George Gast

2002 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

October 20, 1922 – May 11, 2002

George Gast surrounded himself with athletic success from an early age, first making his mark as a standout athlete at Osage High School. In 1940, he captured the Iowa state wrestling title at 165 pounds, helping lead Osage—alongside his brother Dick—to a team state championship that same year, with both brothers winning individual titles. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, George distinguished himself academically, graduating as the valedictorian of the Osage High School Class of 1940.

Heavily recruited by Minnesota’s legendary coach Dave Bartelma, George ultimately chose Iowa State University, competing under coach Hugo Otopalik. Bartelma famously remarked, “We will beat the pants off you when we wrestle,” but George proved him wrong on February 7, 1942, pinning his opponent in front of 1,500 fans. George later recalled nearly being moved from the 175-pound match to heavyweight that evening, relieved to avoid facing Minnesota’s 300-pound football guard Butch Levy.

Gast continued to make history in 1943 by upsetting Leon “Champ” Martin of Iowa State Teachers College, snapping Martin’s remarkable 50-match winning streak. Martin had previously defeated Gast in 1942. That same year, George won the Big Six Conference wrestling title and served as captain of the 1944 Iowa State squad. Due to the mumps in 1942 and the cancellation of the NCAA tournaments during World War II in 1943 and 1944, he was unable to compete on the national stage.

A true multi-sport athlete, George earned varsity letters at Iowa State not only in wrestling but also in football and track. In 1943, he won the NCAA championship in the javelin, underscoring his exceptional all-around athleticism.

Following his collegiate career, George returned to Osage, where he taught and coached from 1944 to 1948. During his tenure as an assistant coach, Osage finished as the state runner-up four times in a row (44’, 45’, 46’, 47’), further cementing the school’s storied tradition in wrestling.

Beyond his accolades, George remained an admired figure in the Osage community, remembered for his mentorship, leadership, and lifelong dedication to athletics.

George Gast was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2002 alongside Tim Krieger.