UW Eau Claire
22 UW Platteville 18
Parker inducted into wrestling Hall of Fame Issued: October 27, 2006
NEWTON, IA – Don Parker, who has been the head wrestling coach at UW-Eau
Claire for the past 30 years, will be inducted into the Glen Brand
Wrestling Hall of Fame by the International Wrestling Institute and
Museum.
As a collegiate wrestler Parker was a two-time national champion for
Northern Iowa at 177 pounds winning titles in 1966 and 1967. Parker was
a three-time All-American posting a 65-16-3 career record.
From 1973-1977 Parker was the head wrestling coach at Upper Iowa
University before arriving to UW-Eau Claire in 1977. Parker has coached
12 All-Americans and 18 conference champions during his 30 years at Eau
Claire, including his first-ever national champion last year in Derek
Sikora at 165 pounds.
As a high school wrestler Parker was a state champion for North Fayette
High School in West Union, Iowa in 1963 at 165 pounds.
Parker was paralyzed in a hunting accident in 1998 and has continued to
coach at UW-Eau Claire since the accident. The Blugold wrestling program
has enjoyed some of its greatest individual and team success since
Parker returned to the program. The Blugolds have had their two best
team finishes in school history placing third in 2001 and 2003 in
addition to coaching six conference champions, five All-Americans and
one national champion.
The Hall of Fame will move from its current location in Newton, Iowa to
Waterloo, Iowa at the new Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute
and Museum. Parker will be inducted along with six other individuals on
April 14, 2007. The class of 2007 will be the sixth class of individual
inducted into the Hall of Fame. |