Texas chapter of National Wrestling Hall of Fame to hold induction Nov. 9 in Denton
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by John Rizzuti
Texas Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame set to induct six outstanding Texans this Sunday.
WHAT: The National Wrestling Hall of Fame (located in Stillwater, Oklahoma) will induct six new members into its Texas chapter, during a two-hour ceremony.
WHEN: SUNDAY - NOVEMBER 9, 2008 - 2:15PM (BANQUET)
(Reception to begin at 1:15pm)
WHERE: GATEWAY CENTER - UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS - DENTON
(Directly across from the Mean Green football stadium parking lot)
WHY: The more kids on wrestling mats, the fewer kids hanging on the streets. And each of these inductees has in common many leadership qualities. Each has made substantial, long-term contributions to the sport of amateur wrestling, and is a well-known, well-respected professional, dedicating his life to furthering the sport and our community, with their essential, significant services, thus influencing and mentoring today's youth.
WHO: Robert "Bob" Maughan's career began more than 50 years ago in Pennsylvania. He wrestled through school up to his time at the University of Minnesota/Moorhead. He moved to Texas to accept the head coaching position at the University of North Texas, whose program he founded in 1970. From that time until now, Maughan has been hugely responsible for the growth and popularity of high school wrestling in the state.
Jim Engstrom has been a head coach and a top-rated official for the past 36 years. Jim coached at Leavenworth (KS) High School where his team won the 1972 state title. Jim has officiated wrestling from 1968 until the present. Prior to his pending induction to the NWHoF, Jim was inducted into the Texas Amateur Wrestling Hall of Honor in 2002 and the National Collegiate Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007.
Pete Grieder is head wrestling coach at Lake Highlands High School (LHHS) where he has run the program and taught math for 25 years. His overall dual meet record is 363 wins and only 134 losses. His teams have won 16 Texas state district championships and 6 regional titles. In 2008, Pete was named Regional Coach of the Year. In 2006, Pete was inducted into the Texas Wrestling Hall of Honor.
There may not be a more difficult and demanding position than head wrestling coach in the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). But Larry Karl, who started the DISD program at Skyline High School, has been the leader for 32 years. His dual meet record is an incredible 431 wins, 164 losses and 8 ties, a winning percentage of 71%. Larry was inducted into the Texas Wrestling Hall of Honor in 1996.
Henry Harmoney is one of the most visible and popular wrestling coaches in all of America. Since 1995, he has been the head coach at Arlington (TX) High School. An NAIA All-American who defeated three-time NCAA Champion Jimmy Jackson, Henry's most famous student-athletes are 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Brandon Slay and Tervel Dlagnev, currently a defending NCAA Division II national champion.
Mike McQueen is the dean of Texas High School Wrestling Officials. Mike was the first two-time Texas Collegiate Champion under Coach Bob Maughan (who is also be inducted) at the University of North Texas. Mike was inducted into the Texas Wrestling Hall of Honor in 1996 and into the National Collegiate Wrestling Hall of Honor in 2007. He has been the President for the Texas Wrestling Hall of Fame since 2000.
WHAT: The National Wrestling Hall of Fame (located in Stillwater, Oklahoma) will induct six new members into its Texas chapter, during a two-hour ceremony.
WHEN: SUNDAY - NOVEMBER 9, 2008 - 2:15PM (BANQUET)
(Reception to begin at 1:15pm)
WHERE: GATEWAY CENTER - UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS - DENTON
(Directly across from the Mean Green football stadium parking lot)
WHY: The more kids on wrestling mats, the fewer kids hanging on the streets. And each of these inductees has in common many leadership qualities. Each has made substantial, long-term contributions to the sport of amateur wrestling, and is a well-known, well-respected professional, dedicating his life to furthering the sport and our community, with their essential, significant services, thus influencing and mentoring today's youth.
WHO: Robert "Bob" Maughan's career began more than 50 years ago in Pennsylvania. He wrestled through school up to his time at the University of Minnesota/Moorhead. He moved to Texas to accept the head coaching position at the University of North Texas, whose program he founded in 1970. From that time until now, Maughan has been hugely responsible for the growth and popularity of high school wrestling in the state.
Jim Engstrom has been a head coach and a top-rated official for the past 36 years. Jim coached at Leavenworth (KS) High School where his team won the 1972 state title. Jim has officiated wrestling from 1968 until the present. Prior to his pending induction to the NWHoF, Jim was inducted into the Texas Amateur Wrestling Hall of Honor in 2002 and the National Collegiate Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007.
Pete Grieder is head wrestling coach at Lake Highlands High School (LHHS) where he has run the program and taught math for 25 years. His overall dual meet record is 363 wins and only 134 losses. His teams have won 16 Texas state district championships and 6 regional titles. In 2008, Pete was named Regional Coach of the Year. In 2006, Pete was inducted into the Texas Wrestling Hall of Honor.
There may not be a more difficult and demanding position than head wrestling coach in the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). But Larry Karl, who started the DISD program at Skyline High School, has been the leader for 32 years. His dual meet record is an incredible 431 wins, 164 losses and 8 ties, a winning percentage of 71%. Larry was inducted into the Texas Wrestling Hall of Honor in 1996.
Henry Harmoney is one of the most visible and popular wrestling coaches in all of America. Since 1995, he has been the head coach at Arlington (TX) High School. An NAIA All-American who defeated three-time NCAA Champion Jimmy Jackson, Henry's most famous student-athletes are 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Brandon Slay and Tervel Dlagnev, currently a defending NCAA Division II national champion.
Mike McQueen is the dean of Texas High School Wrestling Officials. Mike was the first two-time Texas Collegiate Champion under Coach Bob Maughan (who is also be inducted) at the University of North Texas. Mike was inducted into the Texas Wrestling Hall of Honor in 1996 and into the National Collegiate Wrestling Hall of Honor in 2007. He has been the President for the Texas Wrestling Hall of Fame since 2000.
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