The Mayo Civic Center Region I Wrestling Hall of Fame honored inductees and area teams and wrestlers on March 4 at the Southeastern Minnesota Wrestling Seniors Banquet at Charlie’s Eatery in Rochester.
Over 300 people were in attendance to honor Section 1 teams (along with Kenyon-Wanamingo), their coaches, and Hall of Fame inductees.
Athlete Roy Haag (Lewiston-Altura): A 1980 undefeated state champion was 26-0 his senior year for Lewiston-Altura High School. Roy was also 22-1 and a 1979 state entrant. Considered by many to be one of the finest in the L-A Wrestling Program history. Roy wrestled for Hall of Fame Coach Frank Murphy at L-A.
Athlete Ryan King (GMLOK): Ryan was a state champion in 2001 and 2002. Ryan placed 2nd at State in 2000. Ryan was 103-7 in that three-year span. Ryan earned three NCAA II All-American honors For Augustana University, SD placing 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Ryan, a LeRoy-Ostrander 2002 High School graduate wrestled for hall of fame coaches Bill Simpkins, Jim Richardson, and contributor Dean Hiscocks,
Athlete Bruce Moe (Caledonia): In 1976 was a 3rd-place state winner at 138 for hall of fame Coach Leo Simon; and in 1980 was 3rd place for Winona State At 150 in the NCAA II National Championships. Still wrestling at age 61, Bruce captured the 2018 Masters World Championships in Both Greco-Roman and Freestyle Divisions. Bruce has earned six Veteran national titles, 14 other medals at that level, including a World runner-up and Bronze in the 2017 Championships.
Assistant Coach Bob Phillips (Owatonna): A 25-year assistant coach at Owatonna. Bob was selected Section 1AAA Coach of the Year, and Region 1 Minnesota/USA Coach of the Year. Bob was a key contributor to Owatonna’s two state titles, and 10 state dual placing teams under hall of fame coach Scot Davis.
Contributor Ben Pherson (Kasson): Ben, the Rochester Post Bulletin Sports Supervisor since 2016, has been covering wrestling since 2006. Ben was awarded the MWCA Media Award in 2010. Ben has been in journalism for nearly 20 years. According to MCC Region 1 Chair Spencer Yohe, “Ben is the best at covering the sport of wrestling and giving recognition I’ve observed in my 55-year involvement in the sport! Southeast Minnesota is blessed to have Ben as one of ours in the sport of wrestling.” Ben, his wife Katie, and three sons – Jack, Henry, and Bennett reside in Kasson. Ben recently left the Post Bulletin to accept a position in the district offices at Kasson-Mantorville schools.
Meritorious Service: Linda Kuisle (Kellogg): Linda is a behind-the-scenes volunteer that has helped make the Section 1 Wrestling Tournament one of the best well-run section tournaments in the state of Minnesota. Linda has been involved with USA Wrestling since the 1980s as a pairing master and volunteer at local, state, national, and world events.
Meritorious Service: Ruth Siefert (Rochester): Ruth has run the clothing sales stand at 15 Clash National Duals Tournaments. Ruth ran the NJCAA National Tournament clothing sales stand for all of the NJCAA Tournaments that RCTC hosted since the mid 1980s. RCTC has hosted as recently as 2007, 2009, and 2012. Ruth has also been a regular the past eight years at the clothing sales stand at the Section 1 wrestling tournament hosted by the Mayo Civic Center.
Official Paul Fishbaugher (Rochester): Paul was a five-year letter winner at Harmony High School (1992), under Hall of Fame Coach Jon Rhodes. The Harmony program is now called Fillmore Central/Lanesboro/Mabel-Canton. Paul has officiated for 23 years, and has officiated many Clash, Section 1, and State Wrestling Tournaments in that time span. Paul also helps volunteering with the Southern Minnesota Wrestling Officials Association in the mentoring of new and young officials.
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