Hall of Fame

Steve Copenhaver-Carrington

Dave Dougherty-Watford City

Shane Hase-Harvey

Steve Copenhaver was a state champion for Carrington High School in 1987 and went on to be a two-time Junior College All-American for Bismarck State College. As a high school wrestler, Copenhaver was a four-time Region 4 champion and a three-time state placer for the Cardinals. He placed 6th in 1985, and 3rd place in 1986, before claiming a state title at 167 lbs. in 1987. Copenhaver had a combined high school wrestling record of 93-14-3 and was undefeated his senior year at 31-0. In 1987, Steve was a key member of Carrington’s first state wrestling team championship in school history. During the summer of 1987, Copenhaver was chosen to represent North Dakota overseas as a member of the State All-Star Wrestling Delegation. He compiled a record of 11-2, winning the New Zealand Olympic National Junior Wrestling Championship. During the 1987-1988 college season, Copenhaver was Region 13 runner up and went on to place 7th in the nation at 177 lbs. to earn All-American honors. He was Coach Ed Kringstad’s last All-American. In 1988-1989, Copenhaver placed first at Regions to help lead the Mystics to the team championship. He went on to place 6th at Nationals and was first-year head coach Jeff Schumacher’s first All-American. Steve’s record was an impressive at 33-6 his sophomore year after compiling 31 wins as a freshman. He was also voted team captain during both his seasons at BSC. Copenhaver continued his wrestling career at North Dakota State University and was became a starter for the Bison. After college, Copenhaver returned to Carrington to farm and ranch. In 1996 Steve bought the Huss family farm by Sykeston. He and his wife Pam have 4 children: Rachel, Anna, Lucas and Rebecca.

Coach Dougherty began his wrestling coaching career as an assistant coach in Kenmare High School in 1978. He then spent 2 years as the head wrestling coach in Beach High School, followed by 28 years in Watford City High School. Dave assisted coach Frank Fish for 7 years prior to taking over the Wolves program in the 1988-89 school year. During Dave’s years as a head coach his teams had 385 varsity wins, 47 Varsity Tournament Championships, 21 Individual State Champions, and 97 individual State place winners. Dave was selected as the Regional Coach of the Year 5 times, the North Dakota State Coach of the year in 1997 and the National High School Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2005. In 2003, Dave was inducted into the North Dakota High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame and in 2010 he was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association National Hall of Fame. Dave was committed to serving the sport of wrestling during his coaching years serving as the president of the Class B Wrestling Coaches for 15 years and as a member of the North Dakota High School Activities Association’s Wrestling Advisory Committee for 20 years. Coach Dougherty provided leadership for many important changes in North Dakota high school wrestling during this time including Combining the Class A and B state Wrestling tournaments; Establishing the seeding criteria for the individual state tournament; Implementing the Weight control program; and establishing the Dual Meet State Tournament. Dave was the first head wrestling coach elected to the North Dakota High School Coaches Association’s Board of Directors where he served for 6 years, including president in 2001. In 2005 Dave was appointed the National Wrestling Sport Chair for the National Coaches Association and in 2008 was elected to their 7 person Executive Committee. In 2013, Dave was selected as the Executive Director for the NHSACA and continues to serve in this position. Dave is married to Danell and they have 4 children and 5 grand children.

Shane Hase is a 2003 graduate of Harvey High School. While wrestling for the Harvey Hornets, Shane was a four-time region champion, six-time state qualifier, and a six-time All-State Academic wrestler. He was a five-time state placer, making appearances in the state finals three times. Hase was a state champion at 119 pounds in 2001 and was the recipient of the Class B Mr. Wrestler award in 2003. He finished his career with a record of 207-24 with 137 pins. After high school, Hase continued his wrestling career at Jamestown College from 2004 to 2007. While wrestling for the Jimmies, Hase was a four-time NAIA national qualifier, four-time North Region finalist, and a two-time North Region Champion. During his senior season, he received NAIA’s “Champion of Character” Award. Shane ended his Jamestown College wrestling career with a record of 84-44. Shane currently resides in Martin, North Dakota, where he is a private contractor. He has also been an assistant coach for Harvey-Wells County since 2008.

Kelly McNary-Wahpeton

Marc Mellmer-Dickinson High

Jeff Piatz-Napoleon

Kelly McNary coached Wahpeton High School from 1994 to 2015 and led the Huskies to the 2007 State Individual Championship. During the 2006-2007 season, McNary’s Huskies also won the EDC Championship and placed third in the State Duals with McNary being named the EDC and State Coach of the Year. Wahpeton qualified for the state duals multiple times during McNary’s tenure and he collected over 150 Dual wins. He coached 108 state place winners including 12 individual state champions. Originally from Williston, McNary was a state place winner for the Coyotes in 1980 before going on to a very successful multi-sport career at Dickinson State University. In 1986, McNary was the NDCAC champion at 177 pounds and went on to earn NAIA All-American honors with a 5th place finish his senior season. During his college career at DSU, McNary earned 12 varsity letters, competing in football and baseball in addition to wrestling. Currently, McNary works for St. John’s Catholic School in Wahpeton and JK Sports in Fergus Falls, MN. He will be inducted into the North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame by Coach Scott Tischer, Coach Dan Frame, and Coach Wayne Hample.

Marc Mellmer wrestled for Dickinson High School and is known as one of the most prolific pinners in North Dakota wrestling history. He holds retired state pin records in four different weight classes. Mellmer was a three-time state champion and named Class A’s Mr. Wrestler in 2003. He was also team captain of Dickinson’s 2003 team which was one of the most successful in Midget history, placing second in both the Dual and Individual Tournament. Mellmer accumulated an astounding high school career record of 207-7 with 165 of his wins by pin. What makes this even more impressive is that he missed half of his junior year with a broken collarbone. According to his high school Coach Dave Michaelson, Marc was super-intense, physical, and no-nonsense on the mat, but he was also one of the most coachable wrestlers ever to walk into the DHS wrestling room. Along with his three state titles, he also placed third in state in 2001 and was a USA Wrestling All-American in 2003. He won a combined 20 North Dakota freestyle and Greco-Roman state titles. Mellmer continued his wrestling career at the University of Minnesota for J. Robinson and was part of the Golden Gophers 2007 Division 1 National Championship team. He also earned Greco-Roman All-American honors at the University Nationals. Currently, Mellmer is a Vice-President at JE Dunn Construction and volunteers his time as a wrestling coach around the State of ND. He will be inducted in the North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame by Coach Dave Michaelson.

Jeff Piatz is a 1980 graduate of Napoleon High School. He was a six-year varsity wrestler, a six-time state qualifier, a five-time state placer, and a two-time state champion for the Imperials. At Regionals, he earned four championships, one runner-up, and one third place finish from 1975 to 1980. At state, he placed fifth at 98 pounds as an eighth grader and again as a freshman; first at 98 as a sophomore; second at 105 as a junior, and first at 119 as a senior, punctuating a 29-0 season. Piatz was also a part of two team state championships in 1975 and 1980 for Napoleon. He was undefeated in duals during his sophomore through senior seasons while compiling a career record of 109-6. He was an Asics High School All-American and a four-time State freestyle champion. Following graduation, Piatz enrolled at Valley City State University where he was a four-year starter for the Vikings and qualified for the National Tournament. Piatz began his wrestling coaching experience as a graduate assistant at VCSU from 1984-85. He moved to Leon, Kansas where he was the head coach from 1986 to 95. Next he moved to Chaska, Minnesota he where he became a head coach there, ending a 20-year coaching career in 2005. At Chaska, Piatz coached two wrestlers that went on to National and World team success: Andy Bisek and Pat Smith. Bisek was a two-time world bronze medalist. Smith was a two-time U.S. National Greco-Roman champion. Jeff is married to Kristi and they have one daughter, Ashli who graduated from NDSU and a son, Austin, who is currently attending the University of Minnesota.

Curt Reef-Linton

Jason Sjostrom-Valley City

Justin Solberg-Wahpeton

Curt Reef’s wrestling career took him from Wahpeton to Cavalier to Linton and eventually all over the world with the United States Marine Corps. Reef was a state runner-up in 1989 at Linton High School, but his career really took off when he met up with U.S. Olympic coach Art Williams who developed Reef into a dominating Greco-Roman wrestler. While in the Marines, Reef wrestled for 4 1/2 years of his 6-year enlistment out of All-Marine Corps wrestling team in Quantico, Virginia. He earned All-American honors twice at the University Nationals. Reef was also a U.S. Open Greco-Roman All-American and a two-time Olympic Festival Qualifier. He earned a bronze medal at the Olympic Festival, a bronze at the Armed Forces Championship and bronze at the Haparanda Cup. He wrestled nationally and internationally for the U.S. Marine Corps from 1991-1995. Upon his discharge, Reef wrestled for Milo Trusty at the University of Mary where he earned NAIA All-American honors in his first season with the Marauders. After the arrival of his daughter, Reef decided to retire from wrestling to provide for his new family. He currently lives in Bismarck where he is self-employed with two businesses: C & L Roofing-Gutters-Siding and PK Lures.

After an outstanding high school career at Valley City, Jason Sjostrom went on to be a two-time All-American at the University of Minnesota-Moorhead, placing third at the NAIA National Tournament both in 1994 and 1995. Sjostrom was a four-time, top 4 state finisher for Valley City High School, capped off by a state championship in 1990 at 130 pounds during his senior year where he defeated fellow Hall of Famer, Mike Seeger of Century, in the title match. Sjostrom was named Class A’s “Mr. Wrestler” in 1990. He was also a four-time EDC and North Star Conference Champion while winning 83% of his career matches as a six-year varsity starter. Sjostrom was also an all-state cross country runner and a state placer in track for the Hi-Liners. At MSU-Moorhead had one of the most distinguished careers in Dragon wrestling history. In addition to his two All-American honors, Sjostrom was a 3-time NSIC champion and won the presitigous Bison Open twice. Sjostrom set a single-season school record with 41 wins his senior season and finished with an incredible career record of 129-17, the winningest wrestler in Dragon history. Despite two reconstructive knee surgeries during his college career, Sjostrom was four-time National Qualifier and helped lead the Dragons to four conference championships. Currently, Sjostrom is the owner of Ideal Systems LLC of West Fargo ND; an agricultural marketing and construction company. Jason and his wife Hilary make their home in South Fargo and have two children: Caleb, 17 and Sienna, 12. He is being inducted into the North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame by one of his high school coaches, Kim Knodle.

During his time at Wahpeton High School, Justin Solberg had one of the most successful high school careers in North Dakota wrestling history. Solberg was a five-time state finalist, winning four state championships and amassing an amazing career record of 192-5. Solberg compiled two undefeated seasons during his sophomore and junior seasons. Solberg was also a four-time EDC champion and named Class A’s Mr. Wrestler in 2008. He also excelled on the national level, winning a National Championship at the Brute-Adidas Nationals as a sophomore before placing second at the Virginia Beach Nationals as junior and third at the same Nationals as a senior. He also placed sixth at the USA Wrestling Junior Nationals in Greco Roman to earn All-American honors. Solberg was a key member of the 2007 Wahpeton State Individual Championship team, the first in the school’s history. Solberg continued his wrestling career at Division I North Dakota State University where he was a four-year letter winner for the Bison, where he also served as team captain. He placed third in the conference as a freshman and won 60 matches in his collegiate career. Since graduating from NDSU in 2012, Solberg has remained in the Fargo area working at Border States Electric as an Alliance Sourcing Analyst. Since 2016, Solberg has served as an assistant wrestling coach at MSU-Moorhead. Solberg has had the honor of coaching one All-American and two National Qualifiers at MSUM. Currently, Solberg lives in Fargo and is working hard to earn an MBA degree. Solberg is joined today by his wife Ashley and son Liam. He will be inducted into the North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame by Wayne Hample.

Dusty Vliem-Hettinger

Eric Hewitt-Carrington

Dusty Vliem of Hettinger High School was one of the most dominating upper weights of his era. Wrestling for Coach Randy Burwick, Vliem was a five-time state qualifier, four-time state place winner and a three-time state champion. Vliem was a starter as an eighth-grader in 2001 when the Black Devils won both the Individual and Dual State team Championships. After placing fourth in state as a freshman, Vliem claimed a state title as a sophomore at 171 pounds, then won two more titles at 189 pounds his junior and senior season. Vliem was undefeated both his sophomore and senior season while racking up a career record of 190-34. During his senior season in 2005, Vliem was named Class B’s Mr. Wrestler. Following graduation, Vliem attended the University of Mary in Bismarck where he played outside linebacker for the Marauders. Later in his college career, he joined the wrestling team and became a national qualifier after placing fourth in the Region at 197 pounds. Vliem will be inducted into the North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame by his high school coach, Randy Burwick.

Eric began his long career in the sport of high school wrestling in 1984, where as an 8th grader he joined the Carrington wrestling program. Eric grew as a wrestler, and in 1988, his senior year, he finished 4th in the state at 135 lbs. After completing his degree in teaching he returned to Carrington and became a staple in their program from 1993 through 2011. Eric became integral in every facet of the program. From 1993-2005 Eric was the pee wee wrestling coach where he introduced hundreds of boys to the sport of wrestling with many of them going on to become state champions and state place winners. During the years of 1993-1996, and again in 2000, Eric also held the position as assistant Coach in the Carrington high school program where the Cardinals won state team titles in 1994 and 1995. Eric returned to the coaching ranks in 2001 when he served as the Carrington junior high coach through the 2003 season, finishing the season as state junior high champions. 2001 brought a new role for Eric, a role that would allow him to share his love for the sport of wrestling with thousands of people from Carrington and every wrestling community in the state. From 2001-2011 Eric was the voice of Carrington wrestling on the radio as he brought the excitement and success of the Carrington wrestling program to the loyal Cardinal fans throughout the region. Eric brought his talents to the North Dakota State Wrestling tournament as a public address announcer from 2012-2013 and again from 2015-2017. Eric’s greatest joy is his family. Eric is married to his wife Kristen and together they have two children, a son, Braxton and a daughter, Calleigh.