Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions selects Class of 2013

WATERLOO, Iowa—Two of the most dynamic wrestlers in the history of Greco-Roman wrestling will be inducted into the Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum will induct Brandon Paulson and Matt Lindland into the Hall of Champions.

An induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 19, 2013, at the Kennedy Center on the campus of Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Minn. This is the fourth induction class. 

Alan and Gloria Rice, namesakes of the hall of champions, have been instrumental to the success of Greco-Roman wrestling in the United States. Alan Rice was a Big Ten champion and an All-American for the University of Minnesota. In 1956 he won double national titles in Greco-Roman and freestyle. He also placed fifth at the 1956 Olympics and was coach of the 1972 Greco-Roman Olympic team. 

He and his wife, Gloria, founded the Minnesota Wrestling Club. Minnesota enjoys the unique distinction of placing a wrestler on every World and Olympic team since 1964, a record unequaled in American wrestling history.

The Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions is located inside the Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo.

“This is a special class of inductees,” said Rice. “Each has influenced wrestling in a significant way. I am proud that they will be honored at the Hall of Champions event in October.”

Paulson, a 1992 graduate of Anoka High School in Minnesota, was a three-time state wrestling champion. He attended the University of Minnesota and was an All-American at 118 pounds at the 1996 NCAA tournament. Paulson won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics at 114.5 pounds. He represented the United States at the World Championships in 2001, 2002, and 2003, winning a silver medal in 2001.

Lindland attended Gladstone High School in Gladstone, Oregon. He was a junior college national champion for Clackamas Community College in 1991. Lindland transferred to the University of Nebraska where he was a Big Eight champion in 1993. He went on to win a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics followed by a silver medal at the 2001 World Championships. Lindland currently holds a Mixed Martial Arts record of 22-9.

Paulson and Lindland join Steve Fraser, Jeff Blatnick, Mike Houck, Dennis Hall, Joe Warren, Rulon Gardner, Matt Ghaffari, and Dennis Koslowski in this elite Hall.

J Robinson will be given the Alan Rice Leadership Award for his contributions to advancing the sport of wrestling. Robinson was a member of the 1972 Greco-Roman Olympic team that was coached by Rice. He is currently the head wrestling coach at the University of Minnesota where he led the Golden Gophers to NCAA team wrestling championships in 2001, 2002, and 2007. The 2001 NCAA tournament victory for Minnesota was the first and only time that one team had 10 Division I All-Americans in the same year.

The Short family from Minnesota will receive the Family Legacy Award. The award is given to a family that has excelled in wrestling. Jim and Pat Short had four sons—John, Chris, Will, and Wade—who combined for seven individual state championships at Simley High School. All four had wrestling careers at the University of Minnesota, with Chris and Will earning All-American honors.

Jim was the head wrestling coach at Simley from 1970 through 1998 where his team won the Minnesota state wrestling tournament in 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1992. Will took over for his father in 1998 and coached until 2008. Jim coached the team again in 2009 and was co-head coach with Will in 2010 and 2011. Will took over sole coaching duties for the 2012 season.

Jim and Will combined to coach Simley to nine state team titles (five for Jim, two for Will, and two for Jim and Will as co-head coaches). Jim’s wife, Pat, mother to the four champions, is also heavily involved in wrestling. As a volunteer she has worked many major tournaments including the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games as a pairer and director.

Contact the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum at (319) 233-0745or dgmstaff@nwhof.org for more information on the Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions. 

Kyle Klingman
National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum

303 Jefferson St.

Waterloo, IA 50701

Phone: (319) 233-0745

FAX: (319) 233-3477

www.nwhof.org

 

Stacked “CageSport XXI” Fight Card Announced!

 

 

Tacoma, WA (September 14, 2012) – Fight fans will receive a special treat when Halquist Productions’ “CageSport XXI” takes over the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, WA with an unprecedented three feature bouts Saturday, September 29.

 

For the first time ever, CageSport airs on ROOT SPORTS. Additionally, the broadcast crew is comprised of world famous personality Danny Bonaduce, former UFC announcer Jeff Osborne and two-time fighter of the year Miesha “Cupcake” Tate.

 

Lightweight Brandon Dudley of North Bend, WA risks his perfect 4-0 record against Springfield, OR resident Emmanuel Sanchez in a three round contest.

 

Unbeaten in both the pros and as an amateur, Dudley’s forced most of his foes to tap out in the opening round. He’s yet to find himself in any serious danger since entering the octagon and is creating a major buzz amongst MMA fans, who’ve expressed their eagerness to see him fight again.

 

A winner in his last two bouts, most recently scoring a second round submission over Travis Jackson, Sanchez believes that he’ll be the one to end the hype behind his highly-touted opponent.

 

Four-time amateur champion Brent “Mankill” Knopp is scheduled to face Brandon Pitts over three rounds in the middleweight division.

 

The fighting pride of Burien, WA, Knopp’s built a reputation as one of the most explosive strikers in the sport. On July 14, Knopp stopped Darrio Mobley on the “CageSport XX” card.

 

A natural light heavyweight, Pitts is moving down a division for the biggest challenge of his career. Fresh off a first round TKO on August 4, Pitts plans to use his size and momentum to bring home a victory to Portland, OR. Pitt is trained by 2000 Olympic Greco-Roman Wrestling Silver Medalist Matt Linland out of the world famous Team Quest Gym. The gym was started by Linland along with UFC legends Randy Couture and Dan Henderson.

 

In featured undercard bouts, rising star and Yakima, WA native Julian Erosa risks his unbeaten record against Bend, OR based chokehold master Jason Gybles. Erosa, who forced most of his opponents to tapout, faces the fellow submission artist in a three round lightweight contest.

 

Featherweight standouts Jacob Boysen and Ryan Mulvihill will meet in a three rounder for Northwest region supremacy.

 

At 3-0, Boysen most recently stopped Rob Dyer in the opening round. The Seattle, WA sensation has looked fantastic thus far but is taking a major step up in competition.

 

Mulvihill, of Spokane, WA fought on six “CageSport” cards, providing the fans with quality bouts each time out. Earlier this year, he took the aforementioned Erosa four rounds before losing by submission. A winner in four of his last six, Mulvihill is faced with yet another tough opponent on the 29^th.

 

“This is going to be a night everybody involved will remember,” said promoter Brian Halquist. “The CageSport brand has grown so much over the years and with the ROOT SPORTS broadcast, things will go to a whole new level. I’m beyond excited for everything that will unfold come September 29!”

 

Six additional three round undercard matches will take place featuring local standouts Dave Courchaine, Matt Kovacks, Chris Wheaton, Jose Rico, Andy Paves and Damen Wood.

 

Tickets are available to the ten bout fight card on ticketmaster.com or by going to the Emerald Queen box office. For more information and the latest updates, go to Halquistproductions.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/CageSport-MMA/188915101800

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