IWHOF News Articles

The IWHOF offers its condolences to Inductee Gordon Hassman, and brother Raymond Hassman  on the passing of their father, Paul Hassman this past Thursday, February 10, 2022.

Born on January 23, 1914, Paul Hassman is considered to be the longest living high school state wrestling champion in the country. Wrestling for the New Hampton Chickasaws, he was the first state wrestling champ from that Northeast Iowa community.

The Hall of Fame Board has set the date for the 2022 IWHOF Banquet
and it’s in person!

Save the Date for Monday, April 11, 2022.

5:00pm-New Inductee Reception at the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame,
101 2nd Ave SW, Cresco
6:30pm-Dinner at the Cresco Country Club, 22005 115th St, Cresco

We can’t wait to see you!

When the Des Moines Register wants to interview a possible 4-time State High School Champion, where should they meet? At the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, of course!

Sports Reporter Cody Goodwin interviewed Crestwood High School wrestler Carter Fousek for an article featuring four 3-time state champs each looking for their 4th title this year. With only 29 4-time state champs (10 are IWHOF Inductees), this could be a banner year for Iowa high school wrestling.

Notice the IWHOF Inductee in the background? Yup, it’s ISU’s Kevin Dresser, future coach for Carter.

The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame offers its condolences to the family of Inductee Mark Reiland.

Longtime Iowa City West wrestling coach, former Hawkeye wrestler Mark Reiland has passed away at age 52. Reiland was a two-time state champion at Eagle Grove High School and a University of Iowa national titleholder.

Mark was inducted in the IWHOF in 2016, just four years after his father, Marv Reiland.

Congratulations to Crestwood senior Carter Fousek, a three-time high school State Champion, who recently signed the Cresco panel of the IWHOF mural as a 3-time high school State Champion.

Signing a National Letter of Intent to wrestle for Iowa State University starting with the 2022-23 season, Fousek’s scholarship to ISU will be for five years because he will redshirt during his freshman year.

As Fousek prepares for the upcoming 2021-22 high school season at Crestwood, he will be aiming to become only the 30th wrestler in Iowa to win four individual high school State Titles and the first Cresco or Crestwood High School wrestler to win four State Championships.

Currently, Fousek is one of only three Cresco/Crestwood wrestlers to win three titles. Don Maland (1932-34) and Tom Peckham (1960-62) are the other two three-time champions. Peckham won two individual NCAA titles at Iowa State, and he placed fourth at 191 at the 1968 Olympics.

3-time State Champ/4-time Finalist and Iowa High School Inductee, Brent Hagen stopped in for a visit.

We found out this Britt native was a National Champ and a Runner-up at Mankato State and Runner-up at UNI.

Thanks for the great conversation Brent and Carol! What a treat for the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame. We had to take a picture alongside Britt 1999 IWHOF Inductee, Dick Govig.

What a fun day visiting with New Hampton natives, Bill and  Jack (now living in Indiana). We took their picture with Arlin Severson, another great New Hampton native. Thanks for stopping by and we hope you come back soon!

The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame is saddened to hear of the passing of G. Wyatt Schultz. Deservedly, Wyatt was nominated and approved for induction into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2020. Due to the pandemic, our annual induction ceremony and awards banquet was postponed in both 2020 and 2021. Like so many wrestling events going forward, our 2022 banquet will not be the same without Wyatt. Our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to Kirsten and the entire Schultz family.

Don Henry PhD, Cresco native and 2 time state champion (only Cresco wrestler to wrestle in 4 state championships) penned a Letter to the Editor in the Times Plain Dealer published on August 4, 2021.
Thanks Don, what a great read!

TPD Letter to the Editor Don Henry

Scouting routes in Eastern Iowa, Matt & Bill stopped at the IWHOF for a visit. Both had great stories to tell about 4-time state champions Greg Randall and  Scott Morningstar.
We hope to see you soon!

Click on link to read entire Letter to the Editor.

 100 Years Of Wrestling Dr. Don Henry

Another great video to check out. Jim Gibbons, Keynote Speaker for Cresco’s 100 Years of Wrestling Banquet

Check out this awesome video. Cresco 100 Years of Wrestling

And then this awesome video! Cresco’s 100 Years of Wrestling Keynote Speaker

A wrestling enthusiast stopped by to tour the Hall of Fame. Low and behold, his high school tennis coach is an inductee! Delighted, Bill told us his high school tennis coach, Howard Barker, never played high school or college tennis and was a great coach. Bill said Barker never wrestled either – and was an even better wrestling coach. Some people just know how to teach. Thanks for visiting with us at the IWHOF.