| Re: Voelker to be inducted into Iowa High School Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Eric Voelker, who helped Dallas Center-Grimes its only state wrestling championship in school history and went on to become an All-American at Iowa State University, will be inducted into the Iowa High School Wrestling Hall of Fame during ceremonies in March.
He'll join his high school coach, Andy Davidson, who was enshrined last March.
"Eric's induction into the Hall of Fame is a credit to his dedication to the sport," Davidson said. "He has been involved in wrestling in some capacity all his life and he earned multiple accolades as a competitor, but has also given back to the sport as junior high coach here at DC-G."
Voelker was a member of the Mustangs' only state championship team in 1984, a team coached by Davidson, then in his sixth year at the DC-G helm.
Voelker finished third in that state tournament, then went on to become a three-time All-American at Iowa State. Twice, Voelker won NCAA championships at 190 pounds - in 1987 and 1989. He also earned All-American honors in 1988, when he finished third in the NCAA championships.
"The one thing that sticks out in my mind about Eric is his toughness," Davidson said. "A big deal was made about how he was never an Iowa high school champion.
"What people don't know is that he suffered a knee injury during football his senior year and finished the season, but had to have surgery. He didn't even step on the mat his senior year until two and a-half weeks before the sectional tournament.
"His leg was so atrophied and weak and it was amazing he wrestled at all. He had to deal with injury in college as well, but was still a national champion."
In addition to his outstanding high school and college career, Voelker was also a state freestyle champion and placed third in the national junior freestyle tournament.
When he was recruited by Iowa State, long-time Cyclone coach Harold Nichols called him a "diamond in the rough."
Davidson said that Voelker was "a little nervous" about going to a big Division I school like Iowa State.
"I told him to "go to class, show up for practice every day, no matter how hard it is, and use your mental toughness and you'll outlast the competition."
As junior high coach at DC-G, Voelker coached Davidson's son, Clarke, himself a state place winner, and also coached his nephew, Trevor Voelker, now a freshman varsity member for the Mustangs.
"Eric has given back so much and it's just a great thing to see him get into the Hall of Fame," Davidson added. "What a great thing for him and for me to be in the Hall of Fame as a coach along with such an outstanding athlete as Eric is a feeling I can't describe.
"We've been through a lot together through the years."
Voelker will step down as junior high coach at DC-G this year, but remains a teacher at the middle school in Dallas Center.
İMid-Iowa Newspapers 2007
| 
Linear Mode
