Winning and dominating are common traits among athletes who achieve Hall of Fame status, and Bruce Kinseth exemplifies these qualities. However, his journey to dominance in wrestling came into full bloom during the senior seasons of his high school and collegiate careers.

Kinseth, a two-time NCAA finalist, finished second in the 150-pound NCAA championships in 1978 and claimed the title in the same weight class for the Hawkeyes in 1979. His collegiate career culminated in a remarkable feat as he pinned his way through both the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments. Kinseth was named the Outstanding Wrestler at the national championship and set an Iowa record with 23 falls in a season. He was part of the first two of the fifteen NCAA championship teams coached by Dan Gable over his 21-year career.

"Going to Iowa was instrumental in my wrestling success. I had the two best coaches in the country in Dan Gable and Jay Robinson," Kinseth said. "I thrived in that environment because I was willing to put in the time to be successful."

After college, Kinseth continued to excel, becoming a three-time National Open Champion. Notably, he defeated Olympic Champion Dave Schultz twice—once at 163 pounds and once at 180 pounds.

Reflecting on his high school years, Kinseth recalled being a junior varsity wrestler as a sophomore until he stepped up due to an injury. "I got beat a lot that year, and then my junior year I lost two or three times. My senior year I was unbeaten," he recounted.

The lessons Kinseth learned from wrestling translated into a successful business career. He emphasized that hard work and perseverance lead to success. "Every time I've worked hard, I've been successful. That's helped me develop confidence," he said.

Today, Bruce Kinseth is the owner of Kinseth Hospitality Companies in Coralville, IA, which operates hotels and restaurants in more than eight states.