Minnesota/USA Wrestling

Congratulations to MNUSAW's Bill Hinchley and Luke Becker! - 2012 MWCA Dave Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame Inductees!

Bill Hinchley, Contributor

Bill has been a member of the Minnesota U.S.A. Wrestling organization for more than 20 years. He has served as President and C.E.O. since 1993. His willingness to volunteer has enabled Minnesota wrestlers to improve and excel in Freestyle, Greco-Roman and Folkstyle wrestling. Because of Bill’s leadership, Minnesota-U.S.A. wrestling is one of the top amateur state wrestling organizations in the country. He helps organize, direct, and often serves as head official for local, state, regional, and national events in U.S.A. wrestling. He accompanies Minnesota wrestling teams all over the country at regional and national tournaments at Schoolboy, Cadet, Junior, and Senior tournaments each summer. Bill has received several awards on the state and national level for being an outstanding director and official, including the 2007 U.S.A. Wrestling Mat Official of the year. In his community, Bill was one of the founders of the Owatonna Wrestling Association, and has spent thousands of hours volunteering as announcer, official, and director of many Owatonna tournaments over the years. The Hinchley Open in Owatonna was named in his honor. Bills’ wife is Genelle, and they have three children; Brian, Bruce, and Gretchen.

Luke Becker, Athlete

Luke wrestled for Cambridge-Isanti High School. He was a five-time state placewinner, placing 4th in 1994, 3rd in 1995, then earning 3 Minnesota state titles. (135 lbs. in 1996, 145 lbs. in 1997, and 152 lbs. in 1998. He helped his team win two section titles, and they placed 6th in state in 1994 and 5th in state in 1998. He was also a member of two section runner-up teams in the always competitive Section 7. Luke’s high school record was 210-29, and was Minnesota’s wins leader at the time.

Luke continued his wrestling success at the University of Minnesota, becoming a 4-time All-American, including a national title in 2002 at 157 lbs.. He was also a member of the Gopher National Championship teams of 2001 and 2002, along with being a member on 3 Big Ten Championship teams from 2001-2003. He was a Big Ten Conference champion in 2002 and 2003. Luke finished his collegiate career with a 126-29 record, (10th best at the U).

In the 70-plus years of Minnesota’s amateur wrestling only 8 wrestlers have attended a Minnesota High School and then proceeded to win a NCAA title. Luke joined a very elite group that includes former Minnesota Gophers Dick Mueller, Evan Johnson, Pat Neu, Marty Morgan, and recently Jason Ness. Two other athletes, James Kammen and Joel Sharratt also attended a Minnesota High School and won a national title outside of Minnesota. Luke’s accomplishments have only been achieved by a handful of young athletes, and it speaks volumes to Luke’s abilities. He was a solid wrestler in all positions, and he will long be regarded as one of Minnesota’s finest ever.Upon graduating from the University with a degree in Educational Psychology/Youth Studies, Luke has served as an assistant coach for the Gophers.

Luke’s wife’s name is Christa, and they have a daughter named Brittlyn.

Thanks much to Jeff Beshey @ theGuillotine.com for content and picture! For more information on the 2012 MWCA Dave Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Dinner and inductees please see http://theguillotine.com/wp/?p=7067

Chas Betts won the 84kg Greco title on the second day of the 2011 US Open Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships being held in Arlington, TX. Other place-winners were Zac Nielsen (2nd 84kg), Jordan Holm (3rd 84kg), Jake Clark (3rd 96kg), Niko Bogojevic (5th 120kg), Jake Kettler (6th 120kg), Travis Rutt (8th 84kg), Nick Severson (8th 120kg).

An interview with Chas is available and full results from day 2:

2011 SR U.S. Open Results for MN Storm
SAT GR 84 KG - Chas Betts's place is 1st and has scored 8.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Chas Betts (MN Storm) won by pin over Rick Carlson (Gladiator) (Pin 0:19)
Champ. Round 2 - Chas Betts (MN Storm) won by pin over Adam Quitt (unattached) (Pin 1:28)
Quarterfinal - Chas Betts (MN Storm) won by decision over Jeff Zastrow (USAF Wrestling) (Dec 4-0,6-0)
Semifinal - Chas Betts (MN Storm) won by decision over Mark Stenberg (USOEC) (Dec 1-0,5-0)
1st Place Match - Chas Betts (MN Storm) won by decision over Zac Nielsen (MN Storm) (Dec 1-0,1-0)

SAT GR 84 KG - Travis Rutt's place is 8th and has scored 1.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Travis Rutt (MN Storm) won by decision over Michael Kelly (unattached) (Dec 3-0,3-0)
Champ. Round 2 - Cheney Haight (NYAC) won by decision over Travis Rutt (MN Storm) (Dec 1-0,1-0)
Cons. Round 2 - Travis Rutt (MN Storm) won by pin over Cody Powers (unattached) (Pin 0:12)
Cons. Round 3 - Travis Rutt (MN Storm) won by tech fall over Lee Wildes (USOEC) (TF 6-0,7-0)
Cons. Round 4 - Travis Rutt (MN Storm) won by decision over Courtney Myers (Marines) (Dec 6-0,5-0)
Cons. Round 5 - Donald Simmons (Marines) won by decision over Travis Rutt (MN Storm) (Dec 0-7,1-0,3-0)
7th Place Match - Cheney Haight (NYAC) won by decision over Travis Rutt (MN Storm) (Dec 1-0,0-1,1-0)

SAT GR 84 KG - Zac Nielsen's place is 2nd and has scored 7.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Zac Nielsen (MN Storm) won by pin over Cody Powers (unattached) (Pin 7-0,0:22)
Champ. Round 2 - Zac Nielsen (MN Storm) won by decision over Peter Hicks (Army) (Dec 0-1,1-0,1-0)
Quarterfinal - Zac Nielsen (MN Storm) won by decision over Donald Simmons (Marines) (Dec 1-1,2-0)
Semifinal - Zac Nielsen (MN Storm) won by decision over Jordan Holm (MN Storm) (Dec 0-1,1-0,1-0)
1st Place Match - Chas Betts (MN Storm) won by decision over Zac Nielsen (MN Storm) (Dec 1-0,1-0)

SAT GR 84 KG - Jordan Holm's place is 3rd and has scored 6.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Jordan Holm (MN Storm) received a bye () (Bye)
Champ. Round 2 - Jordan Holm (MN Storm) won by decision over Jacob Fisher (NYAC) (Dec 2-0,1-0)
Quarterfinal - Jordan Holm (MN Storm) won by decision over Courtney Myers (Marines) (Dec 4-3,3-0)
Semifinal - Zac Nielsen (MN Storm) won by decision over Jordan Holm (MN Storm) (Dec 0-1,1-0,1-0)
Cons. Semi - Jordan Holm (MN Storm) won by decision over Peter Hicks (Army) (Dec 1-0,3-0)
3rd Place Match - Jordan Holm (MN Storm) won by decision over Donald Simmons (Marines) (Dec 2-1,1-0)

SAT GR 96 KG - Jacob Clark's place is 3rd and has scored 6.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Rc Johnson (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Jacob Clark (MN Storm) (Dec 0-1,1-0,1-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Jacob Clark (MN Storm) won by injury default over Khoren Papoyan (unattached) (Inj.)
Cons. Round 2 - Jacob Clark (MN Storm) won by decision over Chris Michael (Usoec/Navy) (Dec 6-0,5-0)
Cons. Round 3 - Jacob Clark (MN Storm) won by decision over Kenyon Walsh (NYAC) (Dec 1-0,2-0)
Cons. Semi - Jacob Clark (MN Storm) won by decision over Marcus Finau (NYAC) (Dec 1-0,4-0)
3rd Place Match - Jacob Clark (MN Storm) won by decision over Daren Burns (Y.E.S. Wrestling) (Dec 6-0,0-2,1-0)

SAT GR 120 KG - Nikola Bogojevic's place is 5th and has scored 4.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Nikola Bogojevic (MN Storm) won by pin over Chris Barber (unattached) (Pin 6-0,0:55)
Quarterfinal - Dremiel Byers (Army) won by decision over Nikola Bogojevic (MN Storm) (Dec 2-0,1-0)
Cons. Round 2 - Nikola Bogojevic (MN Storm) won by decision over LeRoy Gardner (Elevated Athletics) (Dec 1-0,1-0)
Cons. Round 3 - Nikola Bogojevic (MN Storm) won by decision over Joseph Sheffield (Marines) (Dec 2-0,2-0)
Cons. Semi - Peter Kowalczuk (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Nikola Bogojevic (MN Storm) (Dec 1-0,4-0)
5th Place Match - Nikola Bogojevic (MN Storm) won by decision over Jake Kettler (MN Storm) (Dec 0-2,2-0,1-0)

SAT GR 120 KG - Parker Betts's place is unknown and has scored 0.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Ryan Hsu (Y.E.S. Wrestling) won by decision over Parker Betts (MN Storm) (Dec 0-1,1-0,5-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Joseph Sheffield (Marines) won by decision over Parker Betts (MN Storm) (Dec 1-0,1-0)

SAT GR 120 KG - Nicholas Severson's place is 8th and has scored 1.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Toby Erickson (NYAC) won by decision over Nicholas Severson (MN Storm) (Dec 3-4,6-0,3-0)
Cons. Round 1 - Nicholas Severson (MN Storm) won by pin over Nicholas Poehlman (RFL) (Pin 0:31)
Cons. Round 2 - Nicholas Severson (MN Storm) won by pin over Ryan Hsu (Y.E.S. Wrestling) (Pin 0:26)
Cons. Round 3 - Jake Kettler (MN Storm) won by decision over Nicholas Severson (MN Storm) (Dec 3-0,1-0)
7th Place Match - Joseph Sheffield (Marines) won by decision over Nicholas Severson (MN Storm) (Dec 1-0,1-1)

SAT GR 120 KG - Jake Kettler's place is 6th and has scored 3.00 team points.
Champ. Round 1 - Jake Kettler (MN Storm) won by decision over LeRoy Gardner (Elevated Athletics) (Dec 2-0,1-0)
Quarterfinal - Brandon Rupp (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club) won by decision over Jake Kettler (MN Storm) (Dec 1-0,2-0)
Cons. Round 2 - Jake Kettler (MN Storm) won by decision over Charles Fish (Marines) (Dec 0-1,1-0,1-0)
Cons. Round 3 - Jake Kettler (MN Storm) won by decision over Nicholas Severson (MN Storm) (Dec 3-0,1-0)
Cons. Semi - Toby Erickson (NYAC) won by decision over Jake Kettler (MN Storm) (Dec 1-0,1-0)
5th Place Match - Nikola Bogojevic (MN Storm) won by decision over Jake Kettler (MN Storm) (Dec 0-2,2-0,1-0)