attorney, businessman and legislator Torrey Westrum has excelled at whatever he’s pursued. This year’s “Courage Award” winner is an outstanding example of discipline, intelligence, work ethic and achievement. He is proof that a person should not let adversity keep you down. Success can result from finding opportunities inside life’s challenges, believing in yourself and having the courage to pursue one’s dreams.

A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota and Minnesota State House of Representatives, Westrum represents district 11A. He is in his eighth term of office-first being elected in 1996 at the age of 23. He graduated from Bemidji State Univerity with B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Business Administration. He continued his education at William Mitchell College of Law, where he received his J.D. in 2003. Westrom owns and operates Westrom Law office, PLLC and TSI Real Estate, LLC in Elbow Lake, MN, where he grew up and their family currently resides.

As an elementary school student, Torrey participated in basketball and wrestling. Growing up on a dairy farm, Torrey carried feed pails, hay bales and dumping lots of milk buckets. This kept him in shape and strong. In sixth grade Torrey was already 6’1” and could dominate in Junior High basketball. In the summer of 1987, Torrey lost his eyesight in a farm-related car accident. Shortly after his accident, one of his teachers and a wrestling coach, Jay McNamer, encouraged Torrey to come out and try wrestling. Coach McNamer later learned the special rules for a blind wrestlers and kept encouraging Torrey to join the team. In 1988 Torrey joined the West Central High School wrestling squad, wrestling between the 171 and 189 weight classes.

Torrey’s fondest memory in wrestling was winning the “Most Valuable Wrestler” award at the Lake Park Invitational in 1989. He pinned the wrestler in the third place wrestle-back match, who had defeated him in the first round, by a score of 14-18 decision. He credits coach McNamer for his encouragement to join wrestling, his parents for instilling a strong work ethic, determination and a never let a loss stop him from continuing. In addition, his vision teacher, Mrs. Sally Hazelhoff, for helping in adaptions and accommodations available to him. Finally, his teammates were a great success of encouragement to him-treating him just like any other teammate.

In college at Bemidji State, Westrom, in his freshman year, and with few other new freshmen wrestlers are credited for working to start a wrestling club. They attempted to try and bring the sport of wrestling back to the college as a “varsity sport”-a feat that could not overcome the bureaucracy and budget constraints at the university.

He has served on several legislative commissions, including the Rural Health Care Advisory Task Force, the Secretary of State’s voting equipment Task Force and Minnesota Legislative Audit Commission. In 2002, he was one of two appointees by President George W. Bush to serve a four year term on a federal social security advisory panel called “Ticket to Work”. The panel advised congress and the White House on return-to-work programs for people with disabilities.

Over his tenure, Westrom has served on numerous legislative committees. In 2003 he was appointed by the Speaker of the House, Steve Sviggum, to be chair of the Regulated Industries Energy Committee until 2007. In 2011, Speaker Kurt Zellers appointed him Chair of the Civil Law Committee as well as the position of “Speaker Protempor.” In 2011, he is believed to have become the first blind person of record to have ever presided over a legislative body and served as a Speaker of the House-throughout the nation.

Between discussing and analyzing politics Torrey stays involved in their church, enjoys water sports like swimming with his children, jet skiing and fishing. He also enjoys playing cards, scrabble and reading. His wife, Anna, and twin daughters Madelyn, and Whitney, and son Carter bring lots of joy to their lives and keep the Westroms busy.

Today Torrey would advise athletes by saying, “Hard work and determination are the only inner attitudes that you can control.” He says, “Be willing to try new things’ take challenges, and find the silver linings in unexpected changes in your life!” He also says, “Remember small acts of kindness and patience may greatly help a friend or teammate today, but often pay-back unexpected dividends to you at a future time when you may need it yourself.”

Torrey Westrom is the first known blind person elected to the Minnesota House of representatives. After 16 years in the House, he has recently decided to run for the Minnesota Senate. He was endorsed this past March to be the Republican candidate for the Senate District 12 seat in 2012. To many outsiders, he is living an incredible life and it all started with a “can do” attitude and the courage to overcome obstacles and succeed.

Dean Fox

Born and raised in Wadena, Minnesota, Dean Fox became one of Northwest Minnesota’s well-known figures in wrestling through his coaching and service he provided to the sport. He was instrumental in promoting high school wrestling in that part of the state.

A St. Cloud State College graduate, Dean got his first teaching position in 1952 at Danube High School, Danube Minnesota. He taught math and history, along with coaching football and baseball. In 1953 he was drafted into the Army, serving with the occupational force in Germany. While in the army he continued his teaching and coaching, running a school for illiterate soldiers and coaching tennis Upon his discharge in 1955 he resumed his teaching and coaching career, this time at Pelican Rapids High School. He taught math and history and coached junior high football and baseball.

In 1959, Dean and another teacher, Bob King, started the wrestling program at Pelican Rapids. Of course, Dean had never wrestled, nor had he any training or even scene a high school wrestling match. However, the school needed an assistant wrestling coach so he accepted the challenge. Dean started keeping statistics (wins and losses) on every wrestler in the region. From these stats he started writing a region newsletter.

His newsletter came out four times a season. In 1975 he started helping Al Holmes with the Region 6 wrestling tournament, held in Fergus Falls. In 1977 Dean and wife, Marilyn, took over running the tournament. They both ran the Region 6 tournament until 1986, when Pelican Rapids moved from Region 6 to Region 8.

In 1986 Dean was inducted into the Dave Bartelma Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame. He continued to coach wrestling until his retirement in 1994. This did not end his involvement with wrestling though. He continued to run the “score clock” for home matches and assisted in running the Lake Park Invitational Tournament in Lake Park, MN. They also ran the Region 8 tournament in Glyndon, Minnesota.

In 1994 the “Dean Fox Sportsmanship Trophy” was established for the Lake Park Invitational. In 1999 the “Marilyn Fox Sportsmanship Trophy” was established for the Region 8 Tournament. Marilyn died in a car accident in 1998. Upon Dean’s death in 2007 this trophy was renamed the “Dean and Marilyn Fox Sportsmanship Trophy” Over the years these trophies have been awarded to wrestlers, coaches, referees or fans that have demonstrated good sportsmanship while supporting their teams. The Fox name epitomized the significance of this award.

Other contributions of service Dean Fox made to the community were to the Masonic Lodge, the Shriners, AARP and he also taught refugees how to drive. He was a caring individual who always tried to help people in need.

Awards Dean Fox received during his career included the 1981 District 23 “Coach of the Year,” 2004 Pelican Rapids Award for helpng athletes for fifty years and other awards for sportsmanship and longevity

The late Dean Fox will be remembered for his strong contributions and service to wrestling for years to come.

Gregg Greeno

Born in South Dakota and raised in South and North Dakota, Gregg came to Minnesota and developed one of the State’s finest wrestling programs at St. Michael-Albertville High School. During his 28 years at the helm (1980-2008), the STMA “Knights” won six State team titles. He also guided STMA to 20 conference titles, (15) Wright County, (3) Rum River, and (2) Mississippi-8, as well as, 16 Section titles. Ten of those teams reached the State team finals. Gregg also coached 86 Minnesota State placewinners (top 6) and 21 individual Minnesota State champions, an all-around star athlete at Jamestown High School , in North Dakota, Greeno won an individual State title in wrestling at 132 pounds in 1973, graduating that same year. After high school ,he attended Jamestown College, where he wrestled for his father, Rollie Greeno, Sr. longtime coach at Jamestown College in football, wrestling, track and field, and cross country. While at Jamestown College, Gregg earned 15 varsity letters while competing in football (4), wrestling (4), track and field (4), baseball (2), and cross country (1). He became Jamestown College’s first “All-American” ever in the sport of wrestling, placing fourth at the NAIA National Tourney in 1976. Another sixth place finish in 1977 made Greeno a rare two-time “All- American”.

Graduating from Jamestown College in 1978, Greeno served as assistant wrestling coach for 2 years (1978-1980) and taught high school math at Jamestown High School. He also officiated wrestling, while in Jamestown. He moved on to take the head wrestling coaching position at St. Michael-Albertville in 1980 at the tender age of 25 and teach high school math. He still teaches math at STMA, is the currently the head cross country coach for boys and girls, and helps coach wrestling at the Jr. High level for the Knights.

Gregg’s success as a wrestling coach has been well recognized by his peers, as he was twice selected as Minnesota High School Wrestling (Class AA) “Coach of the Year”, in 1996 and 2004. He was inducted into the Dave Bartelma-Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002 and was a 1987 inductee into the Jamestown College Athletic Hall of Fame. Gregg was also elected as president of the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association and served in 1993. He has well served the wrestling community with his many contributions.

Gregg has been married to Jeri, coming up on 28 years and they have 3 children, Dan (24), Sam (22), and Hannah (8). Dan earned “All-State” honors in 3 sports his senior year at STMA in cross country, wrestling, and track, including an individual State title at 119 pounds in wrestling. He was also a 4-time NCAA Division-3 “All-American” at Bethel University in cross country and track. Sam will graduate from Drake University this month (May) and was a 3-time “All-Conference” cross country runner at STMA while competing for his Dad. Hannah likes all sports, especially mountain biking with Dad. Gregg, Jeri, and Hannah live in St. Michael.

Former Hall of Fame coach, John Grygelko, whose grandsons (John, Jake, and Joe) wrestled at STMA under Greeno said, “He’s the type of coach I would want my grandson to wrestle for.” Grygelko’s grandsons were all highly successful at STMA, contributing to several State championships, both team and individually. In summary, Minnesota Chapter President, Spencer Yohe, said, “Gregg has had an outstanding career serving youth and young wrestlers and is one of Minnesota’s elite coaches over the past 30 years.”

Al Holmes

One of the well-known college coaches in Minnesota and North Dakota was Al Holmes. Coach Holmes had success wherever and whatever sport he coached, from Michigan Tech to Moorhead State, to Mayville State, to Brainerd Community College, this Moorhead, Minnesota native was successful!

Al Holmes also had the rare privilege of being a “pioneer” in the sport of wrestling. He was a member of the first wrestling teams at both Moorhead High School and Moorhead State College.

Holmes was a two-time Team Captain of the Moorhead High School football team. Al graduated in 1957 from Moorhead State College. His career stops first took him to Frazee High School as a head football coach and wrestling coach from 1958 to 1961. While at Frazee he started the wrestling program in 1958. He then served as head wrestling and assistant football coach at Michigan Tech University in 1961 – 62. From 1962 to 1973 he was assistant wrestling and football coach and head track coach at Moorhead State University. While at Moorhead State the wrestling team won the NAIA National Championship in 1964. This was the first national title at any level for a team from Minnesota.

From Moorhead State Al moved on to Mayville State College in North Dakota from 1976 to 1983. He then served as head football coach and wrestling coach at Brainerd Community College, where he started the wrestling program there as well, from 1986 to 1993. The Brainerd Community College football team won State Runner-up finishes in 1988 and 1991.

In addition to his coaching Holmes directed the long standing Ottertail Wrestling Campus at Battle Lake, Minnesota for ten years. This was a popular camp at that time. He also managed the District 23 wrestling tournament for twelve years and the Region 6 wrestling tournament for two years. He was also a wrestling official for many years, including two years at the Minnesota state tournament.

Coach Holmes long service to athletics has been honored with induction into the Moorhead State Hall of Fame in 1980, the Brainerd Community College Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Minnesota Community College Hall of Fame.

Hall of Famer Andrew McCarty says, “Al was a model wrestler, coach and official. Any career he chose in wrestling, he did it to the extreme.”

Minnesota Chapter President Spencer Yohe says, “Al was a good one, very good for our youth and a humble person. This type of coach you would want your son or grandson to wrestle for.”

Al Holmes will long be remembered as one of the legends of college coaching in Minnesota.

Mike Mcarthur

One of Minnesota’s finest wrestlers ever was Mike McArthur of Osseo, Minnesota. A graduate of Osseo High School, McArthur achieved great success on the wrestling mat as a wrestler, coach and minister to numerous young men, from youth wrestlers to “World Class” athletes.

As a competitor, Mike was a two-time State Champion at Osseo High School with a career H.S. record of 88-8-1. He added to his development as a wrestler by competing in Freestyle and Greco Roman competition, where he had outstanding success. A six-time Minnesota State Greco Roman Champion, both Junior and Senior Divisions (AAU and USWF) and 17 – time Minnesota State Freestyle Champion, Junior and Senior Divisions (AAU and USWF). He was 1973 USWF Junior National Champion, 1973 Junior Olympic National Champion in both Freestyle and Greco Roman competition and was 1974 Junior World National Freestyle Champion.

A lighter weight wrester in high school it was questionable whether Mike would be big enough to compete at the heavier weight class (118 lbs) in college. He proved all the skeptics wrong by building himself into a two-time All-American, placing second and third in the NCAA –I national tournament for the University of Minnesota. His overall college record was an outstanding 149-18-1. That record once stood as the fourth best all-time winningest record in NCAA Wrestling history.

Mike was also a three-time Midlands Champion back when that tournament featured weight classes tougher than the NCAA tournament, with some post-college great competing (1976, 1977, 1978) He was also a two-time East-West All-Star Winner in 1976 and 1977. He became a 1976 Olympic Team Alternate for the United States Freestyle Team for the Montreal, Canada Olympic Games. He was also a member of the 1979 United States World Cup Freestyle Team competing in Toledo, Ohio.

After all this success on the mats, Mike was not finished with his career. He served as head coach of the United States Athletes in Action Wrestling Team from 1988 to 1993. He also served as AIA Director from 1985 to 1994. Other stops along the way were assistant coach at the University of Minnesota in 1978, Oklahoma State University from 1982 to 1985 and volunteer assistant at the United States Air Force Academy from 1993 to 2008. In addition, he served as 2002 United States Freestyle Coach for the Pan American Games held in Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic; 1995 USA World Freestyle Team Assistant Coach and 1996 USA Olympic Freestyle Team assistant Coach in Atlanta.

Mike lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado on a ranch with his family. Beyond his days with Athletes in Action Wrestling, Mike has also worked with Western Based Ministries in the Rodeo Circuit. Coach Mac says about his involvement with wrestling, “I feel like this is an area that God has gifted me. The teaching and explanation of wrestling technique combined with Biblical principles to develop the total person! This is a part of my ministry!” Mike’s ministry to God and wrestling, and the many athletes that he has served over his long career will be remembered for years to come.

Harry Schlieff

One of Minnesota’s finest “homegrown” wrestlers and coaches is Harry Schlieff. This Rochester native and later Plainview and Mounds View High School Head Wrestling Coach and Athletic Director achieved great success on the wrestling mat over the years. He also helped Minnesota High School Wrestling by serving as one of the original “State Tournament Committee Members” in the early 1970’s, helping this great tourney become what it is today.

Harry was a Minnesota State Wrestling Champion for Rochester High School in 1957 at 154 pounds. He also helped lead his team to a fifth place finish in State in the old “one class” tournament. In addition, he played football and ran in track, demonstrating his all-around athletic ability. One of Harry’s wrestling coaches at Rochester High School was Hall of Famer, DuWayne Silker.

Schlieff went on to wrestle at the University of Minnesota. He was a three year letter winner, Big 10 conference runner-up and a member of the “Gophers” Big 10 Championship team in 1959. He qualified for the NCAA national tournament three times (1959, 1960 and 1961). He was named Minnesota “Team Captain” and voted “Outstanding Wrestler” in 1961.

After completing his athletic eligibility in 1961, Schlieff served as assistant wrestling coach at Minnesota in 1962. Graduating with a B.S. Degree with a physical education major and English minor, Schlieff took on his first teaching and head coaching position at Plainview High School, where he started the program in 1963-64. He then moved on to Mounds View High School, where he served as head wrestling coach from 1965 to 1981. He also served as assistant football coach in 1976 to 1977, becoming Athletic Director from 1987 to 1996. Along the way, Schlieff earned an M.S. Degree in Education from Winona State University in 1967 and a Specialist Degree in Outdoor Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 1978.

Coach Schlieff had teams that excelled on the mat as he coached 24 state qualifiers and 3 state champions. He coached Mounds View on to two District titles, two egion runner ups and four teams placing third. He had an overall coaching record of 125-90-5. He also coached a two-time state champion in Jerry Tesch. Another of Schlieff’s wrestlers was future Hall of Fame Coach Jim Short, Simley High School, who was a state runner-up for Schlieff at Mounds View High school.

Among Harry’s many honors are his inductions into the Dave Bartelma Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame, Region 4 “Athletic Director of the Year” in 1994, and being the first Inductee to the Mounds View High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004. He was also inducted into the 2005 Mounds View Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Rochester Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.

Harry Schlieff has achieved many other accomplishments and helped his community and state with volunteer work. He has served on numerous committees such as the Salvation Army, Community Education programs and others. He has stayed active physically with biking, mountain climbing and canoeing. He even published a magazine article on biking.

With all his accomplishments and endeavors he will be remembered most though for what his former longtime assistant coach Delmar Anderson says, “His knowledge of the sport and his concern for developing young men into responsible productive adults was always at the forefront of his coaching,” Harry Schlieff played an instrumental role in the lives of many wrestlers and athletes in his long and distinguished career.

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