Two from Wabasha-Kellogg will be Inducted into the MN Wrestling Coaches Association David Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame

Ron Sanders attended Truman High school, graduating from there in 1973. Ron’s high school record was 61-14-3. He was a three-time Conference champion, a 2-time District champion, and a State participant in 1973, which was then a one-class system. At State Ron lost to eventual third-place finisher Murray Herstein from Armstrong High School.

Ron attended the University of Minnesota-Morris, where he continued his wrestling career while obtaining a Biology as well as a Physical Education major. He took 3^rd in the conference his senior year, qualifying him for the NAIA National tournament.

Ron taught and coached in Wabasha-Kellogg for 41 years from 1980-2020. He earned 391 career dual meet wins. Ron has coached 36 state place winners, and is one of the few that have coached two five-time state champs, his sons Eric and Zach. Two of his teams qualified for the MN State Wrestling Tournament; first in 1999 and again in 2006. Ron has also had numerous wrestlers go on to wrestle in college at all levels, from junior college all the way to Division 1. Five of Ron’s wrestlers competed at the Division 1 level. Ron coached MN teams and individuals in Greco-Roman and Freestyle for ten years. Ron will be remembered for his dedication to his wrestlers and for continuing to learn about our great sport. Ron’s wife is Lizzy, and they have two sons, Eric and Zach, and a daughter Katie. They also have four grandchildren.

Zach Sanders, Athlete

Zach attended Wabasha-Kellogg High School, graduating from there in 2007. Zach was the third wrestler in Minnesota to achieve winning 5 state titles. His high school record was 223-5. While in high school Zach was an All-American in both Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling Zach decided to continue his wrestling career at the University of Minnesota, where he became the 7^th wrestler in school history to achieve All-American status four times. He was 6^th, 5^th, 5^th, and 3^rd. Zach continued to pursue wrestling at the international level upon ending his college career. He has represented the United States abroad numerous times, including the 2019 World Cup. He qualified for the World and Olympic Team Trials nearly ten times in his career. He earned a silver medal at the 2012 University World Championships. Zach obtained his BA in Business Education, and also his Master’s degree in Applied Kinesiology at the U, and he has served on the Gophers coaching staff since 2012. Zach was well-known for being very good on his feet, and he has dedicated the majority of his life to wrestling. His work ethic and his knowledge of the support has helped to elevate not only his own success but the athletes around him as well. Today Zach resides in Minneapolis and continues to serve as an assistant with the University of Minnesota wrestling team.