Attention Former Tommie Wrestlers
St. Thomas Wrestling Reunion
Saturday, October 2, 2021 (4:00 - 7:00 PM) Downtown Minneapolis
All former Tommie wrestlers and coaches: Plan to attend the University of St. Thomas Wrestling Reunion being planned for the fall of 2021. Stay tuned for further details and look for an E-vite invitation in your email. Basic information is as follows:
- Date: Saturday, October 2, 2021
- Time: 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Location: 215 10th Avenue South, Minneapolis (reunion is in community room of downtown condo)
- Arrival Check-in: Use door code "___". Take elevator to 8th floor. Follow UST signs to the "Community Room"
- Cost: Freewill donations accepted
- Parking: On-street or parking-ramp parking
- Question or didn't get an E-vite invitation? You may ask us a question on the "Guestpage" of this website. We will email you back with an answer. Also, stay tuned here for more details ... or reach out to one of your teammates
Forty years ago (in 1981), the University of St Thomas wrestling team won its first MIAC conference wrestling title. Thirty-five years ago (in 1986), that milestone was repeated. To commemorate and reminisce, on Saturday, October 2, 2021, we are holding a University of St Thomas Wrestling Reunion. More details to follow, but please SAVE THE DATE and spread the word.
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ESPN Documentary on College Wrestling
A few years back, ESPN published an excellent documentary on college wrestling. The documentary chronicled the 2002 season of our Big Ten neighbors to the south, the University of Iowa Haweyes wrestling team.
Every former college wrestler, whether they were a Golden Gopher or an Iowa Hawkeye, an Augsburg Auggie or a St. Thomas Tommie, will relate to the emotions and struggles highlighted in the documentary ... the physical conditioning necessary for the sport, the never-ending pressure to make weight, injuries and cauliflowered ears, and the mental battle to stay focused as a student-athlete.
Former St. Thomas wrestlers with a keen eye may be able to spot former Tommie wrestling great Charlie DeVetter's son in one of the Iowa wrestling room scenes (he was on this 2002 Iowa team - clip 1). Minnesota fans will enjoy watching the Golden Gophers beat Iowa in the annual Border Brawl (clip 5) in front of record-breaking crowd at the Target Center (many former Tommie wrestlers joined together in the stands for this match!).
Sit back and enjoy:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7,
(each clip is about 12 minutes)
Consider clicking the"full screen" icon in lower right corner of YouTube for a full screen effect.
Tony Nelson Wins NCAA Championship!
Congratulations to Tony Nelson of the University of Minnesota Golden Gopher wrestling team. Tony won the 2012 NCAA Div I National Championship (hwt) this weekend (3/17/12) in St. Louis, MO.
Tony's father is former University of St. Thomas wrestling great, Todd Nelson ('81). Todd was 1981 MIAC champion at 190 lbs. Two of Tony's uncles also wrestled for the Tommies. His uncle Tom Nelson ('75) was team captain his senior year and another uncle Tony Nelson ('84) was a standout wrestler for the Tommies and was a member of their very talented 1981 MIAC championship team. A big congratulations to Tony and to his parents, Todd and Sandi Nelson.
Congratulations also to J Robinson and the entire U of M wrestling team which took 2nd in the NCAA Div I overall team standings. The Gopher's redshirt freshman, Dylan Ness (Bloomington Kennedy H.S.) was the runner-up at 149 lbs. Note: the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship set an all-time record attendance of 112,400 for the week.
Tony Nelson, on top, controls Lehigh's Zachery Rey, on bottom, in the championship match.
Congratulations also to Hofstra's Luke Vaith (Hastings, MN) who made his NCAA Championship debut a successful one with a 4-1 decision over Duke's Tanner Hough at 141 lbs. Vaith, who won his eighth straight match to improve to 23-8 on the year, before falling to Michigan's number one seed Kellen Russell later in the tournament. Vaith is the son of former Tommie great, Paul Vaith (UST '80).
Nelson Wins Big Ten Championship!
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Tony Nelson won the 2012 Big Ten Championship in West Lafayette, IN. Nelson (Hwt) is the son of former Tommie wrestling great, Todd Nelson ('81). Tony Nelson is a redshirt sophomore from Cambridge, MN.
Nelson finished the weekend 3-0 including a 2-0 decision over Bobby Telford of Iowa in the championship. Nelson scored his first point 30 seconds into the second period off an escape. He then controlled Telford the rest of the match racking up over two minutes of riding time. It was his second win over Telford and his 20th consecutive win this season.
Nelson and the other eight Gophers that placed at the Big Ten Championships earned a spot at the NCAA championships. The championships take place March 15-17 in St. Louis, Mo
Congratulations to Tony and his family. Go, Gophers!
Wrestling Reunion a Success!
Coming soon ... photos from the reunion gathering! Stop back again later.
St. Thomas wrestlers from the mid-1970s through 1989 reunited on a hot July Saturday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of winning the 1986 MIAC championship and the 30th anniversary of the winning the 1981 MIAC championship.
About 60 former wrestlers, coaches, athletic directors and guests gathered at the home of Tom ('81) and Rose Winkels in Independence, MN. Joining the wrestlers were former athletic director, Dr. Frank Mach, former track & cross-country coach, Dr. Larry Russ, former head wrestling coach, Craig Folven and current UST development officer Tim Fischer.
Although most of the Tommie wrestlers now reside in the Twin Cities, some of the out-of-town wrestlers included: Charlie DeVetter ('79) and wife Sue from Nebraska and Mike Pope ('77) from Wisconsin. Several out-of-town wrestlers that could not attend but sent their wishes included: Tom Langer ('76), Steve Rukavina ('76) and Keith Moore ('75).
The St. Thomas wrestling "family" has always included support from wrestlers parents. It was always nice to see familiar faces of family in the stands, especially at out-of-town tournaments or meets. Several parents of wrestlers were able to attend this year's reunion, including Dick & Nancy McNamer (parents of Kevin McNamer '78), Dennis & Kay Hanson (parents of Rich Hanson '82) and Tom Berg (father of Dave Berg '88).
During the reunion, many interesting stories were retold by the former Tommie wrestlers about the "old days". No doubt, some of these stories had already been heard by many of the spouses in attendance (they listened and smiled anyway). However, certain stories had previously been kept discretely "under wraps" all these years. It was these "new" stories that drew the most attention from the spouses. Interestingly, these newly-revealed stories often seemed to involve some of St. Paul's finest public servants!
Tommie wrestlers who missed the reunion and want to sent their greetings can send a message using the Guestbook tab on this website. Many thanks the University of St. Thomas and to Tom & Rose Winkels for hosting.
Reunion Co-Hosts Included:
Phil Corbett Kevin McNamer
Dave DeLozier Todd Nelson
Chuck DeVetter Rob Ruhland
Rich Hanson Mike Sokol
Mark Heitcamp Don Studer
Mike Hoffman Tom Winkels
Tom Leighton Jerry Zink
Go Tommies!
1978 UST Seniors - Kevin McNamer, Tom Gehrz and Michael Hoffman
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This UST Wrestling Alumni website is currently "Under Construction". As such, it is an ongoing work-in-process with no definitive date set for completion. If you happen to visit this site and have a suggestion, feel free to leave your comment on this website's Guestbook tab.
The initial photos here are intended simply to "get the ball rolling". We'd like more photos. If you have any UST wrestling or related photos you'd like to share, please contact us through the Guestbook tab on this website.
Tommie Wrestling Program from 1978
Click the below link to view a copy of the 1978 Wrestling Program and Roster. No computers or Photoshop in those days ... all freehand or typwriter created. Program cover art work was compliments of Tommie wrestler Tom Gerhz ('78).
1978_Wrestling_Program.pdf
The Ghost of O'Shaughnessy Hall - Photos
O'Shaughnessy Hall - was "home turf" for decades of UST wrestlers
(recently demolished to make way for new athletic facility)
The former wrestling practice room inside O'Shaughnessy Hall
(originally was an on-campus bowling hall - photo ca 1940)
