Parker Inducted Into Wrestling Hall Of Fame

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Posted: Friday, October 27, 2006

NEWTON, IA - Don Parker, who has been the head wrestling coach at UW-Eau Claire for the past 30 years, will be inducted into the Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame by the International Wrestling Institute and Museum.

As a collegiate wrestler Parker was a two-time national champion for Northern Iowa at 177 pounds winning titles in 1966 and 1967. Parker was a three-time All-American posting a 65-16-3 career record.

From 1973-1977 Parker was the head wrestling coach at Upper Iowa University before arriving to UW-Eau Claire in 1977. Parker has coached 12 All-Americans and 18 conference champions during his 30 years at Eau Claire, including his first-ever national champion last year in Derek Sikora at 165 pounds.

As a high school wrestler Parker was a state champion for North Fayette High School in West Union, Iowa in 1963 at 165 pounds.

Parker was paralyzed in a hunting accident in 1998 and has continued to coach at UW-Eau Claire since the accident. The Blugold wrestling program has enjoyed some of its greatest individual and team success since Parker returned to the program. The Blugolds have had their two best team finishes in school history placing third in 2001 and 2003 in addition to coaching six conference champions, five All-Americans and one national champion.

The Hall of Fame will move from its current location in Newton, Iowa to Waterloo, Iowa at the new Dan Gable International Wrestling Institute and Museum. Parker will be inducted along with six other individuals on April 14, 2007. The class of 2007 will be the sixth class of individual inducted into the Hall of Fame.