Retired Union High School head wrestling coach Dick Ingvall, left, gives a thumbs up to the crowd alongside his wife Debra Ingvall during his induction ceremony into the Knights Hall of Fame last Thursday. The ceremony took place midway through Union’s dual with Sumner-Fredericksburg in the high school gym in La Porte City. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

LA PORTE CITY – Union honored one of its winningest coaches last Thursday night by inducting retired Coach Dick Ingvall into the Knights Hall of Fame.

The former head wrestling coach was introduced prior to the boys’ dual with Sumner-Fredericksburg – a dual that proved a fitting tribute to the renowned and beloved coach as the Knights boys won resoundingly.

“We appreciate everything that Dick Ingvall has done for Union wrestling,” a school representative said of the coach as he stood in the center of the high school gymnasium alongside his wife Debra Ingvall. “This legacy continues to be far reaching.”

Coach Ingvall, a Cedar Rapids native, graduated from Upper Iowa University in 1973 with a B.S. in physical education. He was previously inducted as a coach into his alma mater’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005 following his retirement – as both a teacher and coach – from Union that same year.

But even in retirement he’s remained active with high school wrestling by helping with Union’s home meet scoring and volunteering at larger meets throughout the state including the state tournament in Des Moines.

Retired Union High School head wrestling coach Dick Ingvall, left, smiles while looking at his wife Debra Ingvall during his induction ceremony into the Knights Hall of Fame last Thursday. The ceremony took place midway through Union’s dual with Sumner-Fredericksburg in the high school gym in La Porte City. PHOTO BY RUBY F. MCALLISTER

According to Union activities director Michael Bruns, the district’s Hall of Fame wall – currently located near the high school gym by the concessions – will soon move to a digital platform once funding is secured.

And starting next year, the nomination process for Union’s Hall of Fame will also undergo a change with the public becoming more involved, Bruns said.

“For this year, we have a committee who will be nominating other inductees in February. That committee will vote on inductees. … Hopefully we will have more consistency with both the process and getting members inducted on an annual basis.”

During the ceremony in the gym on Thursday, Coach Ingvall’s biography from the Upper Iowa website was read aloud and is printed below.

“[Coach Ingvall] was a four-year letter winner in wrestling for the Peacocks from 1970-73, serving as the team captain as a senior. Ingvall was a two-time Iowa Conference Champion, winning at 134 pounds in 1972 and at 142 pounds in 1973. He also finished second in 1970 and 1971. With a career record of 100-20, Ingvall was a vital cog for the Peacocks winning four conference titles (1970-73).”

“He started an illustrious coaching career at Gilmore City-Bradgate [Community School District] in 1973, and after three years he moved to La Porte City to continue as coach at Union High School. He retired in 2005 with 324 victories, eighth on the all-time list in Iowa history. For 22 years, Ingvall’s teams had winning records, and he earned Class 2A Coach of the Year recognition in 1988 and 2003. In addition, he was voted into the Iowa High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004 with a Lifetime Service Award. Also in 2004, Ingvall received the National Federation Iowa Wrestling Coach of the Year award and the State Section IV Coach of the Year award.”

“[Coach Ingvall’s] interscholastic record shows 105 state qualifiers and seven state champions. Ingvall’s 2004 team captured the Dual Team Championship. Four other times his teams finished as state runners-up.”

In addition to his wife Debra, Coach Ingvall’s family also includes a daughter Amy (Ingvall) Zirtzman of Cedar Rapids, and several grandchildren