Bulldog Wrestling Hall of Fame continues to grow
Four new members entered the Bulldog Wrestling Hall of Fame on Jan. 18. Pictured (left to right) are Dave Sanger, Tim Reicks, Diane and Larry Geisler, Larry Vorwald, Travis Eggers, Chet Bachman and Taylor Reicks. (Photos by Audrey Posten)
Larry and Diane Geisler accept a plaque recognizing their induction into the Bulldog Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Tim and Taylor Reicks welcome Travis Eggers into the Bulldog Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Dave Sanger introduces inductee Larry Vorwald.
By Audrey Posten | Times-Register
Four new members entered the Bulldog Wrestling Hall of Fame on Jan. 18, during a ceremony at the annual MFL MarMac Invitational. The group—Larry and Diane Geisler, Travis Eggers, Ken Ryan and Larry Vorwald—included both 2024 and 2025 inductees, after last year’s tournament was cancelled due to weather.
MFL MarMac wrestling coach Chet Bachman inaugurated the hall of fame in 2022, naming it in honor of long-time volunteer and coach, the late Al Reicks, whose sons Taylor and Tim joined Bachman in presenting the plaques at Saturday’s ceremony. Dave Sanger, who was an athlete, teacher and coach at MFL and one of the original inductees, also helped with the presentation.
Larry and Diane Geisler first became involved with the wrestling program by working the concession stand for the booster club at Bullpup tournaments, and later helped kids secure rides to meets. Diane became known for filling out brackets at tournaments, while Larry starting recording meets, creating keepsakes for wrestlers and review material for coaches. Recordings were also shown on the local cable channel.
Travis Eggers began his wrestling career with the Bulldogs and became a state champion his senior year. In college at Upper Iowa University, he was a four-time national qualifier, three-time national semi-finalist, two-time national finalist and one-time national champion. Twice, Eggers was named Northern Sun Conference Wrestler of the Year. In 2018, he was inducted into the Jim Koch Division II Wrestling Hall of Fame, and in 2021, entered the Upper Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame.
The late Ken Ryan was a 1968 MFL graduate. He was a three-year wrestler, becoming an Upper Mississippi Conference champion, sectional champion and the school’s second state qualifier as a senior. Ryan later attended Notre Dame University, where he was a four-year member of the wrestling team, a team captain and one of the winningest athletes.
Larry Vorwald was a 1981 MFL graduate. He accumulated a record of 96-12 over four years, won three conference titles and was one of the first MFL wrestlers to win a major varsity tournament as a freshman. Vorwald had three undefeated dual meet seasons, a school record of 28 consecutive dual meet wins and a 40-1 career dual meet record. He was a sectional and district champ and qualified for state his junior and senior seasons, placing fourth his senior year—only the second wrestler in school history to place at the state tournament.
