Al “Swede” Olson – Fosston, 2023 Lifetime Service Honoree

Al “Swede” Olson, son of Alfred and Phronie Olson, was born and raised in Lengby, Minnesota, along with his sister, Sherry. Swede attended elementary school in Lengby and started 7th grade in Fosston, graduating in 1975. Olson participated in Football and Wrestling from 1969 through 1975 and Track and baseball in 1974 and 1975. Swede was a Pine to Prairie All-Conference Lineman and held the record for most tackles, as a middle linebacker, in both his junior and senior seasons. Olson was a four-year letter-winner in Wrestling with a 52-27 record while wrestling from 119 pounds to Heavyweight. Swede finished 3rd in Region 8 at Light Heavyweight, back in the one-class system. There was no true second back then. In Track and Field, Olson was a sprinter and a shot-putter.

After graduating from Fosston, Olson enrolled at Wadena AVTI and worked in the construction area as an electrician. In 1978 Olson was hired by Everhart Electric as a licensed electrician. In 1983 Swede and took over Al’s Electric, a business that his dad started while working as a lineman and electrician for the city of Fosston.

Tom Gravelin came to Fosston in 1975 and asked Swede if he would like to get beat up in wrestling practice and not get paid for it. Swede thought it sounded like a good deal and served as a volunteer wrestling coach at Fosston from 1975 through 1982. Olson got his officiating license in 1978 and started officiating various tournaments, then moved up to sub-sections as well as section individual and team tournaments.

Swede started “officially” coaching (for pay) at Fosston in 1983. Bagley came in to Co-op with Fosston a few years later. Olson has served as an assistant coach at Fosston-Bagley for 40 years (1983 – 2023) and has officiated the Northwest Individual Tournament for 45 consecutive years. Swede also received the opportunity to officiate in the State Team Tournament in 2022.

The “Old Guard,” as well as the younger coaches had the utmost respect for the quality of Swede’s officiating as well as his professionalism on and off the mat. Swede loves to laugh and made seeding meetings, dual meets and tournaments more enjoyable for everyone with his sense of humor.

Along with hall of fame Coach Jeff “Bro” Olson, Swede put together a Region 8 Newsletter that was a “must read” at the Region Tournament. Olson started a scholarship program with Bob Ullyot and Mark Aho in memory of his father, Alfred. Swede was instrumental in the formation of the North Star Wrestling Conference and helped put several Invitational Wrestling Tournaments together, namely the Big Bear and Alfred Olson memorial wrestling Tournament.

Olson was a three-time Section 8 Assistant Coach of the Year and received the Dean Fox Sportmanship Award in 2009, but is most proud of the fact that his Fosston-Bagley Wrestlers took home the Section 8 Sportsmanship Award three separate times.

Al “Swede” Olson has been involved in wrestling for all the right reasons. He has helped numerous tough, undisciplined kids become productive citizens. Swede’s “How can I help” attitude will long be remembered and appreciated by all who have known and worked with him.

Olson served as a School Board member for twelve years and currently serves as Chairman of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Lengby. He is also a member of the Minnesota Electrical Association, the Northstar Wrestling Officials Association, the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association, and the Dave Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Swede has also played softball in Fosston for the past 47 years and sponsors “Al’s Electric”, a softball team that has been competitive in the Fosston area for over 40 years, winning the District Title and advancing to State in Slowpitch Softball in 2000.

Swede married Jackie in 1981 and they have two children – Matt (Kelly) Olson and Rebecca (Aaron) Myhre. Swede and Jackie love to spend time with their children and grandchildren on the pontoon in the summer when Swede is not playing softball. Swede also enjoys hunting ducks, pheasants, and deer in the Fall.