ABOUT US
Founded in 1977, the Gopher Wrestling Club (GWC) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that exists to promote and support the sport of wrestling and it's athletes both in Minnesota and the United States by creating a world-class training environment for athletes to pursue their World and Olympic aspirations. GWC provides all of the resources necessary for senior-level athletes to sharpen their skills in all styles of wrestling, through our world-class coaching, state-of-the-art facilities, and an intense environment in the practice room that is required to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
Minnesota has built a rich history in the sport of wrestling with multiple homegrown athletes that have accomplished outstanding achievements on the wrestling mat. Gopher Wrestling Club is proud to be Minnesota's own regional training center, and our mission is to cultivate a world-class organization that maintains a culture of excellence on and off the mat while continuing the legacy of our state's greatest wrestlers who came before us.
Our athletes compete to represent the Gopher Wrestling Club in national tournaments and the United States of America on the international stage with the greatest of class, utilizing the core values instilled in them through the sport of wrestling. The Gopher Wrestling Club could not accomplish our goals without love, support, and involvement that our donors provide to our organization, and we appreciate each and every one of our generous supporters.
"The Godfather" Alan Rice
Alan Rice was the first Minnesotan to compete in the Olympic games. He is affectionately referred to as the "Godfather of Greco Roman wrestling" for all he has done to promote the sport in Minnesota and around the world.
Alan was the driving force in starting the Minnesota Wrestling Club. He also served as the head coach of the 1972 Greco-Roman Olympic team in Munich. Alan is a distinguished member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
The wrestling room in the Kennedy Center at Augsburg College was dedicated in honor of Alan and Gloria Rice in May 2007. Alan was a major contributor to the renovation, donating $1 million to the effort. Alan had originally started the Minnesota Wrestling Club which today is the Gopher Wrestling Club.
In association with the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, the Greco-Roman Hall of Champions was formed in 2009 and bears the name the "Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions."
