Ron Ackerman

Ron Ackerman has officiated for 44 years and is the Assignment Secretary for Gold Country. He has worked 17 State Tournaments, officiated in the Big Ten, MIAC, NCC, and has worked the Division II National Tournament. The past 18 years, he has served as a Rules Clinician for the Minnesota State High School League and has been the Supervisor of Officials for the MSHSL State Wrestling Tournament. Ron is the director of the Minnesota Officials Wrestling Clinic that has been held since 1995. Ron wrestled in high school at Pipestone and college at Gustavus Adolphus.

Derrick Agate

TBE

Brad Anderson

Former wrestler

Helped coach youth

New 20023

Colin Bartol

TBD, New 2025

Jeff Becker

New Guy 2019-2020

Spencer Beech

Bio Spencer has been officiating since 2008. He has officiated the MSHSL State Tournament and numerous team & individual section tournaments.

Craig Beissel

New 2023

Bill Benson

Bill has officiated for 34yrs and is a Board Member for Gold County. Has been selected for over 17 State Tournaments including Championship Finals. Bill currently officiates at all class levels of NCAA events including Big 10, Big 12, NCAA Division II, Division III and NJCAA qualifying tournaments and Championships. Bill was an All American while wrestling in college.

John Bergeland

Officiating: 7th year; Coaching: 34th year (Head Coach 19 years – Centennial and Rush City);

Concordia College 1987-1991

Wrestling is the greatest sport in the world!

Carson Bittner

TBD

Tanner Brunscheon

TBD

Jamie Buchino

TBD, New 20023

Athena Carpenter

TBD

Kent Christianson

New official 2025

Mike Coddington

Mike began officiating with Gold Country in 2013. He coached wrestling at the middle school and high school level for 10 years before becoming an official. He has officiated many team and individual section tournaments as well as the Minnesota State Tournament. He did his high school wrestling for Montello, WI and wrestled in college at Wheaton College, IL. Mike teaches Physical Education in Jordan, MN.

Jill Czeck

TBD

Brad Davick

Geoffrey Diehl

TBE

Ben Dose

Ben is an experienced state tournament official in a number of sports and wrestled throughout HS. He strives to honor the sport for the enjoyment of athletes, teams, coaches and fans.

Dan Edwards

TBD

Cole Ellison

TBD

Tyler Faust

TBD

Sonny Fite

Sonny grew up wrestling in Minnesota, Kansas, and South Dakota. Sonny wrestled competitively for 14 years and has been officiating since 2021.

Dale Foster

Website Admin

Rod Frost

Trevor Frost

Paul Genereux

Paul has been officiating since 2008 and is a Level 3 official. He has officiated the Section 2AA Individual and Team Tournaments, Section 2AAA Team Wrestling Tournament, 5AAA Individual Sections and Section 5AA Individuals. Paul wrestled for Bird Island Lake Lillian High School and Moorhead State University.

Tom Gruhlke

College – Concordia Moorhead 1980

Head Wrestling Coach for 35 years at various schools – Buffalo Lake-Hector, BOLD, Eden Prairie, and Ridgewater College. Coached 2003 Class A State Championship while at BOLD, 2002 Minnesota Wrestling Coach of the Year, Member of the MWCA Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Kirby Hanson

I began my officiating career in college and have been blessed with a long and fulfilling career. I’ve officiated numerous MSHSL Section and State individual and team finals along with a hand full of U of M Christmas tournaments and nine years at the Clash National Dual tournament. Living in Red Wing, MN has also gained me convenient access to the Middle Border Conference in Wisconsin. I deeply value the experiences and relationships I have built with my wrestling family over the years.

Michael Hanson

New Official

Eric Herrmann

Eric has been officiating wrestling since 2016. Prior to that he was a varsity head coach and volunteer coach at the youth level.

Glen Hinz

Glen has been a high school wrestling official since 2002. He is currently on the board of directors for Gold Country. Glen has officiated the Minnesota Christmas Tourney, The Clash National High School Wrestling Duals, Dream Team Classic, Bi-State Classic, numerous section and Minnesota State High School Tournaments.

Jason Hyerdall

Coached high school wrestling for 15 years,

Have been officiating High School and Junior High wrestling for 12 seasons in Illinois

State Official in Illinois for High School and Junior High

Wrestling Clinician for Illinois

Derek Johnson

TBE

Kelby Johnson

TBE

Steve Johnston

TBE

Mike Kaufman

TBE

Jason Kelly

TBE

Paul Kirchberg

TBE

Pete Knoble

TBE

Chad Kubasch

TBE

Robert Lamb

Robert is an Honorary Member of Gold Country. He currently is the head table worker at Tartan High School. He has worked many section and state tournaments as a table worker.

Greg Larson

TBE

Kip Lynk

Jim MacSwain

I have served as a Minnesota wrestling official and member of Gold Country since 2007. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work many events across Minnesota and Wisconsin, including the Minnesota State High School League Individual and Team State Tournaments, the MN Christmas Tournament, and the USA Wrestling Holiday Classic.

I’ve worked both individual and team section tournaments in 2AAA, 3AAA, 4AAA, 5AAA, 4AA, and 7AA, along with state competitions in the MN 9th Grade League. Whether it’s a dual meet, an individual bracket, or a championship setting, I simply enjoy being on the mat and staying connected to the wrestling community.

In Wisconsin, I officiate many events as well, including state qualifiers for the WIAA (Divisions 1, 2, and 3) and the Northern Badger Holiday Tournament.

Youth wrestling has always been especially important to me. I regularly officiate Minnesota and Wisconsin USA Wrestling competitions, including state and qualifier events. I also work the MYAS Youth Nationals and tournaments hosted by NYWA. I have been a Bronze-Level coach with USA Wrestling since 2005 and previously coached youth and middle school wrestlers in Hudson.

Originally from Merrill, I’ve been around wrestling my entire life. I value the relationships, lessons, and sense of community the sport provides, and I’m grateful for every opportunity to give back.

Jeff Mahoney

TBE

Greg Martin

Greg serves as a board member for the Gold Country Wrestling Association. He has been officiating high school wrestling since 2002. Greg has officiated several U of M Christmas Tournaments along with several Section and State Tournaments.

Jeff Magnuson

Officiating experience – 40 years overall

Iowa – 18 years overall with highest ranking – 14 yrs of sectional tournaments – 5 years of district tournaments

MN – 10 years officiating at a tournament in Albert Lea while in Iowa

South Dakota – 7 years

Wisconsin – 15 years – 14 years of regional tournaments

Ty Moser

4 years of experience

Peyton Mortenson

4 years of experience

Dan Nelson

New 2024

Joe O'Connor

Joe began officiating in Iowa in 1991. In 1995, he made his way to Minnesota. After 9 years of officiating, he switched over to coaching and cheering on his boys as they wrestled and played other sports. In 2016, he made his way back into refereeing and has been at it ever since. Joe has worked multiple individual and team sections. He has also worked the Minnesota State tournament.

Oliver Ollman

Sean O'Neill

Austin Peper

TBD New 2023

Desmond Radunz

Curt Ricard

TBD

James Rutt

Craig Sanders

Craig has been an official since 1989 and has worked several MSHSL State and Sectional Tournaments. He has also been an varsity assistant and head coach. Craig enjoys working with new officials in the mentoring program. He wrestled at Charles Page HS in Sand Springs, OK and Augustana University in Sioux Falls, SD.

Joel Scalzo

All Around great guy and one heck of a head official!

Jason Scherber

I have been a wrestling official since 2013. Prior to that I was a head high school wrestling coach for 10 years the varsity level. I wrestled for Buffalo High School and St. John’s University.

Torren Schultes

TBD

Kelly Shanahan

Been a Gold Country referee for many years. Has refereed Section and State tournaments

Justin Stevens

New 2023

Rod Stevens

TBE

Jon Strusz

TBE

David Symanitz

Wrestled for Norwood Young America high school and in college for Ridgewater College. Officiated multiple Christmas tournaments, Rumble on the red, sections and Minnesota State High School tournament.