Minnesota Wrestling is recognized as a leader in the recognition, prevention and care of skin infections in the sport of Wrestling. Most of this recognition is due to one individual, Dr. Bruce "BJ" Anderson. This doctor preceded his medical career as a participant in high school and college wrestling. This background served him well in helping to tackle the growing concern of skin infection in the sport of wrestling. His efforts have brought great attention and welcome relief for the many athletes participating, and their parents and coaches. Dr. Anderson was born and raised in Mound, Minnesota. He was the youngest of six children and he started wrestling in 5th grade. In 9th grade he won all 12 matches by pin! This motivated him to continue and as a sophomore he participated in the AAU Western Regional-National Championships held in Casper, Wyoming. He placed 4th in that tournament. His funding was provided by wrestling legend Vern Gagne. BJ's high school career was successful as well, placing 2nd in the District Tournament, both his junior and senior years. He was All-Conference in both football and wrestling his senior year in 1975 in the Suburban West Conference. His junior year he was Honorable Mention in the Lake Conference. He graduated as an Honor Student and received a Mat Coaches Wives Scholarship to attend Concordia College in Moorhead. At Concordia College, BJ wrestled at 190 lbs, up from the 145 lb weight class he wrestled in high school. He says., "I could not crack the lineup at 155 and up." Giving away 20 to 30 pounds he was never pinned and even defeated the eventual Conference Champion from Augsburg College in a dual meet his senior year. BJ graduated from Concordia College in 1979 with a B.A. in Chemistry, cum laude. Right out of college he worked at 3M in Traffic Control Materials as a chemist. He went back to Concordia College in 1981 to fulfill his premed course preparation. He taught chemistry lab and assisted longtime Coach Finn Grinaker with the wrestling program. In 1982 he entered Medical School at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1986 and served as an intern at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Lukes Medical Center in Chicago in General Surgery. In 1987 he entered residency in Family Practice at HCMC, finishing in 1990 and entering private practice in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Dr. Anderson started covering wrestling and football at Apple Valley High School in 1993. In 1996 he started working with Augsburg College Wrestling. He also became Medical Advisor for MN/USA Wrestling and started covering USA Wrestling Junior Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota, from 1996 to present, he also became a member of the MSHSL SMAC. In 1999 he moved into private practice at Boynton Health Service at the University of Minnesota. From 2000 to 2004 he served as Team Physician for the University of Minnesota for football and wrestling. Dr. Anderson served as Team Physician for the National Championship teams for both the University of Minnesota and Augsburg College in 2001. He was also a tournament physician for the 2004 US Olympic Trials in Indianapolis and the 2015 World Wrestling Championships in Las Vegas. From 2004 to 2008 he served on the National Federation of State High School Association's (NFHS) Sports Medicine Advisory Committee. Other extra- curricular pursuits for BJ Anderson have been theatre both in college and in the community for many years. He was a member of the Red River Dance and Performing Company in 1980-81. He was also a member of the National Ski Patrol from 1983 to 2000, obtaining Senior Patrol status in 1993. And, he did some rock climbing, having scaled both Devils Tower and the Grand Teton. Dr. Anderson's research focus was: "Infectious Diseases in the Sport of Wrestling," focusing on herpes simplex type I. His research produced better treatment, care and prevention of this long term skin disease. He has written numerous publications and made presentations all over the country speaking on this all-important topic. Dr. Anderson maintains professional membership to such organizations as Sports Medicine Advisory Committee for the NFHS, 1997 to present; The Sports Medicine Advisory Committee for the NFHS from 2004 to 2008; And he is also CEO of "The Mat Doc, LLC," which he started back in 2007. An extremely important person to our great sport of wrestling in Minnesota, Dr. BJ Anderson, has worked hard to improve the safety and awareness to problems that can plague our sport. His research and work are not without notice and now recognized proudly with his most deserving induction into the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.