The 2017 Hall of Fame ceremony will take place Friday, Sept. 8 at McLeod Center on the UNI campus.
The 1977-78 UNI wrestling team captured the NCAA Division II national team title for head coach Chuck Patten. The squad boasted three individual national champions -- Gary Bentrim at 158 pounds, Keith Poolman at 167, and Kirk Myers at 190. In all, the Panthers could claim a total of seven NCAA All-Americans that year. It was the capstone for an incredible season for Northern Iowa, as the Panthers went 12-4 in dual competition and claimed the North Central Conference title.
"Our team consisted of 40-some hungry guys in which ten represented UNI with pride at the NCAAs," Poolman told InterMat. "We were able to put it all together over the two-day period, to become 1978 National Champions."
"To this day I still give my teammates credit for not only making me a Champion but being part of a team that won the National Championship," Poolman continued. "You see it's not only the ten guys on the mat that weekend but our two coaches [Chuck Patton and Don Briggs], our manager and 35 some other guys that pushed us every day in practice that help make us the champions we are today."
"I am so proud not only to be a part of this group but to have stayed in contact with most of them since graduating from UNI."
The 1977-78 Panther wrestling team is the ninth sports team to be welcomed in the 33-year history of the UNI Athletics Hall of Fame, and the third wrestling team, joining legendary teams from 1950 (which won the NCAA team title that year, back before today's Division I/II/III structure) and 1974-75.
In addition to the 1977-78 wrestling team, individuals who will be inducted to the UNI Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2017 include Mike Furrey (football), Jacqui Kalin (women's basketball), Bre Payton (volleyball), Ben Boothby (Merlin Taylor Academic Hall of Fame Award), and Jim Sullivan (Dr. Jitu D. Kothari Meritorious Service Award).
To purchase tickets for the 2017 UNI Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet on Fri., Sept. 8, in the McLeod Center, contact the UNI athletics office at 319-273-2470.
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