Pat Rush, Bellevue
 Pat
Rush began his wrestling career at the age of five for the Bellevue Jaycees
and from then on wrestling became a major part of his life. Pat wrestled in
high school at Bellevue East. He placed at the Nebraska high school state
wrestling tournament his sophomore year taking 5th, and placing 6th his
junior year. He became a state champion his senior year in 1981. Pat went on
to college at UNK on a wrestling scholarship, but after suffering a knee
injury was unable to wrestle at the college level.
He began his career in coaching youth wrestling in 1985 for the Bellevue
Junior Sports Association, coaching novice wrestlers. He then became the
head coach of the BJSA Bulldogs varsity team in 1989. He has also been an
assistant wrestling coach at Bellevue East high school for the past 7 years.
This has given Pat the opportunity to see many of his youth wrestlers go on
to become successful high school wrestlers. Pat is with the wrestlers at
BJSA 3 nights a week and at tournaments most weekends for 5 months of the
year and loves every minuet of it.
Pat has brought teams to the Huskerland state tournament for the past 17
years. Nine of his teams placed the top ten with a second place team in 2001
and a third place team in 2002.
Pat has coached for the past 21 years and still has the same passion and
drive for the sport of wrestling that he did when he was five years old. He
has such an enormous love and energy for the sport that each year, he still
wrestles at the Cornhusker State Games.
We have never met a coach more dedicated to his wrestlers than Pat, he is
truly a great asset to the sport of youth wrestling and the parents and
wrestlers are indeed fortunate to have him and call him their coach.
Thank you for recognizing Pat for all he does for his wrestlers and his
community.
Christine and Todd Thrower
Don Maxwell, Tekamah
 I
began helping with the Tekamah youth wrestling program in 1985 when Brad Ray
was club director. I took over as director in 1989, and served as club
director for 13 years. After Coach Mytty passed away in 1993, I was asked to
accept the position of assistant high school and junior high coach at
Tekamah-Herman.
Although I loved working with wrestlers of all ages, I stepped down as youth
director in 2002 when our son was a junior high wrestler. I felt my
involvement in Junior High and High School was top priority at this time.
During my years with the youth program, Tekamah-Herman had 8 Huskerland team
champs; and our high school team was 1st in 1996 and 1997, and runner up in
98, 99, and 2000.
Thank you for considering me for membership. I am honored.
Tim Garrison, Tri County
 If
you happen to be fortunate enough to live in southeast Nebraska, more
specifically in Tri County’s school district, there would be no way you
could’ve escaped contact with Tim Garrison. I feel so lucky and proud to
have crossed Tim’s path. Not many other than Tim’s family could have had
more contacts with Tim than I.
I have watched Tim progress from a member of Tri County’s first Jr. High
wrestling team to becoming the first Tri County wrestler to ever win a match
at the State Tournament. Tim was a three sport letter winner and voted as
male athlete of the year his senior year in 1979.
Tri County’s wrestling program has become one of our state’s best programs.
Several state champions and numerous medal winners and qualifiers have come
through the program including Tim’s two nephews who were both state
qualifiers and his brother Dustin who was a 4 time medal winner and an
undefeated State Champ his senior season in ’95.
Let me be the first to tell you that these types of accomplishments don’t
happen with simply having good coaches and good athletes. It takes people
behind the scenes and that’s where you will find Tim. Along with his brother
Steve, who retired a few years ago from the program, Tim has organized and
coached our club team for over 20 years. Missing only the first Huskerland
Tournament. He has organized or been involved in nearly every youth program
in our school district from the punt, pass and kick football contest to the
super shooters basketball contest. Tim just keeps on going, spoiling our
high school coaches as he goes.
Tim has been recognized not only by our coaching staff, but also by our
Education Association. Tim was given the Tri County “Friend of Education”
award. This award shows that he is interested in all aspect of the kids at
Tri County and not just their successes in athletics.
We all know that most men have their family’s support behind them. The
Garrison family is actively involved in wrestling. Tim’s wife, Pam is a big
part of the clubs success by organizing the annual Tri County tournament and
serving as the club’s treasurer for many years. His son Hunter, is a 5th
grader and will be wrestling in his 3rd Huskerland meet. He hopes to place
higher than last year’s 2nd place. Daughter Sammie is also an avid wrestling
fan.
As I said before, I feel very proud to know that Tim is my friend and I am
so happy to see him reaching this level. Congratulations Tim and my best
wishes for many more successful years with the Tri County Wrestling Club and
Huskerland Wrestling!
John McGary,
Tri County High School Wrestling Coach
Dale Runquist, Osceola
 Dale
began his wrestling career with Osceola High School in Osceola, NE from
1974-1977. He qualified for State all 4 years. After coaching his sons, Jake
and Joe, Dale knew he wanted to continue in coaching and has been helping
Duncan Wrestling Club for the last 18 years.
Duncan's 4 State Huskerland Championships, 1992 - 2000 - 2002 - 2003, along
with 11 top-ten finishes can be attributed to Dale’s help. Dale’s dedication
takes his wrestlers all over the Midwest to find the best competition,
working towards someday becoming Nebraska High School State Champions.
Dale hopes that the kids who go through wrestling learn what it takes to
succeed n life. Win or lose, in everything you do, you get back what you put
into it. Dale always says that wrestling takes more dedication and strive
than any other sport because you are the only one to make it right or make
it wrong.
Gary Schlesinger,
Club Director and Coach of Duncan Wrestling Club |
