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Glen Brand Iowa Hall of Fame
Class of 2006


Glen Brand
Iowa Hall of Fame
Inductees
Class of 2002
Class of 2003
Class of 2004
Class of 2005
Class of 2006
Class of 2007
Class of 2008
 

From left to right: Bob Darrah, Jim Heffernan, Bill Dotson, Jim Duschen, Mike Land, Jim Harmon, Bob Buzzard, Ken Leuer, and Bruce Kinseth

Nine wrestling legends were inducted into the Class of 2006 of the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa on April 8, 2006. The hall of fame is located in the International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Newton .

The event was held in conjunction with the third annual Championship Productions Coaches Clinic, sponsored by Championship Productions of Ames. The clinic was held at Newton High School with sessions beginning Friday afternoon, followed by another session on Saturday morning.
This was the fifth class for the hall of fame, which is named for Iowa State 's Olympic and NCAA champion Glen Brand. The event included a formal induction and an informal get-together afterwards, with punch and snacks. The event started at 1 p.m., lasted for three hours.

For the first time in the history of the event, all the inductees were present to accept their awards. Each inductee was introduced by the master of ceremonies, and then had an opportunity to address the gathering. Most talked about the role wrestling had in developing their lives.
Among the distinguished honorees was Ken Leuer, a retired Major General in the United States Army. Leuer was a Big Ten and NCAA champion at 191 pounds for the University of Iowa in 1956 and a two-time All-American. A native of Wayzata , Minnesota , he was also a two-time state wrestling champion.

"Wrestling played a very defining part in my life," said Leuer in his acceptance speech. "I can hardly think of a thing that I do or have done that I don't think about what wrestling did for me."

The Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame of Iowa was established to bring recognition to the great wrestling figures of Iowa 's past, both native born and those who attended Iowa colleges. Each inductee was given a handsome plaque to keep.

:: Class of 2006 ::

Ken Leuer. NCAA champion at 191 pounds in 1956 for the University of Iowa and a two-time All-American. He is a retired Major General in the United States Army.

Bill Dotson . NCAA champion at 137 pounds in 1963 for State College of Iowa and a two-time All-American. He was also a two-time state high school champion at East Waterloo. He was a high school wrestling coach at Charles City and East Waterloo, and a longtime college coach, as well, closing out his career at the University of New Mexico.

Bob Buzzard. Bob was a two-time All-American at 137 pounds and a two-time Big Eight champion for Iowa State University . He won two state titles for East Waterloo in the 1960s. He made the 1971 World team and 1972 Olympic team in Greco-Roman and was a national freestyle champion. He coached high school wrestling in Illinois and Oregon.

Jim Duschen. Jim was an All-American at 191 pounds in 1969 and was a two-time Big 8 champion for Iowa State University. He also won the Midlands , won two national titles in Greco-Roman wrestling and made the 1973 World team. He has coached high school for 30 years and has produced two state championship teams in Nevada .

Mike Land. An NCAA champion at 126 pounds in 1978 for Iowa State University and a four-time All-American, Mike won 84 straight matches. He was a two-time state champion at West Des Moines Valley and placed fifth in the World in 1981.

Bruce Kinseth was NCAA champion at 150 pounds in 1979 for the University of Iowa, and was a two-time All-American. He was Midlands and Big Ten champion, as well. His senior year, he pinned his way through the Big Ten and NCAA tournament, the only athlete ever to do so.

Jim Heffernan was NCAA champion at 150 pounds for the University of Iowa and was also a four-time All-American. He won four Big Ten titles and has been a very successful coach at Oregon State and Illinois , winning National Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 1995, 2001, and 2003.

Jim Harmon was NCAA champion at 157 pounds for Iowa State Teachers College in 1953, and was a two-time All-American.

Bob Darrah coached four team state titles and was named national coach of the year in 1988. He compiled a 340-17-2 record at Morning Sun, Urbandale , and West Des Moines Dowling, and later coached at Simpson College .


 
“On the Mat” is a weekly wrestling radio program that airs every Wednesday night. The broadcast can be heard live from 6-7 p.m. Central Standard Time. The Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, hosts the show.

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