LeRoy-Ostrander grad Chris Nelson will be inducted into the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association David Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame at 5:30 p.m. on April 28 at McKinney’s on Southside in Benson, Minnesota.

Chris Nelson, a 1987 grad wrestled for GMLO under head coach Jerry Reker and he had a high school record of 85-6, having wrestled varsity as an eighth grader.

Nelson was state champ at 185 pounds in Class A in 1986 and he was a state champ at heavyweight in 1987. Nelson was a four year letter winner as a football player under head coach Stan Olson and he was selected as an All-State linebacker. Nelson played in the All-State football game in 1987 before going on to attend the University of Nebraska.

Nelson was in a serious car accident in the Fall of 1988 and the doctors told him he may not be able to wrestle again. Nelson defied his doctors and came back 100 percent where he earned All-American status twice (fifth in 1990 and sixth 1992 at 190 pounds). He also was a Big 8 champion in 1992 and was voted the Outstanding Wrestler of the Big 8 Conference Tournament.

Academically, Nelson was voted as a Big 8 Classroom Champion and was part of the Big 8 AllAcademic Team. Nelson was a team captain for three years at the University of Nebraska, was voted Outstanding Wrestler in 1992 and finished with a 101-37 college record.

After graduating with a degree in Mathematics, Nelson served as the head Wrestling coach in Mound for a few years before moving back to Nebraska to go into the banking and finance industry. Today Nelson lives in Gering, Nebraska with his wife Holli and sons Garrett, Nolan, and Taylor. Nelson is the owner of Valley Wealth Management in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.