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    Raschke among NWHOF Minnesota Chapter honorees for 2016

    Jim Raschke, a former University of Nebraska wrestling champ who competed internationally, is among the seven individuals to be welcomed into the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in a ceremony in Austin, Minn. this April.

    In addition to Raschke, other members of the Class of 2016 include Dr. Bruce J. Anderson, Charlie Coffee, John DeLozier, Rick Kelvington, Tim Shiels, and Bob Thorson. An eighth honoree, Earl Stottler, was inducted in a special ceremony last October because of health reasons.

    Jim Raschke
    Raschke may be best-known inductee outside the state of Minnesota ... and not necessarily for his amateur wrestling accomplishments. He found considerable success in the pro wrestling ring as Baron von Raschke, German bad guy and purveyor of "The Claw" in the Minneapolis-based American Wrestling Association (AWA) promotion headed up by Minnesota native Verne Gagne. Prior to his pro career, Jim Raschke was a Nebraska state wrestling champ at Omaha North High School who then headed west to wrestle for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the late 1950s, where he was a Big 8 conference heavyweight titlewinner. Raschke was a 1963 World Bronze Medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling and a 1964 Olympic Team member. Raschke, who will be welcomed into the Minnesota chapter as an Outstanding American, was recently inducted into the Alan Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Fame located at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa.

    Dr. Bruce J. Anderson will be presented with an award for Lifetime Service. Anderson has given back to the sport of wrestling for over 35 years. A former Fridley wrestler, B.J. has been the team doctor for the University of Minnesota football and wrestling teams, Augsburg College and Apple Valley High School. Anderson serves as the Medical Advisor for MN/USA Wrestling and the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) for wrestling.

    Charlie Coffee served as a long-time coach at Lincoln and Jefferson High Schools in Bloomington, Minn. coaching from 1964 to 1998. He officiated at all levels for 47 years. Charlie's teams won two Region titles, over 300 duals, and included 55 state entrants and a state champion in Gary Pederson. A former All-American wrestler and team captain for the University of Minnesota, Coffee was an outstanding international Greco-Roman wrestler winning national championships.

    John De Lozier was a Minnesota state runner-up and NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) runner-up for Winona State in 1958. He coached for 39 years at Bertha-Hewitt, and ROCORI High Schools. De Lozier is a member of several halls of fame including MWCA, ROCORI Coaches, Winona State Athletic Hall, Winona High, and MN State High School Coaches Association. He was ROCORI Teacher of The Year in 1991.

    Rick Kelvington is a former Pennsylvania high school state champion who headed west to Minnesota, where he was a 1965 NCAA Division I place winner for Moorhead State. He coached at Olivia and BOLD High School for 33 Years. Rick's teams compiled a lofty 379-120-7 dual meet mark. Kelvington is a member of several halls of fame including the MWCA, Moorhead State, Pennsylvania Wrestling Coaches Association (2015), and Trinity High School (Penn.) (2015). Rick was also a two-year president of the MWCA.

    Tim Shiels wrestled at Faribault High School, then served as team captain at both Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, and the University of Minnesota-Morris, earning eight letters. He earned NCAA Division III All-American honors at UM-Morris. He has had an outstanding 35-year career as a top official, and former coach at St. Olaf College. Tim has officiated 13 NCAA Division I tournaments and was recently named as the Chairman of the NCAA Wrestling Officials Committee.

    Bob Thorson served 41 years as coach for Fertile-Beltrami High School, taking his teams to the MSHSL Dual Meet Tournament four times. He coached 32 state entrants, seven state place winners, and 29 various tournament titles. Thorson's teams at State were consolation champions in 1982, fourth in 1983, and sixth in 1985. He is a member of the MWCA Hall of Fame.

    Earl Stottler was presented with the Medal of Courage Award for the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Oct. 10 in Benson, Minn. He launched his wrestling career at Benson High School, then went on to win a Minnesota state title for Princeton High School in 1958. He became Moorhead State's first national champion (NAIA) in 1961. Stottler served as a teacher, counselor and coach in South Dakota and Minnesota for over a quarter-century. He suffered a major stroke in 2011, yet remains passionate about the sport of wrestling.
    The Minnesota Chapter banquet will be held at the Austin Holiday Inn on April 23, 2016. The social hour will be from 2:00-3:00 p.m., dinner and silent auction from 3:00-5:00 p.m., concluding with a video and presentation.

    Tickets are $50 each for adults, and $15 each for children. Orders can be placed at http://mn-nwhof.ticketleap.com. Individuals with questions should contact Spencer Yohe, Chapter President, at (320) 766-1934 or via email at syohe@acegroup.cc.
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