ABOUT US
Founded in 1977, the Gopher Wrestling Club (GWC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and supporting the sport of wrestling throughout the state of Minnesota. As a statewide nonprofit, GWC exists to strengthen and elevate wrestling at all levels by fostering community engagement, providing resources, and supporting initiatives that preserve and grow Minnesota’s rich wrestling tradition.
GWC’s mission is to serve the broader wrestling community—athletes, coaches, clubs, and fans alike—by championing opportunities that advance the sport across Minnesota. The organization relies on the generosity and involvement of donors who share in the vision of ensuring that wrestling remains a pillar of Minnesota’s athletic culture. Their support allows GWC to continue investing in the long-term health and success of wrestling statewide.
"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."
