Lennie Zalesky

2018 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

Lennie Zalesky describes himself as a “quick study,” crediting his work ethic and the wrestling-rich environment in Iowa as keys to his success both on the mat and in the coaching realm. “I didn’t get started in wrestling until eighth grade, but I was athletic enough to pick up the technique quickly,” Zalesky stated. From the beginning, he was surrounded by great coaches who guided his development all the way through his collegiate years at the University of Iowa.

By today’s standards, Zalesky’s start in wrestling may seem late, but his progress was rapid. He became a starter at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School as a sophomore and continued to improve dramatically. His high school career culminated in a 126-pound state title in 1977, and he suffered only four losses during his entire high school tenure. His senior season was undefeated. “My dad taught me hard work and to be tough,” Zalesky recalled. “I grew up in an area that held wrestling in high esteem. Those influences were key to my success.”

A vivid example of Iowa’s wrestling culture was captured in an old photo Zalesky recently received, showing 13 high-level wrestlers training together during the summer at Lisbon. “Al Baxter left the wrestling room door open,” he explained. In that photo were some of the biggest names in the sport, including his brother Jim Zalesky, Barry Davis, Joe Gibbons, Jim Gibbons, Greg Randall, and Royce Alger—all future inductees into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Zalesky’s collegiate career at the University of Iowa under the legendary Dan Gable was equally distinguished. He was a three-time Big Ten champion and a three-time NCAA All-American, finishing fourth, second, and second at the national tournament. Competing in one of the most competitive eras in NCAA wrestling history, Zalesky helped maintain the Hawkeyes’ dominance during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Following college, Zalesky continued competing at the international level. He won silver medals at both the Pan American Games and the Wrestling World Cup. He also claimed gold medals at international tournaments in Nice, France, and Cuba, further solidifying his reputation as a world-class wrestler.

After concluding his competitive career, Zalesky turned his focus to coaching. He began at Palmer High School in Alaska, where he led the program for eight years. His efforts earned him Alaska’s High School Coach of the Year award in 1996, and in 2010 he was inducted into the Alaska Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Zalesky’s coaching career then moved to the collegiate level, where he led the University of California, Davis wrestling team for nine years. In 2007, he was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year. When UC Davis discontinued its wrestling program, Zalesky took the helm at California Baptist University (CBU). Under his leadership, CBU flourished, and Zalesky was recognized as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2016 and NCAA Division II Coach of the Year in 2017. In March 2024, Lennie accepted a position as the Head Wrestling Coach at Cal Poly Humboldt to relaunch the program.

Lennie Zalesky’s lifelong contributions to the sport were formally recognized in 2018 with his induction into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, alongside Steve Hamilton, Shane Light, and Kirk Myers.