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2007 Program Honoring History of Wisconsin Badger Wrestling

To Badger Wrestling Alumni, Fans, Family and Friends,

We hope this communication finds everyone well and looking forward to a new season. As this new wrestling season is about to begin, we are planning on the biggest event ever to honor the history of the Badger Wrestling Program. For the past several months a group of Badger Alumni have been discussing what we can do to recognize our history and this is what we have put together.

Attached to this e-mail is a flyer that presents a weekend of events beginning on Friday, September 28th, with the grand opening of the new Lee Kemp Wrestling Room in the Tom Talbot Wrestling Complex. The Lee Kemp Wrestling Room has been made possible through two lead gifts of former Badger wrestlers. An important feature to this room is that when completed, every Badger Wrestling letter winner will be listed in the room. The weekend will culminate with a Dinner-Tribute honoring Duane Kleven, Russ Hellickson and Lee Kemp.

It is very important that as many of the Alumni as possible make this the event to reconnect with the program and with one another. Whether you competed one semester or five years, each individual is important to the program. We are expecting a big turnout; this will be a great opportunity to see some of your teammates.

Fans, Family and Friends we need you too! The alumni not only want to see teammates, we want and need you there also. This is also your opportunity to thank and help honor Duane, Russ and Lee and to see the Badger Wrestlers you cheered for through the years. This is an opportunity that will only happen once, so please mark your calendar and join us.

We are not only asking you to be part of a historic weekend, we are asking for your help. Each one of you knows at least one person that this communication will not reach that would enjoy being part of the weekend of events. Please send them this information to them, then contact us by e-mail or through the Badger Wrestling office and give us their contact information for future communications. Thank you to many of you who have already reached out and provided us contact information.

Please download and fill out the flier and return to the W-Club as soon as possible. This will help us in planning the event. The first 200 people that register for the Dinner-Tribute will receive an embroidered Badger Wrestling Polo! We know this will not be enough polos for everyone so don't miss out, respond quickly. You already have a head start on those individuals that receive this by mail.

We look forward to seeing you in September.

Go Badgers!!!

The Organizing Committee,
Mark Richman 86, Eric Farness 86, Gene Spellman 86
Ralph Liegel 87, Mitch Hull 80, Gary Gutknecht 75



PS. You will receive another e-mail for fun event/fundraiser that we will need to host separate from the Athletic Department. It is a Texas Hold-em tournament on Friday Sept 28.


Please forward your email address to one of the following:
Eric Farness eifarness@yahoo.com  or (608)235-8777
Mitch Hull mhull@usawrestling.org 
Jill Ries jr3@athletics.wisc.edu  or (608)262-1008

Reunion Invite
Reunion Invite Download with Reservation Form
Alumni Letter to Fans, Family and Friends
Alumni Letter to Fans, Family and Friends Download Document