State Wrestling Hall of Fame Members

Nathan Brenna-Watford City

Nick Ibach-Linton-HMB

Scott Kelly-Velva

Nathan Brenna was a four-time state champion at Watford City High School, winning a title at 98 pounds in 1986, at 112 pounds in 1987, at 119 pounds in 1988, and again at 119 pounds in 1989. Nathan was undefeated as a junior, 37-0, and a senior, 32-0. He was 33-1 as a freshman and 34-2-1 as a sophomore. As a team, the Wolves placed 3rd, 2nd, 2nd and 3rd at the State Tournament in the years Nathan was in high school and were Region champions all four years. Nathan was a member Watford City teams that set a number of state and school records. Individually, Nathan set a number of school records including eight consecutive tournament championships in a single season and 20 consecutive tournament championships. He finished with 136 career wins with only 3 losses and 1 tie. Nathan has served in coaching roles in North Dakota and Minnesota. He was a kids’ program volunteer coach at an inner city North Minneapolis program from 1994 to 1999. At Watford City, Nathan served as an assistant coach from 2007 to 2009 and head coach from 2009-2012. At Watford City, Nathan had the privilege or serving under and with his two high school head coaches, Frank Fish and Dave Dougherty. Nathan attended the University of North Dakota, earning a B.S. in aeronautics (Summa Cum Laude, 1993). He attended the University of Minnesota Law School (Cum Laude, 1997). Nathan was a business litigator in Minneapolis for ten years and now operates a farm and ranch in the Watford City area along with his wife of 17 years, Alicia; and three children, Alivia, Ty and Elle.

Nick Ibach wrestled for Linton-Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock from 1996 to 2001 and was a two-time state champion for the Lions. Wrestling for Hall of Fame Coach Dan Imdieke, Nick helped lead Linton-HMB to runner-up finishes at the State Tournament in both the dual and individual portions in 2001. Nick finished his career with 184 wins including an 81-1 record over the course of his junior and senior seasons. He won the Class “B” 140 pound championship as a junior in 2000 and the 145 pound title as a senior. Nick received the prestigious Class “B” Mr. Wrestler award at the end of his high school career. In addition to his state titles, Nick placed 8th as an 8th grader, 6th as a freshman, and 4th as a sophomore. He was a six-time state qualifier and six-time Academic All-State wrestler. Following his wrestling career, Nick was a coach for the West Fargo Packers for 10 years. For the first five years, Nick was Hall of Fame coach Kayle Dangerud’s top assistant and for the next five seasons, he served as a volunteer coach. During those years, the Packers won two individual state team titles, including their first ever in 2006, and three dual team state titles. Nick is currently employed as a director at Wanzek Construction. He is married to Misty and the couple have one daughter, Stella. Nick will be inducted into the North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame today by his brother, Steve, who was also an assistant coach for the Lions during Nick’s high school career.

Scott Kelly of Velva High School was the first Class B wrestler to win four individual state titles and only the second wrestler to accomplish that feat in North Dakota High School wrestling history at that point in time. Scott won his first title in 1979 as a freshman at 185 pounds. He went on to defend his 185 pound state title for three consecutive years, ending with his fourth state championship in 1982. After losing three close matches during the first part of his freshman season, Scott went on to win the Region title and never lost another high school match, finishing undefeated in his final three seasons. Scott was also a four-time Region champion for the Aggies and a key part of the 1979 team that won the state Class B title that season. Scott was introduced to wrestling in third grade by Coach Mike Norland and credits the support of his mom, Olive, his dad, Vern and little sister, Beth for helping have a standout career in both football and wrestling at Velva. After graduating from high school, Scott attended Dickinson State College. During that time, the John Deere dealership offered him a position as a combine tech, hydraulic specialist and a diesel machinist and he continued in that career before retiring in 2019. Currently, Scott and his wife, Mary, own and operate two dry cleaning stores in New Mexico. He would like to thank all the people out there that helped him during his high school career including his teammates and coaches, and most importantly to him, his family.

Travis Kraft-Bismarck High

Jesse Laber-Napoleon

Matt Michaelson-Dickinson High

Travis Kraft was a three-time state champion for Bismarck High School and a multi-time All-American at the USA Wrestling Cadet and Junior National Tournament. Travis won his first state title in 1996 at 171 pounds and followed that with a title at 189. Despite weighing only 185 pounds his senior season, he won the state championship at 215 in 1998. He also placed fourth at 152 as a freshman in 1995. Travis finished with a career record of 153-18 which at that time was the all-time career win record at Bismarck High. He was also a two-time Junior AAU Folkstyle All- American including winning the 1998 AAU National Folkstyle title. Travis earned All-American honors a remarkable five times at USA Wrestling Nationals. After becoming a Cadet All-American in 1995, he placed at the Junior Nationals three consecutive years including a double All-American performance in 1997 in Freestyle and Greco. Travis was named to All-American teams by four separate national publications in 1998. Travis wrestled at the collegiate level for NCAA Division I Eastern Michigan and was a four-year starter for the Eagles, where he became Eastern Michigan’s first wrestling Academic All-American in 2003. Travis went on to have a successful modeling career appearing in catalogs, magazines, and on billboards. He has a large YouTube channel and he also works as an actor, director, and public speaker. He is the son of Diann and Dr. Gary Kraft and is happily married to his wife, Imabelle. Travis says his best achievement is being a dad. Travis is being inducted into the North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame by the Bismarck coaches.

Jesse Laber was a six-year varsity wrestler for Napoleon High School who went on to win two state individual championships and a NAIA national title while wrestling for the University of Mary. Jesse began his career at 103 pounds, qualifying for state as a seventh grader, and was a member of the 1997 Napoleon State Championship team. In the following five years, he qualified three more times, placing 8^th once before finishing his high school career with two state titles at 189 pounds. He was named Class “B” Mr. Wrestler in 2002, and led the Imperials to the State Dual and Individual Championships that year. Jesse also accomplished something few can claim as he wrestled in the 103 pound weight class as a 7^th grader and moved up in a dual his senior year to wrestle in the 285 pound class. Jesse attended the University of Mary in Bismarck, excelling in both football and wrestling. In 2003, he was an NAIA All-American, placing 3^rd at 197 pounds. In 2005, he was the NAIA National Champion at 197 pounds and was named the DAC-10 Most Valuable Wrestler. In 2008, he placed 5^th at the NCAA Division II Nationals at 285 pounds, making him a three-time All-American. These accomplishments made him the last NAIA wrestling All-American for the Marauders, as well as the first NCAA D II All-American for them. Jesse was also an All-Conference defensive end in football who was inducted into the University of Mary Hall of Fame in 2015. Jesse is the son of Patty and the late Dave Laber. He is a farmer and resides in Steele, ND with his wife Kayla and their children, Hadley, Luke, and Jax. He will be inducted into the ND Wrestling Hall of Fame by his high school coach and godfather, Barry McCleary.

After an outstanding high school career at Dickinson, Matt Michaelson went on earn All-American honors twice wrestling for Dickinson State University. In high school, Matt was a three-time state placer and two-time state champion for Dickinson High School. He capped off his high school career with an undefeated, 49-0 season in 2002-2003 and was named Class A “Mr. Wrestler”. Matt was named the Outstanding Wrestler at both the Mandan Lions and Bismarck Rotary Tournaments in his senior season. He also lead the Midgets to one of their best seasons in school history in 2003 when they were State Runners-up in both Individual and Dual competition. Matt was named an Honorable Mention All-American by USA Wrestling in 2003. He also won two ND USA Wrestling Triple Crowns and 11 ND USA Wrestling state titles. In college, Matt placed fourth at the NAIA National Tournament in 2008 and sixth in 2009. He was a three-time North Region champion and was a member of Blue Hawk teams that twice placed in the top five at the NAIA National Duals and NAIA National Tournament. Currently, Matt and his wife Brianna, live in Dickinson. Brianna is the daughter of ND Hall of Fame member, Keith Burwick. They have two children, Emmett and Madden. Matt will be inducted into the North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame by his high school coach, and dad, Dave Michaelson.

Bing Swenson-Williston

Orville “Bing” Swenson was a volunteer coach for the Williston wrestling team from 1990 to 2017. Bing passed away in May of 2018 at the age of 72, but his legacy with Williston wrestling remains. Bing started his wrestling career in 1960 in Williston. That career only lasted one year in junior high due to an injury that required surgery, but he never lost his love for the sport because thirty years later he showed up at a Williston wrestling practice and asked Hall of Fame coach Tom Christen if he could be a volunteer coach. He later coached alongside Chuck Michaelson and Shawn Sneva. For 26 years, Bing was at every practice, tournament, dual and wrestling gathering to show his love and support for his team. He helped coach well over 500 Coyote wrestlers along with 116 state placers, 10 state champions, and was a part of the 1999 state championship team. Bing was not the coach that taught the technique or handled the strategy. He was the coach in the background giving the inspirational talks and wise words. He made every kid feel part of the team, no matter the ability. If wrestlers wanted to quit, he would be the first one to convince them they should stay. Bing was a great promoter of the support in the community and was instrumental in the development of the Williston wrestling program. Bing is being inducted into the North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame as a contributor by the Williston coaches. Representing Bing today are his wife Linda, his family, and the Williston wrestlers.

Tim Kilgore-Grand Forks