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Owings. Berney. Scott. Bigej. Gingerich. Yoder. Kenagy. Hostetler. Postlewait. Neuschwander. Schneider. Allen. Miles. Karlik. Watson. Gadberry. Gerstner. Vandeberghe. Snodgrass. Hygeland. Doman. Ballard.
Their names, and many others, are etched into the storied history of the Canby High School wrestling program. But this “etching” has always been merely figurative — until now.
That’s because more than 130 Cougar wrestlers who placed at the state tournament from 1948 to 2022 will be formally inducted Saturday as the inaugural class of the Canby High School Wrestling Hall of Fame, along with 21 state trophy teams.
The hall — the first in Canby to be dedicated to a single sport, but probably not the last — is the culmination of an effort over the past several years by athletes, coaches and school staff — current and alumni.
Constructed by Canby High alumnus, CTE teacher and longtime athletic booster Darren Monen, the hall is the brainchild of a group of former Cougar wrestlers and coaches who wanted to see the celebration of the program’s storied past be the springboard for rekindling community pride in wrestling and other sports.
The unveiling of the Hall of Fame will kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 6, with a social hour at the cafeteria/wrestling room, followed by the dedication ceremony. Many of the members of the 2022 Hall of Fame class, as well as families and loved ones, are expected to be on hand.
In addition to the hall, a new scholarship has been created and is open to anyone who has wrestled at least a year for the CHS program. The scholarship will start out as a $500 gift, and is meant to be another way to honor the rich legacy of the Canby wrestling program.
For more information on the ceremony, the new Canby Wrestling Hall of Fame, or how you can get involved, contact Jim Gadberry at jimgadberry@yahoo.com or 360-601-0625.
Hear more from Coach Gadberry on Episode 378 of the Now Hear This: Canby podcast, “Wrestling with Destiny”:
