Scott Glasser, Bismarck High

Keenan Spiess, Fargo

Scott Glasser’s name is synonymous with wrestling excellence in North Dakota, earning him a place in the North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame. His career, marked by dominance in high school & continued success at the University of Minnesota, solidified his legacy as one of the state’s most accomplished wrestlers. On top of it all, Scott won his five state titles in five different weight classes, a feat that has not been touched in North Dakota since.

Glasser’s high school career at Bismarck High School was legendary. He achieved an unprecedented feat, becoming the first Class ‘A’ five-time state champion (2002-2006). This accomplishment cemented his status as a North Dakota wrestling icon. His 204-23 career record showcases his consistent skill, culminating in an undefeated 47-0 senior season.

Beyond state titles, Glasser excelled nationally. In 2005, he won the NHSCA Junior High School National Championship. In 2006, he was named North Dakota Mr. Wrestler & finished as runner-up at the Junior Freestyle Nationals. His freestyle achievements include three Cadet/Junior Freestyle All-American honors, & a 4th place finish at the NHSCA Senior Nationals in 2006.

Glasser continued his career at the University of Minnesota, a national wrestling powerhouse. He compiled a 101-44 record, placing him among the program’s top 50 all-time winningest wrestlers. He qualified for the NCAA Division I Championships twice & earned a significant achievement as the 2010 Big Ten runner-up. He also contributed to the Golden Gophers’ historic 2006 NCAA & Big Ten Championship season.

Glasser’s dedication & talent are evident in his five state titles, national accolades, & collegiate success. He serves as an inspiration to young wrestlers throughout North Dakota, demonstrating the rewards of hard work & commitment. His hall of fame induction recognizes his remarkable career & lasting impact on the sport. Scott is currently employed as a sales director at FreightWise.

Keenan Spiess, a Fargo native, has made significant contributions to North Dakota wrestling as both a competitor & a highly successful coach. After graduating from Fargo North High School in 1990, where he achieved a state runner-up finish & 144 career wins (then second most in Class ‘A’), Spiess continued his wrestling career in college. He amassed 102 victories at North Dakota State University & Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM), earning All-American honors in 1993 & becoming the 1995 NSIC champion.

Spiess then transitioned into coaching, leaving a remarkable legacy at both the high school & collegiate levels. His 18-year high school coaching career included head coaching positions at Fargo North (1997-2001) & Fargo Davies (2011-2024), amassing 231 dual wins. His teams qualified for the ND Class ‘A’ state dual tournament every eligible year (15 times). He also received five NDHSCA East Region Coach of the Year awards.

At MSUM, Spiess served as head assistant coach before becoming head coach from 2003 to 2009. He earned four NSIC Coach of the Year awards, achieving the second-highest winning percentage in program history & leading the team to a national ranking as high as fourth in NCAA Division II. His teams consistently placed in the top 20 at the NCAA Division II national tournament & placed sixth at the 2006 national duals. He coached 16 NCAA Division II All-Americans.

Spiess also contributed to USA Wrestling, coaching numerous Greco-Roman & freestyle All-Americans with the Grizzly Wrestling Club & leading Team North Dakota to high national placements. He founded the MSU Moorhead Dragon Open, co-founded the Rumble on the Red tournament, & organized numerous other events. His contributions were recognized with the 2001 NDUSA Lefty Faris Award, a Fargo North Wrestling Hall of Fame induction in 2003, & 169 academic all-state awards earned by his high school wrestlers.

Pat Copenhaver, Carrington

Jeremy Engelhardt, LaMoure/Napoleon

Pat wrestled for Carrington High School where he placed 5th at the 1975 State tournament and 2nd at the 1976 State tournament and was a team captain. Pat was also a member and scored valuable team points for the 1974 Carrington team that took 2nd place at the Class A State Tournament.

At the international level in Freestyle wrestling, Pat was a member of team USA at the 1977 Junior Pan Am Games where he won an individual gold medal and his United States team took first in Quito, Ecuador. 

In college Pat wrestled for the North Dakota State School of Science (NDSSS – Wahpeton) where he was team captain and received All-American honors for placing 5th at the 1977 NJCAA Championships. His NDSSS team went undefeated in duals for two years which included a victory over the University of Minnesota JV team and his team placed 6th at the NJCAA National Tournament. A proficient pinner, Pat led his team in pins in 1977 and was second in pins in 1978. 

Pat coached 5 Carrington Cardinal wrestlers to 11 individual titles and 2 team titles.  Three of the five went on to become All-Americans at the college level, one wrestled for a D1 school, and 6 of them are currently in the North Dakota Hall of Fame. Pat continued to coach for several more years, which saw 5 more team titles.

Pat has been inducted into the North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) Hall of Fame on four different occasions which include one football team hall of fame, two wrestling team hall of fames, and one individual athletic hall of fame for his contributions and accolades on the mat and the grid iron during the 1977 and 1978 seasons.

After Coaching, Pat officiated wrestling for several years. Pat continues to help in the Cardinal wrestling room today.  He has provided his coaching services for 40+ years. In his spare time, Pat serves on five boards: Foster County Commissioner, Bethel Chapel Church, Supervisor Estabrook Township, Council for Aging, and South Central Regional Council.

Pat has four children, a daughter Tara (husband Mitch) with three grandson’s Briggs, Samson, and Jax, a son Lee (wife Aida) with a granddaughter Amina, and two daughters Josette and Kelsey. Pat farms and ranches in Carrington, ND.

Jeremy began his wrestling career at LaMoure High School for coach Tracy Good for four years and coach Tim Huus for one year. He wrestled 171 pounds on varsity for four years. As a sophomore in 1994-95 he placed sixth in the state, in 1995-96 he was the state champion with a 38-0 record. He transferred to Napoleon in 1996-97 and placed second, helping Coach Barry McCleary’s Imperials to a team State Championship.

He was a Mr. Wrestler Finalist in his Senior year ,1996-97, and also won the Triple Crown. A member of the North Dakota team, he competed at the NHSAA in Pittsburg, PA. There he placed seventh, earning All-American status.

Jeremy continued his wrestling career into college at the University of Mary. He was All-NDCAC for four years for Milo Trusty’s Marauders. On a national level, he placed third at 167 pounds as a freshman, and added THREE National Championships at 184 pounds in 1999, 2000, and 2001. He has been inducted into the University of Mary Hall of Fame.

He enjoyed a stellar football career for the LaMoure Loboes as well. Already as a freshman, he was a starting running back and defensive end, positions he held for four years. He earned All-Region and All-State honors in 1996-97 and was awarded MVP honors for those years as well. The Loboes of coach Greg Hermes finished second in the state in the 11-man finals in 1997.

Presently, he owns Engelhardt Crane and Construction and is in partnership with his parents Jacinta and Kyle in J&K Construction. They specialize in grain bin sales, erections, repairs, and relocating. In the off season, Jeremy enjoys ice fishing, working in his shop, snowmobiling, buying and fixing up old snowmobiles, and taking the occasional vacation with his family. In the summers, he pursues dirt track racing.

Jeremy lives in Bismarck with his fiancé Leah Bender, and their daughters.  The couple has 3 children between them: Payton (who lives in Mandan with his fiancé, Tara), Kelbie (a full-time college student at BSC), and Jeremy’s daughter, Jada (who just returned home last month after completing Basic Training and AIT for the US Army National Guard).  

Mike Kelner, Velva

Rowdy Lund, Watford City

Mike Kelner was introduced to structured wrestling when Velva introduced PeeWee wrestling prior to his fourth grade. Mike only had two losses after the sixth grade where he was also on the PeeWee basketball team. Legendary Velva Head Coach Mike Norland called a meeting with Mike and Mike’s father Dan about which sport Mike should pursue. Mike recalls that Coach Norland made a very convincing point, Norland stated “Mike look at your Dad, he’s not very tall and you probably won’t be either, if you go with wrestling then you're probably going to be a varsity starter in Seventh Grade”, and a wrestling career was born.  

During this period of time NDHSAA limited the number of matches for wrestling and during the 1974 season only placed four wrestlers per weight class. As the 105 lbs varsity athlete Mike was 21-6-1 and lost the consolation semi match to wrestle for 3rd or 4th place in the state tournament. Team wise Velva High School Aggies placed third. Eighth grade wrestling again at 105 lbs, Mike was the Regional 6 champion, placed 5th at state with a 24-4 record. The Velva Aggie team placed third.  Mike’s Freshman year at 119 lbs brought a Regional 6 championship; placing 5th in the state with a 26-5-1. This Velva Aggie team won its first State Team championship. Sophomore year, Mike earned a Regional 6 title placing 3rd in the state tournament with a 29-1 record. Velva Aggies win back to back State Team Championship. In his Junior year Mike moved to the 126 lbs weight class, won the Regional and state championships going 28-0. Velva Aggies placed third as a team. Mike’s Senior year saw another weight class move to 138 lbs and another Regional and State championship with a 31-1 record. Velva Aggies win another State Team championship. Mike finished High School with a record of 159-17-2 setting the State Record for career wins. 1979 Mike was listed as a Scholastic Wrestling News Honorable Mention All-American. 

In 1981 Mike was the NJCAA National Runner-up for Bismarck College and was named First Team All-American, as a result of his actions during the NJCAA national tournament he was also awarded the Joseph Rockenboch Outstanding Sportsman Award.  Mike also  earned academic All-American honors. Mike also qualified for the 1984 NCAA Division 2 National Tournament at 134 lbs. 

Mike's coaching career began at Bismarck College as an assistant. He moved on to Dickinson State for two years as an assistant coach. Mike then spent two seasons with Northern State University. Finally Mike coached 7 years at Spearfish High School as the Head Coach. Mike is currently semi retired and loving it, he plays a lot of pool. Mike has a daughter Ashley who is a third year Medical Student and son Marcus who works construction and cares for Mike’s Grandson Ryan. 

Rowdy Lund wrestled for Watford City from 2003-2008.  Rowdy was a three time region champion, a five time state placer, four time state finalist and a three time state champion for the Wolves.

At state he placed 7th at 103 pounds in 2004, 2nd at state at 112 pounds in 2005, 1st at 125 pounds in 2006, 1st at 140 pounds in 2007 and 1st at 145 pounds in 2008.

Rowdy ended his career with a record of 176-33-1 finishing with two undefeated seasons, 32 consecutive dual wins, 20 consecutive tournament championships, 93 consecutive wins and multiple school records.

Rowdy excelled in three sports as he won state titles in wrestling, football and track.  He was a two time all state football player and a part of the 2006 Wolves state championship football team.  He was also a ten time state placer in track and field, two of which were also state championships.

Rowdy has helped with the Watford City youth program from 2003-2009 and helped with the varsity through the years as well.

What Rowdy is most proud of in his life though is his marriage with his wife Miranda and their two beautiful daughters Saylor and Rowe.

Rick Ripplinger began officiating in 1991 and was a registered official for 29 years. He started officiating as a way to give back to the sport that did so much for him. During his time as an official, Ripplinger officiated hundreds of events across the upper Midwest including 25 NDHSAA Wrestling State Tournaments and 29 NDHSAA Regional Wrestling Tournaments. Ripplinger also worked many college events in North Dakota & Minnesota, including Regional and National Tournaments. Ripplinger is currently the head girls wrestling coach at Bismarck Legacy High School. Ripplinger and his wife Cindy own and operate Capital Trophy in Bismarck. They have five children, Lexi, Rylei, Logan, Reagan, and Ryan.