Scott, Riley, Beaman enter National Wrestling Hall of Fame
Three longtime southwest Iowa wrestling coaches will be inducted into the Iowa chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame this weekend.
Another, Brigadier Gen. Mike W. Beaman of Greenfield, will receive the National Hall of Fame Outstanding American Award.
The ceremony will be part of the 24th annual Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association wrestling convention to be held Saturday and Sunday at the Airport Holiday Inn, 6111 Fleur Drive, in Des Moines.
The National Hall of Fame Banquet is scheduled at 7 p.m.
After presentation of district coaches and officials of the year, and honoring of retirees from wrestling in Iowa, representatives from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla., will conduct the induction ceremonies.
Earlier in the day, Iowa State coach Cael Sanderson and his staff, which includes former UNI All-American Dylan Long of Creston, will lead technical sessions for the coaches in attendance.
The Hall of Fame lifetime service inductees are Steve Baier of Griswold, Dan Mashek of Don Bosco and North Scott, Larry Riley of Greenfield, Ron Scott of Mount Ayr and Roger Williams of Decorah.
Past inductees as lifetime service honorees include John J. Harris of Corning, Gary Christensen of Winterset, Rich Gray of St. Charles and Bob Dyer of Glenwood.
Career capsules of those inductees, as well as the Outstanding American and Medal of Courage awards:
National Hall of Fame
Lifetime Service Awards
Steve Baier, Griswold
A prep wrestler at Griswold and a college competitor at Wartburg, Baier began his coaching career in 1978 at Lee County, N.C., where he compiled a 37-12 record and named three-time district coach of the year.
In 1981 he returned to his hometown and coached until 1996. Baier mentored four undefeated seasons and directed the Tigers to five conference championships, while winning six sectional tournaments and two district titles.
His 1984 team won the Class 2A state championship with 82 points and outscored the likes of Osage, Don Bosco and Benton Community. It was the first state championship in any team sport in the school’s history.
His 1987 squad won its way into the final four of the state team duals, finishing fourth. Overall, Baier’s teams won 211 dual meets and 15 tournament crowns.
Baier coached 57 individuals into the state meet with 21 placewinners. He coached a prep All-American and two others who went on to earn NCAA All-American honors. Three times he was honored as district coach of the year. He was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2001 and has been active in the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association.
Larry Riley, Greenfield
For someone who grew up with no wrestling experience, Larry Riley’s professional life in the sport more than made up for it. A native of Oregon and a 1965 graduate of Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, with master’s work completed in 1975, he had a lifetime commitment to the sport in Greenfield.
Riley served the students of Greenfield and Nodaway Valley School as a head coach, assistant coach, junior high coach, official and volunteer coach. He started as an assistant to the late Lonnie Timmerman in 1965, and when the legendary coach left for Drake, Riley assumed the head coaching reins in 1968 for a 10-year period. His teams were 76-24-5.
Riley coached nine state champions, two runners-up and four other placewinners among his 48 state tournament qualifiers. As an assistant he helped 65 more athletes qualify for the elite tournament and he helped coach two teams to second, one to third and one to fourth in the tournament.
Riley is a former president of the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association and in 1999 retired from the Nodaway Valley school staff, after 34 years of teaching and coaching. In 2000 he was elected to the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame. The Nodaway Valley Invitational is named in his honor.
Ron Scott, Mount Ayr
Scott was a prep wrestler in Tulsa, Okla., before continuing his career with the nationally-ranked Bearcats at Northwest Missouri State, where he was a two-year letterwinner. After receiving his degree, he started his teaching and coaching career at Mount Ayr in 1966 and retiring in 1997.
Colleagues and former wrestlers praise “Scotty” for his leadership, commitment, loyalty and dedication to developing solid character. He helped organize the first state wrestling coaches and officials clinic.
Scott was the Raiders’ head coach for 30 seasons compiling a 198-137-4 record. He directed one team through an undefeated dual season and two others suffered just one loss. He had 57 state meet qualifiers with his oldest son Jeff qualifying twice.
One of his wrestlers was a state champion and three others earned runner-up honors. Nearly 30 of his former wrestlers went on to wrestle in college and five have become wrestling coaches including Jeff, who coaches in Jackson, Mo.
Scott was southwest Iowa District Coach of the Year for 1984-85, and in 1994 he was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame. He currently conducts workshops and meetings with the Institute of Character Development.
Outstanding American
Brigadier Gen. Michael W. Beaman (retired)
Brigadier Gen. Beaman’s contributions to the sport of wrestling, which are significant, are akin to the importance of his service to his country in the military and his current position as chief of staff, Iowa Homeland Security.
A 1968 graduate of Greenfield High School, Beaman was a two-time state tournament qualifier and fourth place winner in 1968. He captained his high school team before continuing his education at Drake. At Drake, he set 17 Bulldog records, was a team captain and named the outstanding wrestler at several meets. He completed his degree in health and physical education in 1972.
Returning to Greenfield in 1975, Beaman coached the wrestling team until 1984. He mentored strong competitive squads that sent 48 qualifiers to the state tournament with 15 bringing home medals. His 1982 team advanced nine wrestlers from the 13 weight classes to the tournament.
Beaman’s leadership and motivation inspired many students to reach goals that many may have thought were unattainable and in the process touched. The skills he acquired as an educator were put to good use in the military career which began in 1972. He was commissioned an infantry officer in 1974 following his Officer Candidate School training. In 1999 he attended the United States Army War College and the same year he completed his master’s degree in public administration.
Prior to assuming the Assistant Division Commander, 34th Infantry in St. Paul, Minn. in June of 2004, he was deputy chief of staff in all logistical operations and oversight for the Division Support Command in Johnston. His career in the National Guard covered service at Corning, Johnston, Council Bluffs and Boone prior to Minnesota.
His career and service in military and humanitarian ventures speaks volumes of his character as do the awards and merit of service spanning a 30-year period. His promotion to Brigadier General came in August 2004. He retired from active duty in 2007 and accepted his current position as chief of staff, Iowa Homeland Security.
Beaman and his wife Linda reside in Johnston. They have five children — Chad (35), Lori (35), Brad (33), Lisa (27) and Jarod (16).
Medal of Courage
Tim Ascherl, Fort Dodge
Ascherl was a four-time state tournament qualifier while winning the 1985 title at 98 pounds for Fort Dodge Senior High.
He was recruited to wrestle at Drake University for Lonnie Timmerman, but during his freshman season he suffered a spinal cord injury in a dual meet with Oklahoma State, terminating a promising career. He transferred to Northern Iowa and helped Don Briggs with the wrestling program and later assisted Jim Miller at Wartburg.
His wheelchair did not confine Ascherl from teaching the sport at two Iowa high schools through 2002. He is now president of Advanced Rehab Technologies, a medical supply company in Urbandale and Iowa City. He and his wife, Dr. Angela Ascherl, have two children, Addie (6) and T.J. (4).
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August 9, 2010 The McKinley Park Festival kicked off at 8:30 a.m. Saturday July 31 with a kids fishing contest. More than 150 kids participated in the contest. A bike parade ensued at 1 p.m. The parade was judged and two boys and two girls received new bikes. The Bill Riley Talent Show took place at the bandshell at 2 p.m. First-place contestants advanced to perform at the Iowa State Fair. And at 10 p.m., the Creston Shooters delivered an 18-minute fireworks display.
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