by Oran Sorenson
It was in the fall of 1969 when Norbert Bruggeman delivered three 24-ft long round packages on his truck. Kids from the study hall were asked to unload this unusual three-piece cargo. “Boy, they are long and heavy!” exclaimed some young farm boy in the crowd. “What are these things Mr. Bowar?” another young lad asked. Until now, wrestling had only been introduced as an intramural activity and wrestling took place on small thin mattresses previously only used as tumbling mats in PE. Keeping these mattresses close together and covering the hard gym floor was a never-ending task in an effort to prevent injuries. Mr. Bowar had for a long time solicited support from the school board to launch this program and provide an alternative sport for young boys who were not inclined or interested in basketball. His four-year wish came true in the 1969-70 school year.
Originally from Dimock, Al Bowar had wrestled in college at Springfield State Teachers College. Bowar was South Dakota’s first intercollegiate conference champion and participated in the 137 lb. weight class. Coach Bowar taught for two years and introduced the sport of wrestling in Verdi, Minnesota before his move to live and teach in the community of Garretson, where he would also be married and raise his family. When the fall sports were over that year, the many young boys who had no winter sport were anxious to see what this new sport would entail. But first, where would we unroll these three big mats to practice? The first year, part of the physical workout each day was to carry these very heavy mats and unroll them either in the lunch room, on the gym stage, or in the old Legion dugout. It would not be until some time later when the old original gym was abandoned by other interests that Coach Bowar would finally have a permanent place to leave the mats. But even then, for competition in the new gym, (today’s old gym first opened in or around 1966), the team would have to pull the mats up the old staircase and carry them on their shoulders, meandering through the lower halls to the gymnasium.
On Friday, February 14, a special celebration will be commemorated at our final home wrestling event of the year. It was 50 years ago this season that wrestling was introduced under a very special coach Al Bowar.
All former wrestlers and wrestling fans are invited to attend this special event. Coach Al Bowar and many members of that first team will be in attendance. The event is a Quad with Tri-Valley, Kingsbury County, and Flandreau. Introductions will start at 4:45 p.m. and wrestling begins at 5:00 p.m.
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