NWCA Announces Jim Koch 2020 Hall of Fame Class presented by Sanford Health
Manheim, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association is proud to announce the Division II 2020 Jim Koch Hall of Fame Class presented by Sanford Health. This year’s class is comprised of five former student-athletes and two coaches. The athletes include Paul Carlson (North Dakota State), Brian Kapusta (North Dakota State), Brett Hunter (Chadron State), Josh Majerus (Chadron State), and Mike Leberknight (University of Northern Colorado). Coaches being honored are Jack Maughan (University of Northern Colorado) and Jason Reitmeier (Augustana).
“Recognizing and awarding outstanding achievement is vital to the continued health of our sport and we are excited to announce this year’s class of Hall of Fame inductees. We look forward to recognizing them at the banquet prior to the NCAA Division II Championships in March,” said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer.
ATHLETES
Paul Carlson (North Dakota State, 2000-2004) was a standout while representing the Bison qualifying for the NCAA Division II Championships four-times, making consecutive trips to the National Finals, capturing the Title at 157 pounds in 2003 and securing a Runner-up finish in 2002. Carlson won his third All-American honor with a 3rd place finish his senior year. Other notable accomplishments include his 2003 Outstanding Wrestler Award at the NWCA National Duals Championship and three North Central Conference team and individual championships. Carlson finished his career with a 98-37 record. He currently resides Elk River MN with his wife Caitlin of 11 years and their four children: (son) Jackson 10, (Son) Connor 8, (daughter) Riley 3, (daughter) Avery 2. He has been the Branch Manager at Hedberg Supply in Plymouth MN for 13 years, a Landscape and Masonry Supply company. In his free time, he serves as a youth wrestling, football & baseball coach and is the past St Francis High School Varsity Wrestling Coach.
Brian Kapusta (North Dakota State, 1993-1995) had an exemplary career garnering four All-American finishes. Kapusta began his collegiate career with a bang winning the first of his four North Central Conference before capturing a 3rd place finish at the National Championships. He then reeled off three consecutive National Titles at 118 pounds, capping his senior campaign with the Most Outstanding Wrestler award in 1995. He is one of two Bison who has four NCC titles and also won NCC Most Outstanding Wrestler awards in 1992 and 1995. During his time at NDSU, he helped his team win three NCC Team Championships and three NCAA team trophies, tying for 2nd in 1992 while finishing in third in 1993 and 1995. Kapusta’s career record was 104-17 (.864) and he was inducted into the Bison Hall of Fame in 2014. After graduation, he continued in the sport serving as head coach at both Greensburg Central Catholic (Pa.) High School and Norwin (Pa.) High School as well as an assistant at Ligonier Valley (Pa.) High School. Currently, he is the head coach of the Hempfield Area Junior Olympic wrestling program in Greensburg, Pa. and volunteers at the Young Guns Wrestling Club. He has a daughter, Hayley, who attends Minnesota State University Moorhead. He and his wife, Shanelle, have three children, Riley, Lucas, and Nico.
Brett Hunter (Chadron State, 2005-2009) is one of the all-time great wrestlers to compete at Chadron State. He is the school’s only repeat national champion, winning at 165 and 174 pounds in 2007 and 2009. He also has the most wins in school history with a record of 133-32. Now entering his eighth season as the head coach at his alma mater, Chadron State, Hunter has amassed a career dual record of 55-38 (.591) and has qualified at least one wrestler for the NCAA Championships for seven consecutive seasons. Three of his athletes have received All-American honors. Hunter and his wife, Ashley, a native of Sargent, Neb., were married in the summer of 2011. The couple has a daughter, Paisley, and a son, Jax
Josh Majerus (Chadron State, 2006-2009) had a 117-43 record while wrestling for the Eagles under coach Scott Ritzen. He was a three-time NCAA Division II All-American at197 pounds. He was second as a sophomore in 2007, the National Champion in 2008 and was fourth as a senior in 2009. Following his senior season of competition, he also was named to the Division II National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American First-Team and was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Academic Wrestler of the Year. He now teaches and coaches at Twin River High School in Genoa.
Mike Leberknight (University of Northern Colorado, 1989-1993) posted a 126-26-1 collegiate record and is the winningest wrestler in Northern Colorado history. In 1992, he won his first national title and was honored as the Outstanding Wrestler of the NCAA Division II National Tournament. He repeated his title at 177 pounds in 1993, making him one of two two-time National Champions in school history. Leberknight was also a three-time All-American after finishing third in the nation as a sophomore in 1991. In 1991 Leberknight was one of four Northern Colorado All-Americans, helping the Bears finish third overall. In addition to his national titles, Leberknight was a two-time North Central Conference Champion. He still ranks first in Northern Colorado history with his 126 victories and his single-season wins in 1992 (33) and 1993 (36) still rank among the top 10 in school history in single-season wins.
COACHES
Jack Maughan (University of Northern Colorado 1987-2008) The head coach at Northern Colorado for 22 years. Maughan was just 24 years old when he began as UNC’s head coach in 1987-88. He inherited a team that was winless before his arrival and in his third season went 9-6 with a 10th place national finish to earn the 1990 North Central Conference coach of the year award.
UNC went on to finish third in the nation in 1991, and he was the Division II National Coach of the Year with a fourth-place finish as host of the 1992 national tournament. Maughan was instrumental in bringing the NCAA championship back to Greeley in 1996, an event that broke the tournament’s paid attendance record.
A past president of the Division II Wrestling Coaches Association (1997-99) and the National Wrestling Coaches Association (2002-05), he served on the NWCA board of directors for 10 years.
Maughan was also head coach of the UNC women’s golf team from 1995 to 2006 and the men’s golf team from 1995-2003. He was the North Central Conference women’s golf Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2001, and the National Golf Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
The son of Hall of Fame NDSU wrestling coach Bucky Maughan, Jack Maughan was a two-time Division II All-American for the Bison with sixth-place finishes at 126 pounds as a sophomore in 1984 and 134 pounds as a junior in 1985. He was part of four North Central Conference championship teams that finished in the top six nationally each year.
Maughan moved into a role as UNC’s director of development in 2008. During his career at UNC, he was part of a fundraising effort that secured $5 million for wrestling scholarships and facilities.
Jack Maughan returned to his alma mater as North Dakota State University’s senior associate director of athletics for development in 2012. He was appointed as the sport supervisor for the Bison wrestling program in 2015.
He and his wife, Brenda, reside in Fargo with their three sons, Henry, Gus and Sam.
Jason Reitmeier, Augustana (1995-1997) In 15 of his 16 seasons as head coach at Augustana, Jason Reitmeier has had at least one wrestler earn All-America honors and has tutored four individual national champions.
Augustana has never finished lower than fourth in the final conference standings since he took over the program in 2003-04. Under Reitmeier, the Vikings have 11 top-five region showings along with a third-place and two runner-up finishes at nationals.
Reitmeier became the winningest coach in Augustana history, surpassing DII Hall of Fame coach Paul Kendle (154-56-1) when he picked up his 155th career dual victory at the South Dakota Showcase against Northern State on Dec. 4, 2016.
The 2004-05 season saw the Vikings take first at the combined NCC/North Regional Tournament, securing the program’s first league championship since 1981.
A native of Bigelow, Minn., in 2005 Reitmeier was named Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the NCC and the North Region.
In all, Augustana wrestlers have won four national championships during Reitmeier’s tenure and he has coached 50 All-America wrestlers.
Reitmeier wrestled two seasons for Augustana. His 36-4 record in 1995-96 included the NCC 134-pound championship and third place at nationals. He went 30-3 in 1996-97 and secured a berth at nationals as a wildcard. Seeded seventh at 142 pounds, he became the first Viking wrestler in 12 years to claim a national championship.
In 2008, Reitmeier became a member of the Augustana Athletic Hall of Fame.
He graduated from Augustana in 1997 and served six seasons as a Viking assistant coach before receiving the appointment as head coach.
Reitmeier and his wife, Stacy, are the parents of two children – Wyatt and Josie. Stacy also graduated from Augustana in 1997.
EVENT DETAILS
The Division II 2020 Jim Koch Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony will occur in conjunction with the NCAA Division II National Championships hosted by Augustana University and the Sioux Falls Sports Authority in Sioux Falls, SD. The Class of 2020 will be celebrated on Thursday, March 12, 2020, in the Denny Sanford Premier Center on the Veterans Concourse. The event will begin at 5:00 pm and tickets will be available at the door for $25.
Manheim, PA – The National Wrestling Coaches Association is proud to announce the Division II 2020 Jim Koch Hall of Fame Class presented by Sanford Health. This year’s class is comprised of five former student-athletes and two coaches. The athletes include Paul Carlson (North Dakota State), Brian Kapusta (North Dakota State), Brett Hunter (Chadron State), Josh Majerus (Chadron State), and Mike Leberknight (University of Northern Colorado). Coaches being honored are Jack Maughan (University of Northern Colorado) and Jason Reitmeier (Augustana).
“Recognizing and awarding outstanding achievement is vital to the continued health of our sport and we are excited to announce this year’s class of Hall of Fame inductees. We look forward to recognizing them at the banquet prior to the NCAA Division II Championships in March,” said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer.
ATHLETES
Paul Carlson (North Dakota State, 2000-2004) was a standout while representing the Bison qualifying for the NCAA Division II Championships four-times, making consecutive trips to the National Finals, capturing the Title at 157 pounds in 2003 and securing a Runner-up finish in 2002. Carlson won his third All-American honor with a 3rd place finish his senior year. Other notable accomplishments include his 2003 Outstanding Wrestler Award at the NWCA National Duals Championship and three North Central Conference team and individual championships. Carlson finished his career with a 98-37 record. He currently resides Elk River MN with his wife Caitlin of 11 years and their four children: (son) Jackson 10, (Son) Connor 8, (daughter) Riley 3, (daughter) Avery 2. He has been the Branch Manager at Hedberg Supply in Plymouth MN for 13 years, a Landscape and Masonry Supply company. In his free time, he serves as a youth wrestling, football & baseball coach and is the past St Francis High School Varsity Wrestling Coach.
Brian Kapusta (North Dakota State, 1993-1995) had an exemplary career garnering four All-American finishes. Kapusta began his collegiate career with a bang winning the first of his four North Central Conference before capturing a 3rd place finish at the National Championships. He then reeled off three consecutive National Titles at 118 pounds, capping his senior campaign with the Most Outstanding Wrestler award in 1995. He is one of two Bison who has four NCC titles and also won NCC Most Outstanding Wrestler awards in 1992 and 1995. During his time at NDSU, he helped his team win three NCC Team Championships and three NCAA team trophies, tying for 2nd in 1992 while finishing in third in 1993 and 1995. Kapusta’s career record was 104-17 (.864) and he was inducted into the Bison Hall of Fame in 2014. After graduation, he continued in the sport serving as head coach at both Greensburg Central Catholic (Pa.) High School and Norwin (Pa.) High School as well as an assistant at Ligonier Valley (Pa.) High School. Currently, he is the head coach of the Hempfield Area Junior Olympic wrestling program in Greensburg, Pa. and volunteers at the Young Guns Wrestling Club. He has a daughter, Hayley, who attends Minnesota State University Moorhead. He and his wife, Shanelle, have three children, Riley, Lucas, and Nico.
Brett Hunter (Chadron State, 2005-2009) is one of the all-time great wrestlers to compete at Chadron State. He is the school’s only repeat national champion, winning at 165 and 174 pounds in 2007 and 2009. He also has the most wins in school history with a record of 133-32. Now entering his eighth season as the head coach at his alma mater, Chadron State, Hunter has amassed a career dual record of 55-38 (.591) and has qualified at least one wrestler for the NCAA Championships for seven consecutive seasons. Three of his athletes have received All-American honors. Hunter and his wife, Ashley, a native of Sargent, Neb., were married in the summer of 2011. The couple has a daughter, Paisley, and a son, Jax
Josh Majerus (Chadron State, 2006-2009) had a 117-43 record while wrestling for the Eagles under coach Scott Ritzen. He was a three-time NCAA Division II All-American at197 pounds. He was second as a sophomore in 2007, the National Champion in 2008 and was fourth as a senior in 2009. Following his senior season of competition, he also was named to the Division II National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American First-Team and was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Academic Wrestler of the Year. He now teaches and coaches at Twin River High School in Genoa.
Mike Leberknight (University of Northern Colorado, 1989-1993) posted a 126-26-1 collegiate record and is the winningest wrestler in Northern Colorado history. In 1992, he won his first national title and was honored as the Outstanding Wrestler of the NCAA Division II National Tournament. He repeated his title at 177 pounds in 1993, making him one of two two-time National Champions in school history. Leberknight was also a three-time All-American after finishing third in the nation as a sophomore in 1991. In 1991 Leberknight was one of four Northern Colorado All-Americans, helping the Bears finish third overall. In addition to his national titles, Leberknight was a two-time North Central Conference Champion. He still ranks first in Northern Colorado history with his 126 victories and his single-season wins in 1992 (33) and 1993 (36) still rank among the top 10 in school history in single-season wins.
COACHES
Jack Maughan (University of Northern Colorado 1987-2008) The head coach at Northern Colorado for 22 years. Maughan was just 24 years old when he began as UNC’s head coach in 1987-88. He inherited a team that was winless before his arrival and in his third season went 9-6 with a 10th place national finish to earn the 1990 North Central Conference coach of the year award.
UNC went on to finish third in the nation in 1991, and he was the Division II National Coach of the Year with a fourth-place finish as host of the 1992 national tournament. Maughan was instrumental in bringing the NCAA championship back to Greeley in 1996, an event that broke the tournament’s paid attendance record.
A past president of the Division II Wrestling Coaches Association (1997-99) and the National Wrestling Coaches Association (2002-05), he served on the NWCA board of directors for 10 years.
Maughan was also head coach of the UNC women’s golf team from 1995 to 2006 and the men’s golf team from 1995-2003. He was the North Central Conference women’s golf Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2001, and the National Golf Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
The son of Hall of Fame NDSU wrestling coach Bucky Maughan, Jack Maughan was a two-time Division II All-American for the Bison with sixth-place finishes at 126 pounds as a sophomore in 1984 and 134 pounds as a junior in 1985. He was part of four North Central Conference championship teams that finished in the top six nationally each year.
Maughan moved into a role as UNC’s director of development in 2008. During his career at UNC, he was part of a fundraising effort that secured $5 million for wrestling scholarships and facilities.
Jack Maughan returned to his alma mater as North Dakota State University’s senior associate director of athletics for development in 2012. He was appointed as the sport supervisor for the Bison wrestling program in 2015.
He and his wife, Brenda, reside in Fargo with their three sons, Henry, Gus and Sam.
Jason Reitmeier, Augustana (1995-1997) In 15 of his 16 seasons as head coach at Augustana, Jason Reitmeier has had at least one wrestler earn All-America honors and has tutored four individual national champions.
Augustana has never finished lower than fourth in the final conference standings since he took over the program in 2003-04. Under Reitmeier, the Vikings have 11 top-five region showings along with a third-place and two runner-up finishes at nationals.
Reitmeier became the winningest coach in Augustana history, surpassing DII Hall of Fame coach Paul Kendle (154-56-1) when he picked up his 155th career dual victory at the South Dakota Showcase against Northern State on Dec. 4, 2016.
The 2004-05 season saw the Vikings take first at the combined NCC/North Regional Tournament, securing the program’s first league championship since 1981.
A native of Bigelow, Minn., in 2005 Reitmeier was named Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the NCC and the North Region.
In all, Augustana wrestlers have won four national championships during Reitmeier’s tenure and he has coached 50 All-America wrestlers.
Reitmeier wrestled two seasons for Augustana. His 36-4 record in 1995-96 included the NCC 134-pound championship and third place at nationals. He went 30-3 in 1996-97 and secured a berth at nationals as a wildcard. Seeded seventh at 142 pounds, he became the first Viking wrestler in 12 years to claim a national championship.
In 2008, Reitmeier became a member of the Augustana Athletic Hall of Fame.
He graduated from Augustana in 1997 and served six seasons as a Viking assistant coach before receiving the appointment as head coach.
Reitmeier and his wife, Stacy, are the parents of two children – Wyatt and Josie. Stacy also graduated from Augustana in 1997.
EVENT DETAILS
The Division II 2020 Jim Koch Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony will occur in conjunction with the NCAA Division II National Championships hosted by Augustana University and the Sioux Falls Sports Authority in Sioux Falls, SD. The Class of 2020 will be celebrated on Thursday, March 12, 2020, in the Denny Sanford Premier Center on the Veterans Concourse. The event will begin at 5:00 pm and tickets will be available at the door for $25.
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