The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame has announced the four honorees for the class of 2018. Steve Hamilton, Shane Light, Kirk Myers and Lennie Zalesky will be inducted on Monday, April 9 during a ceremony at the Cresco Country Club. The Social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will follow at 6:30. Tickets are $25 each and should be purchased in advance by calling the Cresco Chamber of Commerce at (563) 547-3434.
Steve Hamilton was a two-time Iowa high school state champion for Emmetsburg High School in 1985 and 1987. He then attended Iowa State University where he was a four-time NCAA All-American from 1988 – 1992 including finishing as a NCAA runner-up at 150 pounds in 1991. After college Hamilton coached collegiately at the University of Northern Iowa, Nebraska and Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Shane Light became just the eighth four-time Iowa high school state champion in history while wrestling for Lisbon High School from 1987 through 1990. He also helped lead Lisbon to 3 traditional team titles and 2 dual team titles during his high school career.
Kirk Myers was an Iowa high school state champion for Algona High School in 1977. He went on to star at the University of Northern Iowa where he was a three-time NCAA Division II champion at 190 pounds from 1978 – 1980. In those days DII (and DIII) champions automatically qualified for the Division I championships and Myers would also become a three-time NCAA Division I All-American.
Lennie Zalesky was an Iowa high school state champion at Cedar Rapids Prairie in 1977. Zalesky went on to wrestle for legendary coach Dan Gable at the University of Iowa. He was a three-time Big Ten conference champ and a three-time NCAA All-American from 1980 – 1982. Zalesky has had a very successful coaching career at the high school and collegiate level. He has coached collegiately at the University of Iowa, Indiana, Cal Davis and is currently the head coach at California Baptist University.