Hazewinkel brothers inducted into National Wrestling Hall of Fame
10/25/2016 2:28:00 PM | Wrestling
Former St. Cloud State University wrestlers Dave Hazewinkel and Jim Hazewinkel were inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum's Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions on Oct. 22, 2016. Kurt Stelten, Director of Development, Intercollegiate Athletics presented the brothers a photo collage to commemorate their SCSU wrestling careers and their induction into the Hall of Fame. St. Cloud State alumni, Grant Nelson and Mike Rybak (teammates) and Jerry Schmitz attended the event.Â
Dave and Jim Hazewinkel were members of the 1968 and 1972 United States Greco-Roman Olympic teams and were both members of six consecutive World and Olympic teams from 1967 to 1972. Dave Hazewinkel was the first American to win two World medals in Greco-Roman wrestling, earning a bronze medal in 1969 and a silver medal in 1970. Jim Hazewinkel was also a member of the 1966 World team and his highest finish at the World Championships was fourth in 1969. The Hazewinkels were presented the Legacy Award by the Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions in 2012.
Members of the St. Cloud State University Athletic Hall of Fame, the Hazewinkel brothers played a key role in the success of the Huskies' wrestling program in the 1960s. Jim Hazewinkel earned four NAIA national championships in 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1967 and was a four-time All-American. Dave Hazewinkel earned All-America twice during his collegiate career with the Huskies and both Hazewinkel brothers won conference titles with the Huskies. In 1965, SCSU placed third as a team at the NAIA national championships and the Huskies placed fifth at the NAIA finals in 1967.
