by Oran Sorenson
This coming Friday evening at the T Denny, Garretson’s Dan Bly will be officially inducted into the South Dakota Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame. This honor, first created in 1988, is bestowed upon athletes, coaches, or anyone who has made a significant contribution to the sport that bears the name of this organization. “Dan Bly is certainly even overqualified for this honor having met the test in all three categories.” Bly was a three-time state finalist. As a sophomore in 1975 Dan was state champion at 98 lbs., while teammates Wade Davis and Mike Carnicle were also state champion at 126 and HWT respectively. The Blue Dragons were state runners-up to Webster that year under legendary coach Al Bowar. Also placing were Mike Rinken 2nd and Sam Brandt 4th.
As a junior Dan was second at weight class 105, and won the gold again his senior year at 112 lbs. Something very special in 1977 was Dan’s younger brother Scott was also in the finals at 98 taking home the silver. Scott would be in the finals twice during his career.
When asked what was one of the most special things about wrestling in those years, Bly said, “The support from family, friends, and community was awesome!” Dan and Scott’s parents Loren and Cas were among those early year parents and fans who were always there with undying support you could feel and hear when you were on the mat. As was the case in the Bly family with younger sister Lisa, very often the daughters in wrestling families would be statisticians or cheerleaders.
Dan would go on to wrestle at SDSU and would later serve many years as an assistant coach to younger Blue Dragons while also fulfilling his full-time duties as a mail carrier in Sioux Falls. Dan would also serve as an assistant coach to the Dell Rapids Quarriers when asked by friends in that town to help promote their program. Still today Dan can be spotted in the crowd at a high school tournament or in the practice room with the Garretson youth program.
“Still two other factors make Dan an excellent representative into the Hall of Fame. First, Dan was a self-made athlete admittedly born with a few handicaps that he overcame lifting weights and using his ‘grippers’ to improve his strength. That and his never-ending hard work made him even more special in the sport of wrestling. Second, Dan does not just support wrestling. He believes that we all should support all of our kids in whatever avenues they take and has been spotted in the crowd at all other Garretson athletic events as well. Congratulations Dan Bly!”
