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    Loras College unveils Early Wrestling Wall of Fame

    Loras College dedicated its Dr. Michael Early Wrestling Wall of Fame to honor the greatest Duhawk wrestlers during its Homecoming celebration this past weekend, the Iowa-based school announced Saturday .

    Loras College dedicated its Dr. Michael Early Wrestling Wall of Fame to honor the greatest Duhawk wrestlers during its Homecoming celebration this past weekend
    The display, which will showcase six national champions and 55 NCAA Division III All-American wrestlers, will be located just outside the Loras wrestling room in Graber Sports Center. It is named for Dr. Michael Early, an instrumental figure in the history of Duhawk wrestling, as a coach and long-time supporter, over the past 35 years.

    Early became head wrestling coach at Loras in 1981. During five seasons at the helm, Early led the Duhawks to success competing in the National Intercollegiate Athletic Association (NAIA), with four of his wrestlers earning NAIA All-American honors. In addition to coaching wrestling, Early also served as assistant football coach, residence hall director and faculty member of the physical education department of the school located in Dubuque, Iowa.

    Early left Loras in 1986 to accept a coaching position at University of Wisconsin-Stout, but has maintained ties to the school in the three decades since. His son Dave wrestled at Loras from 2003-07.

    "It is with great pleasure that we are able to name the Loras College Wrestling 'Wall of Fame' in honor of Dr. Michael Early," said Duhawk head wrestling coach Randy Steward. "He has had the opportunity to coach here, watch his son compete in the program and has been a fantastic supporter of Loras Wrestling for many years. A big thank you goes out to Mike and his wife, Gay."

    A native of Davenport, Iowa, Early graduated from Assumption High School in 1976 and started his collegiate wrestling career at the University of Northern Iowa before transferring to St. Ambrose University located in his hometown. He continued to wrestle there and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education in 1981.

    Early earned his Master's Degree in Education Leadership at Loras in 1986. In 2003 he received his doctorate in Education from Northern Illinois University. Early is Superintendent of the Richland School District 88A in Crest Hill, Ill.
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