NDHSAA State Tournament North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame

North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame

2011 Inductees | Past Inductees

2011 INDUCTEES
James Kisgen-Devils Lake	Norman Kleppe-Napoleon
James Kisgen was a standout wrestler at Devils Lake High School where he amassed 127 victories with only 27 losses. He was a three-time state place winner and two-time state champion, resulting in state champion in 1989 at 140 lbs. and again in 1991 at 171 lbs. His college career began at Bismarck State College where he earned NJCAA honors at 150 pounds as a freshman and 158 as a sophomore. He then moved on to UND where he was a 2x NCAA Division II All- American at 158 pounds. James began his coaching career at the University of North Dakota as an assistant coach in 1987. In 1998 he took a position as assistant coach at Anderson (S.C.) College and then moved on to Lindenwood University where he was an assistant wrestling coach for four years. In 2002 James was named the head coach at McKendree University where the sport of wrestling had been added as a varsity sport. He single-handedly built the program from the ground up. In the short history of the program McKendree has had four national champions, three runners-up, two 3rd place, and three 4th places finishers, four 6th place finishers, three, 7th place finishers, and five 8th place finishers under Kisgen’s guidance. His team was national runners-up in 2007-08, and Kisgen was named NAIA Coach of the Year and NAIA East Region Coach of the Year.	Norman Kleppe graduated from Napoleon High School in 1979 where he wrestled for Coach Bert Gums through his high school years. Upon graduation, Norm attended NDSU, graduating in 1983 with a BS degree in Ag Education. He started his career as a teacher and wrestling coach at Lakota High School. It was at Lakota that Norm coached North Dakota’s first five time state champion, David Hilliard.After two years in Lakota Norm accepted a teaching and coaching position in Napoleon. He joined the Napoleon coaching staff in 1985 and was an assistant coach for many years including the six year reign as state dual and individual champions from 2002-2007. Norm recently retired from coaching, but has fond memories of his coaching experiences with many fine athletes, as well as his fellow coaches, Barry McCleary and Jeff Schneider. He remains active with the wrestling program in Napoleon through volunteer work with the wrestling club. Norm is presently Branch Manager/Loan Officer for First Community Credit Union in Napoleon.
Jack Maughan-Fargo	Dave Michaelson-Dickinson
Jack Maughan began his wrestling career at Fargo North High School where he was a three-time finalist and two time state champion. Jack continued his career at North Dakota State University where he wrestled for his father, Bucky, and finished as a two-time all-American. Jack was a three-time finalists in the NCC tournament and was selected team captain for the Bison his final two seasons. Jack began his coaching career in 1987 when he arrived at the University of Colorado-Greeley where he would remain as the Bears’ coach for twenty-two years. During his tenure he re-built the wrestling program into national prominence as his teams finished in the top ten of the nation eight times. They produced three NCAA Champions, five Runner-ups, and forty-six All-Americans. Jack served as the President of the National Wrestling Coaches Association and was instrumental in forming the Western Wrestling Conference. He was named the NCAA II Coach of the Year in 1992 and the Colorado College Coach of the Year in 2006.	Coach Michaelson joined the Dickinson High School Wrestling program as an assistant coach to head coach Hank Pankratz in 1982. Ten years later Dave was named the head coach and for the next fourteen years guided the Midgets to a 124-68-3 dual meet record. Dave’s teams were a top five finisher eight times at the state wrestling tournament and produced fifteen individual state champions and 76 state place-winners. Under Dave’s guidance the Midgets captured one West Region crown and finished as the runner-up on four other occasions. Coach Michaelson was named the West Region Coach of the Year in 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2003 and received the State Class A Coach of the Year honors in 2003. Dave was elected to the North Dakota High School Coaches Association Board of Directors in 2005 where he served the coaches of the state for five years. In 2007 Dave served as president of the NDHSCA where he provided outstanding leadership and demonstrated the true characteristics of a successful coach.Prior to Dave’s coaching career he wrestled for Mike Norland at Velva High School where he placed third and fifth in state and was a member of two state championship teams. Dave went on to wrestle for the Blue Hawks of Dickinson State and was a member of two NDCAC Championship teams.Since retiring from coaching wrestling in the high school ranks Dave has kept himself busy coaching football and track and field at Dickinson high school and serving as an assistant wrestling coach at Dickinson State University.
Scott Owens-Devils Lake	Adrian Simmons-GF Central
Scott Owens started his wrestling career as a 7th grade heavyweight at Hettinger High School under coach Randy Burwick. He continued his wrestling career at Devils Lake High School under coach Dennis Flynn. Scott placed fifth in state in 1992, fourth in 1993, and in 1994 he placed second wrestling at heavyweight. Scott was a State Champion in 1995 and 1996 at heavyweight. During his junior and senior years his record was 63-0 and he had a high school record of 147-34. Scott also holds the fastest pin record at heavyweight and was the Mr. Wrestler award winner in 1996. He won numerous Freestyle and Greco regional and state titles and was a Triple Crown Champion. In addition to this Scott was a two time Cadet National Champion, three times Junior National Champion and was the only North Dakota wrestler to win both styles in the same year for both Juniors and Cadets. Scott was also selected for the Asics First Team All American and a member of the North Dakota Freestyle Championship Team. While wrestling for the University of Mary from 1996-1998 he was a two time NAIA All American placing second in the nation his freshman and sophomore years.	Adrian wrestled varsity for Grand Forks Central for five seasons from 1987 – 1991 and at the University of North Dakota for four seasons from 1992 - 1995. Adrian began his coaching career following his high school graduation when he joined the coaching staff for the Grand Forks Freestyle Club for the next ten years. Adrian was an assistant coach at Grand Forks Central from 1996-2001. Adrian had an outstanding career for Grand Forks Central High School where he amassed a 152-26-1 career record. He was a five time state tournament qualifier where he placed 3rd as a freshman and sophomore at 103 lbs. and 112 lbs respectively. Adrian moved up to 119 lbs. for his junior and senior years and secured an individual state championship both years. At the regional level Adrian was a three-time champion, a runner-up and a third place winner. Following his outstanding prep career Adrian joined the University of North Dakota wrestling team where he placed fifth in the NCAA Division II championships and was named a NCAA II All-American. Adrian was a North Central Conference champion in 1995 and a runner-up in 1994 and a three-time NCAA II National Tournament qualifier.
Mark Slater-Minot Ryan	Jason Wagner-Carrington
Mark Slater attended Bishop Ryan High School in Minot, ND and wrestled for Coaches Larry McDaniel and Dan Splichal. Mark was the North Dakota High School State Class A Heavyweight Champion in 1971, 1972 and 1973. His overall high school record was 77-2-0. Mark had 47 career pins in 3 years, 19 pins in one season and his fastest pin was 10 seconds. In 1972 Mark was selected North Dakota High School Athlete of the Year by the ND Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. Mark attended the University of Minnesota, where he played college football for the Golden Gophers under Coach Cal Stoll from 1973 to 1977. After the 1977 season Mark received the Golden Gophers Most Valuable Offensive Player Award. Mark earned a B.S. Degree from the University of MN in Agricultural Business Administration. Mark was drafted in 1978 by the Philadelphia Eagles and played 6 years in the NFL - 1 year with the San Diego Chargers and 5 years with the Philadelphia Eagles. The highlight of Mark’s NFL career was playing with the Eagles in Super Bowl XV under Coach Dick Vermeil.	Jason Wagner wrestled for the Carrington Cardinals compiling a 96-11-1 career record. Jason was a four-time state qualifier finishing as a state runner-up in 1986 at 145 lbs. During his junior campaign Jason was 26-2 on his way to a state championship at 155 lbs. Jason’s senior season brought another state title, this time at 160 lbs., with a 32-1 record. During his junior and senior seasons Jason led Carrington to the team title. Jason competed at the national level in Freestyle and Greco wrestling. In 1986 he was the Northern Plains Regional National Champ in Freestyle and Greco; the Cadet National Runner-up in Freestyle and Greco; the AAU National Silver Medalist in Freestyle and Greco; the AAU Jr. Olympics Gold Medal Winner in Freestyle and Greco. Jason wrestled at the University of Minnesota for two seasons before enlisting in the Army and wrestling for the US Army. In 1992 Jason was the US Army National Champ in Freestyle; in 1993 he was the Armed Forces National Champ in Greco, US Open All-American and Gold Medalist at the Olympic Festival in Greco. Jason joined the University of North Dakota Wrestling team in 1994 where he finished sixth in the NCAA II National Tournament in 1995 and was the runner-up in 1996. Jason was a three-time Academic All-American while at UND.