Three more names were etched into the annals of Ellsworth wrestling history on Saturday, April 2, at the eighth annual Ellsworth Wrestling Hall of Fame dinner where Tom Traynor, Dion Welch and Dave Kastberg were honored as the Hall of Fame class of 2022.

For the last eight years, the Ellsworth community and its wrestling fanatics have come together one night a year for the annual Kirby Symes Induction Banquet. The Banquet holds legendary Ellsworth wrestling head coach Kirby Symes’ name in honor of his illustrious career as the head of the Panthers’ program. Symes was the first Hall of Fame inductee in the spring of 2014.

Since Symes’ induction in 2014, there have been seven other Hall of Fame classes that include 23 other men who played a significant role in the program’s wrestling success dating back nearly six decades. Three of those 23 inductees include the aforementioned class of 2022 including Traynor, Welch and Kastberg.

Current Ellsworth wrestling head coach Mark Matzek spoke about the history of the hall of fame and the qualifications for being inducted as one of the best to ever grace the Ellsworth program.

“The Hall of Fame was spearheaded by Andy Matzek as a way to celebrate the history and tradition of the Ellsworth wrestling program,” Mark Matzek said. “In the inaugural year of 2014, Kirby Symes was our first inductee. The Hall of Fame has 24 members now. Members have had a significant impact on the program as a wrestler, coach or wrestling club leader.”

The class of 2022 includes the aforemen-

See HALL.OF.FAME, Page B-5

Dion Welch, Tom Traynor and Dave Kastberg (from left) were honored as the Ellsworth Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2022 at the eighth annual Hall of Fame dinner on Saturday, April 2. Photo courtesy of Mark Matzek