PELLA — Tim Hackel of Austin was inducted into the Central College Athletics Hall of Honor Saturday as part of the school’s homecoming festivities.

Hackel, Central’s first national wrestling champion and a 1987 graduate, was joined by all-America softball pitcher Emily Grimes Rottinghaus ’94, long-time men’s basketball coach Jack Walvoord ‘54, and national wrestling champ Jon McGovern ’92 as a new inductee.

Central’s hall of honor is intended to recognize those who were exceptional performers in the athletics arena as a student-athlete, coach or administrator, and who have distinguished themselves in life after graduation through service and leadership. To be eligible for consideration, a nominee must have graduated or served as a Central coach/administrator at least 15 years earlier.

Hackel captured the NCAA Division III title at 126 pounds in 1986-87. The national runner-up in 1985-86, Hackel was also a two-time Iowa Conference champ and 1986-87 team MVP, posting a 72-11 record over two seasons and leading Central to two top-10 national team finishes. In 1986-87 he was 37-4 with a record 57 reversals and was tournament MVP at the St. Cloud State (Minn.) Invitational. Hackel also served as a Central assistant coach for four seasons, coaching wrestlers who won three NCAA titles.

Hackel later served as a production planning logistics manager at Hormel Foods Corp. in Austin, Minn. where he was a volunteer in youth activities and his church, and a leader with AWANA, a non-denominational youth ministry.