Wrestling Hall of Fame Inducts Five New Members

CRESCO - A packed house of 160 wrestling fans gathered at the Heritage Event Center in Cresco on Monday, April 13, to witness the induction of five new members into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame during the 55th Annual Award Banquet, which featured great food, fun and several heart-felt, emotional speeches.

The 2026 inductees included: Jon McGovern, Matt McDonough, Dan Glenn, Phil Henning and Mike Finn. Henning was unable to attend this year’s banquet because of health issues. 

Jason Passmore of the Cresco Chamber of Commerce served as the Master of Ceremonies during the banquet and addressed the crowd.

“I want to welcome everyone to the 55th Annual Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame Banquet,” Passmore said. “I get the privilege to serve as the MC on behalf of Cresco, and we appreciate everyone coming.

“The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame originated from an idea during a banquet held in 1965. The goal of the Hall was to honor native Iowans. The founding members included: Don Gooder, Bob Howard and Nehl McKone. The first Hall of Fame banquet, which was held in 1970, inducted five members including: Chris Flanagan, Spade Harmon, Rober Hess, George Martin and Dr. Harold Nichols.

“Since that first year, we’ve inducted 152 Iowans into the Hall, which is a very select group. Tonight, the list of inductees will grow to 157 with five new inductees,” Passmore said.

After Passmore led the prayer, the crowd was served their meal. Following the meal, he acknowledged several coaches, wrestlers and former inductees in attendance, which included Crestwood coaches Keith Anderlik, Tom Schmauss, Trae Pecinovsky, Jerry Steffen and Mike Adams. Crestwood girl wrestlers, Alanna Schatz and Kara Kennedy, who both placed at the State Tourney this year, were also in attendance. Other local coaches who attended included: Dave Mitchell of Luther College, Taylor Reicks of Decorah and Brent Jennings of Osage. 

Passmore also recognized several former inductees at the banquet, which included: Dan Gable, Jim Gibbons, Chuck Yagla, Royce Alger, Bob Hallman, Arlin Severson, Mike Gann, Jim Miller, Stewart Carter, Chuck Yagla and Jason Christenson. Passmore also gave kudos to the IWHOF Selection Committee, which included: Dan Gable, Jim Miller, Kyle Klingman, Jim Gibbons, Bill Roths, Stewart Carter, Tom Fye and Jason Christenson.

 

McGovern inducted

The first inductee of the evening was Jon McGovern, who was presented by 2023 inductee Jason Christenson.

“This is a special highlight for me to induct Jon McGovern, who is a close friend and teammate,” Christenson said. “I want to tell you the who, why and how that is Jon McGovern.

“After placing four times at State at Riceville High School, Jon went on to have a very successful career at Central College, which included him becoming a three-time NCAA All-American, winning back-to-back titles, posting the highest winning percentage and posting the best overall single season record at 46-2.

“Jon’s success was not immediate. He lost a wrestle-off during his freshman year at Central, but he used his God-given abilities and tremendous work ethic to become a two-time National Champion. He suffered an injury in 1995, which kept him out of competition for three years, but he made the United States National Team in 1998.

“The how part of Jon can be summed up in one word - belief. He believed in himself so much because he thought that was how it was supposed to be. He believed in his coaches and teammates and lived life with a purpose.

“Jon made everyone around him better and encouraged everyone to be the best they could be. No one out-worked Jon. He said that belief in yourself comes from preparation, and Jon always prepared,” Christenson said.

McGovern began his speech by thanking his family, friends and coaches.

“From day one, I wanted to be a National Champion,” McGovern said. “I want to praise my coaches who believed in me. I want to thank the Hall of Fame Committee, Dan Gable and my parents for showing me the right way to do things. My parents taught me a great work ethic and my brothers and sisters challenged me. 

“Riceville Coach Dave Ripley made wrestling important in Riceville. Everyone matters - that was the Riceville way. After high school, Central was the place to be for wrestling.

“Belief is the number one place to start (in wrestling). My teammates (at Central) and my coach, Ron Johnson, supported me and made me the wrestling I became. I have no regrets now, and I congratulate all the inductees,” McGovern said.

 

McDonough inducted

Jim Miller presented Matt McDonough.

“I’m really excited to induct Matt McDonough,” Miller said. “Matt consistently came with a gritty attitude in every match. He competed the same time after time, which is what all coaches want to see. After a successful high school career, he came to the University of Iowa, where he won three titles and had a 122-9 overall record.”

McDonough began by thanking the Hall of Fame for chosing him to be inducted.

“I’ll admit that I am a fan boy of the Hall of Fame,” McDonough said. “It is truly an honor to be inducted. I want to thank Jesus, my family, brothers, sisters and my coaches for their support.

“Because of my dad (Mike McDonough, who competed at the University of Iowa in the 1970s), I grew up in the sport. Dad started the Iowa wrestling mentality that I had.

“I also want to thank my teammates in high school and at Iowa and the journalists who covered wrestling, which is a tight-knit sport. I want to thank the Iowa fans and my opponents.

“When I was in ninth grade, I told my dad, ‘I got this.’ I had the wrestling bug. Dad wanted me to chase goals (on the wrestling mat). When I was growing up, I was raised with the 1975-76 war (wrestling) stores from the Iowa Hawkeyes, which is what spurred me to go to Iowa. I made the right decision to join the Hawkeyes because people in Iowa is what makes wrestling so special.

“I want to thank Coach Gable and Coach Kurdelmeier. I always wanted to be the best because if you don’t, why else are you doing it (wrestling)? I always wanted to get the most out of my wrestling career.

“It is such a unique honor to be a member of the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame. I had the privilege of having great people around me (during my career). It’s truly special to be among the legends in the Hall of Fame,” McDonough said.

 

Dan Glenn inducted

Former University of Iowa Coach and Gold Medalist Dan Gable presented Dan Glenn.

“When it comes to Cresco, you know how I feel,” Gable noted. “I love Cresco. One of my idols when I was growing up, Tom Peckham, was recently in a car accident, but he is doing better now.

“I’m here to introduce one of the wrestling leaders in our state, Dan Glenn, who became a dentist after winning three Big Ten championships at Iowa (1978-80). Who knows how to punish people better than dentists? Dan punished a lot of people on the mat.

“Dan came to Iowa around the same time I came to Iowa (in the 1970s), and he helped build our championship teams here. He wrestled at 118 pounds (for the Hawkeyes) and he always set the tone for our lineup. I’m proud to induct Dan Glenn into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame and I’m proud that I was his coach,” Gable said.

Glenn expressed his gratitude to the selection committee.

“I really want to thank the committee,” Glenn said. “There is no one more appreciative than me for being inducted.

“My journey in wrestling began in Fairfield, Iowa, where the coaches taught me the love of the sport. I loved wrestling so much when I was in high school that I broke into the wrestling room at night to work out.

“I want to thank all my teammates. I really appreciate the people who have helped me (over the years). I was fortunate when I came to the University of Iowa, where my coaches were Chuck Yagla, Jay Robinson and Dan Gable. For me, getting better (on the mat) was a matter of survival. Dan Gable really made you want to work to improve.

“I am grateful to my opponents because the sport wouldn’t exist without them. I want to thank the underappreciated officials for bringing order out of chaos. I’m also thankful to the media and the fans. My number one fan was my younger brother, Bill. I’m grateful to my teammates and workout partners, such as Lenny Lalesky and Steve Kurdelmeir, who made it fun for me. I want to thank my entire family, who gave me everything I needed.

“When I started coaching, that gave me a lot of opportunities in life. This sport has provided so much for me. A wrestling match is a metaphor for life - it can end at any time and it’s what you do along the way that counts.

 

Phil Henning induction

Jim Gibbons inducted Phil Henning, who was unable to attend the banquet because of an illness.

“I’m pleased to talk about Phil Henning, who I got to know while we were making the documentary, ‘The Dual,’ recently,” Gibbons said. “I want to congratulate all the inductees tonight. 

“Phil had a great career, which included winning a Big Ten championship in 1970, winning a State Title at Decorah High School and coaching high school wrestling for over 30 years. In addition to coaching, Phil also taught ballroom dancing in high school and worked as an official at high school and college matches for 16 years. Phil was a fair guy and lived a good life as an educator. I know he is proud to be inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame,” Gibbons said.

 

Mike Finn induction

The final inductee of the evening, Mike Finn, was presented by his brother, Kevin Finn.

“Mike was not good at wrestling (in high school),” Kevin noted, “Mike just wrestled for the fun of it.

“After going to Memphis to work, Mike came back to Iowa and worked as a journalist for many years, and his passion for wrestling was very evident. Mike became the editor for Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine (WIN) and he became a very good interviewer.

“He took his interview with wrestlers and made them great stories. Getting stories out of wrestlers isn’t always easy, but Mike was able to draw great stories and information out of wrestlers. He did a lot of research for his stories. I’m happy he is well-recognized as a wrestling journalist,” Kevin said.

Mike was quick to give kudos to his brother.

“Kevin was always the true wrestler in our family,” Mike said. “I got my butt kicked during wrestling matches but my love for wrestling never went away.

“I always had a lot of curiousity, which is good because you need to ask questions to be a journalist. I was fortunate to write stories about Dan Gable and the Hawkeyes.

“Once I asked Dan Gable if there was a weak link in his lineup (at Iowa) and he told me there is more to wrestling than wins and losses. Later on, he gave me a compliment about my coverage and I told him I would continue to work on getting better. He pointed his finger at me and said, ‘Don’t just be good - be great!’