Norvard "Snip" Nalan - Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame

1983 Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductee

December 16, 1931 – October 29, 1989

With a fine high school and collegiate background as a foundation, Norvard “Snip” Nalan built an outstanding coaching career spanning more than a quarter of a century.

Nalan competed for Mason City High School as a prep wrestler and compiled a record of 43 wins, nine losses, and one draw. He was twice a runner-up at the State Wrestling Tournament, finishing second at 105 pounds in 1949 and again at 112 pounds the following year. It was after his high school career, however, that he truly came into his own as a wrestler.

Nalan was the Iowa AAU Champion at 118 pounds in 1950 and later claimed the Michigan AAU title at 126 pounds in 1951. He began his collegiate wrestling career at the University of Michigan in 1950. As a Wolverine, he posted an extraordinary career mark of 44-3-0. Nalan was a three-time Big Ten champion at 130 pounds—in 1952, 1953, and 1954—and was named the “Outstanding Wrestler” at the conference championships. He added two NCAA championships to his list of accomplishments, winning national titles in both 1953 and 1954, and was widely regarded for his technical skill, quickness, and relentless style on the mat.

After college, Nalan turned his attention to coaching, beginning in 1960 with a two-year stint at Postville High School in Iowa, followed by one year at Drake University. He returned to the prep ranks in 1962 at Grand Rapids High School in Minnesota, where he became a cornerstone of the program for decades. At Grand Rapids, he compiled a remarkable record of 178 dual meet wins, 56 losses, and one tie, with an overall coaching career mark of 194-76-2. Under his guidance, Grand Rapids teams captured 13 regional team titles and finished in the top ten at the Minnesota state tournament nine times, including a state runner-up finish in 1977.

Known not just for his competitive success but also for his sportsmanship and mentorship, Nalan had a profound influence on countless young athletes, instilling discipline, confidence, and a love for wrestling that many carried throughout their lives. His dedication to the sport was recognized with his induction into the Iowa High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1986, honoring both his own accomplishments on the mat and the lasting impact he made as a coach and teacher. Nalan’s legacy endures through the many athletes and fellow coaches who benefited from his expertise, encouragement, and passion for the sport.

Nalan was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1983 with Ron Gray.