April 22, 2024
Mayville State alumni Ray Thorkildson, Waubun, Minn., and Gary Brantl, Thief River Falls, Minn., will be inducted into the 2024 Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame Association David Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame. Thorkildson is being honored as a coach, while Brantl will enter the hall of fame as a pioneer recipient.
An induction program is planned for Saturday, May 4, 2024, at McKinney’s on Southside and Country Inn, 300 14th St. South in Benson, Minn. Socializing begins at 4 p.m., with dinner served at 5 p.m. and the induction ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are $35 for adults and $22 for children 18 and under. Make checks payable to MWCA and mail to Steve Ricard, 405 15th St. N, Benson, MN 56215. For information, email slricard200@gmail.com.
Ray Thorkildson graduated from Stephen (Minn.) High school in 1962. He graduated from Mayville State in 1966 with a double major in business and physical education. He came to love the sport of wrestling through his involvement at Mayville State as a sophomore, junior, and senior.
He began teaching and coaching wrestling in Waubun, Minn. in the fall of 1966. He coached more than 25 state participants, three of whom went on to become state champions. As a coach, he never turned anyone away. He put on annual camps and encouraged wrestlers and staff to attend every wrestling education opportunity available. Ray’s coaching record stands at 133-109-2.
The record pales in comparison to the positive memories Ray made for kids. He taught hard work, discipline, self-respect, and sportsmanship. He was well-respected by area coaches and officials. His coaching spanned three decades. When he completed his coaching career, he began officiating, inspiring others to follow his lead.
Gary Brantl graduated from Crookston (Minn.) High School in 1966. He graduated from Mayville State in 1970, studying physical education, health, and social science. He wrestled for a year in college.
Upon earning his diploma from Mayville State, he began teaching in Pummer, Minn., where he remained for 49 years. He started the Plummer wrestling program in 1972. In 1980, the Plummer program combined with Erskine, and the students at Oklee and McIntosh joined the coop in 1982. The Oklee-Plummer program had their first state champion, John Cyr, in1983. Darrin Tougas followed in 1984, and Todd Bergeron was a two-time state champion, in 1986 and 1987.
Gary retired from coaching wrestling in 1996. He coached football from 1970 to 2004, and he was athletic director at Plummer High School for 48 years, from 1972 to 2019. Gary’s colleagues wrote that “Gary always went out of his way to help others, and his ‘easy-going’ manner made him very popular with athletes, parents, fans, and colleagues.”
A reception to honor Gary Brantl and Ardell Knudsvig, pioneer recipients of the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association David Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame inductees, is planned for 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 2024, at Crookston Inn and Convention Center, 2200 University Ave., Crookston, Minn. To RSVP, contact Steve Ricard at slricard200@gmail.com or 320-444-0569.