A three term Minnesota State House of Representative, Bud Heidgerken, is our 2020 Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame "Outstanding American." Heidgerken got his first experience with wrestling was with Father Otto Weber (1952 grad) at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Little did he know then that it would help in 1967 when he became a head coach, assistant coach, junior high coach and bus driver. When the Ashby High School head coach quit in the middle of the season, rather than drop the program, Heidgerken accepted that coaching position and accepted those duties for that year and the next. Bud says, his greatest accomplishment at Ashby High School was filling out the 12 weight classes. This was done with only 4 boys in the entire graduating class, and not many more in the junior class either. From Ashby, Heiderken transferred to Brooten. Little did he know that Brooten was just starting wrestling that season. Two Weeks before the season, the football coach asked Bud if he would take the job as head wrestling coach. However, Bud convinced Don Larsen, the head football coach, to take the head job and he would be the assistant. Don was totally unfamiliar with the sport and Bud would show the moves to be taught. Brooten, like Ahby, was very short on possibilities. Rather than waiting for kids to come out, Bud went from farm to farm during milking time to recruit the boys that were not out for basketball. Most parents were not familiar with the sport. The first year the team went 5-5 and got better every year after for some 20 years. They never had a losing record. After 5 years, first year head coach Keith Krebsbach arrived, who had high school wrestling experience. They started an elementary program and participated in the Kids JC Program and AAU. This started a trend of sending 2 to 3 wrestlers to the state tournament each year. A couple of years later, first year teacher Jerry Huis was hired. Jerry was a former state champion and had wrestled for St. Cloud State. The team had several fine years under his leadership. Then Joe Traen was hired as head coach. He was a master technician and helped to continue the great tradition they had started. During this time, Bud became aware of the "pairing system" used in the sport. He also attempted to sway the MSHSL to try 9-Man wrestling for small schools, like they had in football, eliminating the possibility of a small school in winning a dual meet in that format. Brooten was the smallest school in the Region. Bud says, "We also had some powerhouse schools in our Region with teams like Paynesville, St. Michael-Albertville, Foley, Royalton, etc. However, in the years 1975, 1981 and 1984 we sent 3 to State. In 1985 we sent 4 wrestlers to state. During those years, Brooten won 15 conference championships and 13 District Runner-ups to Bud had some major obstacles to encounter at Brooten, he says, "we were the smallest school in the Region, and had perennial powerhouse Paynesville in the District. We lost many close meets and did knock off the reigning State Champions one year to then go on to be defeated by Foley in the Region." Bud's career 20 year record was 174-44-1. Despite Paynesville, STMA, Foley, Royalton in the Region, Bud's teams won 15 conference titles and 13 District Runner-up finishes to Paynesville. They did win one championship over the reigning state champions Paynesville. Many of Brooten's wrestlers not only placed at state, but won state titles. More importantly, many went on to coach, such as Kraig Presler at Augustana College, Kevin Presler at Royalton, Brendan Bogart at Watertown, Alan Walz at Holdingford and Greg Schmitz took over for Hall of Famer Paul Marquardt at Dillworth. Many families helped make the program successful in the Hatlestads, Hansons, Bogarts, Schmitz, Fischers and Walz's. The Presler family were amazing of course. Kraig, Kris and Kyle all placed at State. In 1989 Bud, and his wife Ann, purchased the famous Charles Cafe' of Freeport. During this time Bud started a kids wrestling program for the boys in Freeport. This went on for many years. After retiring from the cafe, Bud has continued volunteering. He firmly believes God has given each of us a gift and when one retires, one should give back. Bud has served on the Brooten and Freeport City Councils, was Trustee at St. Donatus and served the Sacred Heart Church Council for many years. Bud was past President of the Stearns Electric Trust Board, Freeport Chamber, Freeport lions, Freeport School Board and Brooten EDA. For all that Bud has done, he was voted "Central Minnesota Difference Maker" by the St. Cloud Times Newspaper. He has also received the prestigious "Melvin Jones Award," "Helen Keller Sight Award," retired Teachers (Ream) "Legislator of the Year" and the "WCMCA Working Class Hero" Award. The 543 members of the school districts of Minnesota selected Bud as their "Legislator of the Year" in 2008. These are just a few of many honors accorded Heidgerken over the years coaching wrestling, Bud has also coached speech and debate for 20 plus years. In addition, he has also directed 25 school plays, coached high school baseball, softball and basketball. Bud began coaching kids in 1968 and continues today. This past year he had 105 girls and boys come out for his summer program. He coached 7 teams this past year and continues to do free pitching clinics each spring and is tied up most weekends. He also started the Freeport Men's Fastpitch Softball League in 1965, and has been running it ever since. The 14 team league remains the largest of it's kind not only in Minnesota, but in the entire upper Midwest. At 76 years old, Bud continues to pitch, serves on the Community Care Board, President of the Freeport Lions, President of the Freeport Park & Rec. Board, Parade Chairman, Little League Director and coach. With all his activities and much time shared with helping people, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is honored to accept Bud Heidgerken as an "outstanding American" and distinguished member into the Minnesota Chapter.of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.