Gone, Lost & Forgotten: Their Best = Valley City State

An NAIA institution in North Dakota, the Vikings now compete as an independent but during the time they had wrestling they were in the North Dakota College Athletic Conference (NDCAC).  They won conference titles in 1961, 63' & 64'.  

Jack Ramey
191 lbs 

A member of the 1958 NDCAC championship football team, Ramey was a two time NDCAC champion in wrestling, making the NAIA finals in 1961.  He later coached at Valley City State as well as the University of Nebraska-Kearney.  While at Kearney, he lead his team to a dual record of 107-43, winning six district titles & producing All Americans in every season. 

Del Schwartz
167 lbs 

A two time NDCAC All conference member of the football team, Del Schwartz was a two time NAIA All American.  He placed sixth in 1964 & third in 1966. 

Rollie Canham
191 lbs 

Canham was an All American in 1969 taking third place at the NAIA championships. 

Duane "Bud" Schmitz
115 lbs 

A graduate of Enderlin High School, Bud Schmitz won two NDCAC titles for the Vikings, taking fourth place All American honors at the 1962 NAIA tournament. 

Ed Nystrom
137 lbs 

The late Ed Nystrom won a NDCAC title for the Vikings in 1962.  The Oregon, Minnesota native went on to coach both football & wrestling along with teaching math & history at the high school level. 

Dennis Friestad

A two time state champion for Napoleon High School (as well as their first) Friestad won four NDCAC titles for the Vikings.  Post his collegiate career he took over as head coach of Valley City High school crowning 99 state place-winners and thirteen state champions.  

Henry Pankrantz
115 lbs  

A three time state champion for Dickinson High school, Pankrantz won an NDCAC titles in 1964. 

Jerry Rocheleau
177 lbs 

Rocheleau won NDCAC titles in 1969 & 1971, taking fifth place NAIA All American honors in 1971. 

Bob Maresh
HWT

A defensive end on the Viking Football team, Maresh made the NAIA finals in 1972.  Later in life he was named the North Dakota Federation's Sportsman of the Year. 

Jerome Huck
HWT 

An All NDCAC member of the football team, Huck was a three time NAIA All American.  He placed fourth in 1976 & then took back to back third place honors in 1977 & 1978. 

Tony Huck
190 lbs 

Huck was a two time NAIA champion winning titles in 1979 & 1980. 

Casey Schweitzer
158 lbs 

The most decorated wrestler in the history of Viking wrestling would be Casey Schweitzer.  A Native of Kalispell, Montana that later wrestled for West Fargo High school in North Dakota, Schweitzer put together an impressive high school resume.  Going 102-28 he was a four time State place winner going fourth-third-fifth-second.  He'd continue his winning ways into college. 

As a freshman in 1988 he won his first of what would eventually be four NDCAC titles.  As a sophomore in 1989 be placed fourth at the NAIA championships.   As a junior in 1990, he won the NAIA championship.  

In 1991 he was again having a standout season, winning his fourth NDCAC title.  He was severely injured in the quarterfinals of the NAIA tournament & was forced to default out of the tournament.  His career ended at 112-26.  He later coached at Valley City State. 

Duey Yliniemi
158 lbs 

Yliniemi was an NAIA champion in 1992.  His son Tyler later wrestled at Moorhead State. 

Sarge Truesdall 
 

A force to be reckoned with on both the gridiron & the wrestling mat, Truesdall saw success at all levels.  As a football player he twice made All American honors, as well as being named the defensive player of the year in the NAIA.   As a wrestler he finished in fourth place at the 1996 NAIA championships, making the finals in both 1997 & 1998. 

Kirk Zinck
167 lbs 

A graduate of Carrington High School where he placed fourth & third before ending his prep career with a state title, Zinck had a standout career for the Vikings.   Making the NAIA finals in 1994, he would place seventh in 1995 & take third place honors in 1996.