Due to circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Directors of the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in Cresco announced the 51st Annual IWHOF Induction Ceremony and Awards Banquet scheduled for Monday, April 13, 2020 has been postponed until Monday, April 12, 2021. The class of 2020; Tom Hogan, Tom Huff, G. Wyatt Schultz, and Chad Zaputil are deemed worthy recipients and were unanimously approved for induction into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame. Their day will come.

CRESCO, IA: The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame announced its 2020 Induction class:
Tom Hogan, Colonel Thomas Huff, Chad Zaputil, and Wyatt Schultz will be inducted during an awards banquet and ceremony Monday, April 13th at the Cresco Country Club.

Four outstanding individuals who’ve contributed mightily to the sport of wrestling will be inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in Cresco on Monday, April 13, 2020. The 51st Annual Awards Banquet and Induction Ceremony will begin with a 5:30pm social hour followed by a 6:30pm banquet at the Cresco Country Club.

Tom Hogan – Gilbertville Don Bosco, UNI, Wartburg – three-time state medalist, state champion, three-time NCAA D3 All-American, D3 NCAA Champion, and renowned high school coach.

Colonel Thomas L. Huff U.S. Air Force DC Retired – Waterloo West, University of Iowa – three-time state champion, two-time Big Ten champion, two-time NCAA All-American, multiple U.S. Armed Services championships, two-time final Olympic Trials place winner.

G.Wyatt Schultz – Postville, Cedar Rapids – owner and publisher of
The Predicament and sports photographer whose work has appeared in
Wrestling USA, USA Wrestler, Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine, and
Sports Illustrated.

Chad Zaputil – Centerville, University of Iowa – four-time state entrant, two-time state champion, three-time Big Ten Conference champion, three-time NCAA tournament finalist.

Banquet tickets are available at the Cresco Chamber of Commerce, 563.547.3434, or CIA Insurance, 563.547.2382. Tickets are $25 and advance registration is required.

The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame’s sole purpose is the promotion of amateur wrestling and honoring native Iowans. The inaugural banquet was held in 1970. When we conclude the 51st Annual Awards Banquet on April 13, 2020, our roster of inductees will include 137 outstanding individuals for their contributions to amateur wrestling.

CRESCO, IA: Four outstanding individuals who’ve contributed mightily to the sport of wrestling will be inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in Cresco on Monday, April 8^th. The 50th Annual Awards Banquet and Induction Ceremony will begin with a 5:30 social hour followed by a 6:30 banquet at the Cresco Country Club south of Cresco. Those being inducted Don Buzzard (posthumous), Joe Corso, Gary Steffensmeier and Jesse Whitmer. Also being recognized will be Dale Bahr. Bahr was inducted into the IWHOF in 1988, but was unable to attend that induction ceremony and banquet.   The Board of Directors thought the 50^th anniversary banquet would be an appropriate time to recognize Bahr as an inductee.

Don Buzzard was a two-time state champion for Waterloo East(1963, 1964). Buzzard went on to Iowa State University where he was a two-time NCAA runner-up at 191 pounds. As a sophomore Buzzard won the 191 pound Midlands Championship. Buzzard coached at Jesup before becoming an assistant coach at the University of Iowa (1973-1974). During his competitive career Buzzard only lost a total of nine matches.

Joe Corso won a state title for West Des Moines Valley at113 pounds in 1971. After winning a bronze medal in the NCAA championships for Purdue, Corso continued his career in freestyle wrestling where he excelled. Corso went on to be a ten-time national freestyle champion, placed third in the World Championships of 1978 and was the 1979 Pan-American Games champion. Corso was also on the 1980Olympic team and an alternate in 1984. Corso is still coaching and has had a long history with the Sunkist Wrestling Club.

Steffensmeier wrestled at Fort Madison for Hall of Fame coach Mick Pickford. Steffensmeier was the Bloodhounds first two-time state champion and their first four-time state tournament medalist. Steffensmeir won titles in 1986 at 112 lbs and in 1987 at119 lbs. He capped his senior year with a perfect 32-0 record. Steffensmeier went to the University of Northern Iowa where he was a three-time Division I All-American with a runner-up and two fourth place finishes. He finished with a collegiate record of 115-29-3.

Jessie Whitmer was a four-time medalist and a one-time state champion for Eagle Grove High School. Whitmer then went to the University of Iowa where he was able to break into the starting line up as a 118 pound senior. Whitmer was one of five national champions for the storied 1997 squad that broke the record for number of points scored at the tournament (170).

Dale Bahr was a two-time state champion for Iowa Falls high school, wrestling for Gary Kurdelmeier. Under Harold Nichols at Iowa State, Bahr won the 145 lb. national championship as a senior.   He was a two-time All American before winning his national title. Bahr then went on to a successful coaching career where he ended up as head coach for the University of Michigan from 1978-99.

Banquet tickets are available at the Cresco Chamber of Commerce (563-547-3434) or CIA Insurance in Cresco (563-547-2382). Tickets are $25 and advance registration is required.

The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame’s sole purpose is the promotion of amateur wrestling in Iowa. The IWHOF has a rich history of honoring native Iowans at our annual awards banquet and induction ceremony. The inaugural banquet was held in 1970. When we conclude the 50th annual awards banquet on April 08, 2019, our roster of inductees will included 133 outstanding individuals for their contributions to amateur wrestling.