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    Mark Palmer •

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    Caldwell, Duschen, Reiland, Johnson to enter Iowa HOF

    Four individuals with roots deep in wrestling in the state of Iowa -- Rick Caldwell, Jim Duschen, Mark Reiland, and Tim Johnson -- have been announced as members of the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2016.

    The ceremony will take place Monday, April 11 at the Cresco Country Club, south of the northeast Iowa community where the Iowa Wrestling Hall is located.

    Rick Caldwell was a two-time All-American at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. Following his graduation, Caldwell launched his coaching career that included BGM-Brooklyn, Iowa Falls and Ames high schools before becoming an assistant coach at Wartburg College from 1988-1999. He stayed in Waverly, Iowa, taking the helm at Waverly-Shell Rock High School. In twelve years, Caldwell's teams won 14 state team trophies, including nine state championships (five traditional, four dual-meet championships), coached 20 Go-Hawk state champions, an twice had four Iowa state champs in one year.

    Jim Duschen wrestled at East Waterloo High School, then headed west to Iowa State. As a Cyclone, Duschen racked up two Big 8 titles, a Midlands championship, NCAA All-American honors ... and was captain of the 1969 Iowa State national championship team. After graduating from ISU, Duschen won two National Greco-Roman titles, was a 1972 Olympic alternate, and earned a place on the 1973 World team. After hanging up his singlet, Duschen started a successful coaching career that spanned 30 years, from Iowa to Nevada.

    Mark Reiland was a four-time medalist -- and two-time Iowa state champ -- for his father, Marv Reiland, at Eagle Grove High School. The younger Reiland added to his mat laurels as a University of Iowa mat star for coach Dan Gable, becoming a two-time NCAA All-American, winning the 167-pound title at the 1991 NCAAs. As coach at Iowa City West High, Mark Reiland has built a perennial prep powerhouse.

    Tim Johnson
    Tim Johnson is a familiar face -- and voice -- in wrestling broadcasting within the state of Iowa and well beyond. He has covered wrestling for Iowa Public TV, ESPN, Real Pro Wrestling, and the BIG 10 Network. For the past dozen years, he has been part of the broadcast team for ESPN's coverage of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Before launching his broadcast career, Johnson wrestled at Morning Sun High, then at Coe College ... then served as coach at Mount Vernon High, guiding future Boise State coach Greg Randall to four Iowa state championships.

    Banquet tickets for the 2016 induction are available at the Cresco Chamber of Commerce (563-547-3434) and CIA Insurance in Cresco (563-547-2382). Tickets are $25, and advance registration is required.

    The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, located in downtown Cresco at the Cresco Welcome Center at Highway 9 and Elm Street, honors wrestlers and coaches who were born in the state of Iowa. The Hall of Fame will be open until 6 p.m. the day of the banquet. Information about the hall and its inductees is available at their website.
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