Gary Rettkeʼs wrestling career includes long chapters of success as a competitor and coach. However, the hallmark of his tenure is a lifelong commitment to giving back to the sport he loves. Rettkeʼs involvement in wrestling began in Watonwan County in Minnesota, on the farm where he grew up. He was influenced by his St. James cousins Gene and Jerry Nelson. Gary says, "They let me know in no uncertain terms that I wouldnʼt be playing basketball." Gary attended St. James High School where he was a three-sport athlete in football, wrestling and track. He was coached in wrestling by Ade Sponberg and Darrell Sohn. He qualified for State (in the old "one Class" system) in 1961. After high school he attended Gustavus Adolphus College and served as the Gustiesʼ Team Captain, with the team capturing an M.I.A.C. championship in 1965. Rettke was a conference champion in 1963 and 1964, as well as an NCAA College Division qualifier. Following college, Gary had a successful 35-year teaching and coaching career at Spring Lake Park High School. Hired at age 22 he was fi rst mentored by veteran coach Harvey Kienholz his fi rst three years. Gary took over as head coach in 1968, heading the program for the next 32 years, retiring in 2000. Under Rettkeʼs leadership 50 wrestlers qualified for State, including seven State Champions and many place winners. Rettke was named Section "Coach of the Year" several times and led the Panthers to 339 wins, making him the winningest coach in Spring Lake Park High School history in any sport! Beyond the mat, Gary was heavily involved in the development and growth of wrestling in Minnesota. He served several times as a Section/Region Coaches Representative and later as President of the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association. He also served on the Search Committee for the hiring of Coach J. Robinson at the University of Minnesota. Rettke worked hard to create better media and broadcasting coverage for the sport of wrestling too. He also served as a USA Wrestling Offi cial, working in Freestyle and Greco Roman age-group divisions for some 25 years. He was a pioneer of sorts, working at the fi rst Age-Group Freestyle Tournament held at Columbia Heights High school, directed and organized by National Wrestling Hall of Famer Jack Gause. This was a starting point for youth Freestyle in Minnesota and expanded the interest and size of high school wrestling in Minnesota. In 1975 Rettke served as Minnesotaʼs Cultural exchange Team Coach to Finland. Gary says, "We traveled around the country, wrestling in soccer stadiums, community bandstands and Finnish gymnasiums. It was an incredible experience-and we won too!" Rettkeʼs family also hosted a Finish Exchange student, Jukka Rahalla, who went on to win a bronze medal for Finland in the 1984 Olympics. Rahalla now headʼs the Finnish wrestling program, and served as host to the World Championships in Moscow, Russia in 2010. Outside of teaching and coaching, Rettke continues to work in the financial services industry as an agent/registered representative. He is also a competitive tennis player and is a veteran on the course security at the Masters Golf Tournament at the Augusta National held in Georgia. Rettke also continues to be an active supporter of several charitable organizations, including: The American Red Cross, Global Health Ministries, Minnesota 4-H, Trout Unlimited and is a charter member of Pheasants Forever. The Rettkeʼs attend Glen Cary Lutheran Church. The Rettke family includes Garyʼs wife, Susan (Susan Benson Rettke), three children in Leah, Naomi and Philip. They also have fi ve grandchildren in Hannah, Diego, Josie, Luke and Rachel. Gary and Susan have been married for 47 years. Gary Rettke will always be remembered as one of the pioneers and developers of wrestling in the state of Minnesota. He one of a few that helped Minnesota wrestling reach national recognition from his volunteer efforts in the Freestyle/Greco Roman Age/Group Wrestling beginnings in the early 1970ʼs, as well as serving the MWCA as a Representative and President. He helped make wrestling better in Minnesota!