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Fergus Falls Sports Hall of Fame to Induct Five New Members

By Press Release - Tom Hintgen, 07/25/24, 11:15PM CDT

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The Fergus Falls Sports Hall of Fame will induct five new members in 2024, this year at 2:00pm, Saturday, August 3, at the Fergus Falls VFW.

This hall of fame, started in 1986, is separate from the high school sports hall of fame in that inductees include other athletes such as town team baseball players, trap shooters, snowmobilers, archers, barefoot water skiers, Hillcrest and community college players and coaches and others.

 

This year’s gathering is open to the general public. The total number of inductees the past 38 years, including this year, is 108. Planning committee members for 2024 include Tom Hintgen, Craig Olson and Tony Rendz.

Inductees for 2024 include the following:

  • Josh Campion, Otter football player and wrestler
  • Peter Campion, Otter football player and wrestler
  • Tina Pulido Draper, FFHS gymnast
  • Doug Dufty, FFHS wrestler with long coaching career
  • Gregg Preston, former Hillcrest boys head basketball coach

Josh Campion

It was an honor for 2009 FFHS graduate Josh Campion when former Otter head football coach and member of the Minnesota Football Coaches Hall of Fame, Richard Risbrudt, said that Josh was “the best offensive lineman I had the opportunity to coach" at Fergus Falls High School. Risbrudt commended Josh for his "hard work and diligence” and said that Josh reminded him of Reggie White, a star player for the Green Bay Packers. Josh's senior year he was a finalist for Mr. Minnesota, the best high school football player in the state. He was named All-State and was nominated for the U.S. Army All-American team. It is noteworthy to point out that Josh was also an outstanding high school wrestler. In Josh's junior year he placed fifth in the state wrestling tournament. In his senior year he was ranked the number one heavyweight in Class AA, compiling a record of 33-3 and a second-place finish at the state tournament. 

After high school, Josh went on to study and play football at Fork Union Military Academy, in Fork Union, Virginia. At Fork Union Josh became First Sergeant of Delta Company and was captain and chaplain of the football team. Josh would share sermons with the football team before games and was fortunate to share one sermon with the entire school. He attracted interest to play football from top tier college football programs, while at Fork Union, and had opportunities to play at many different elite college football programs. He decided to return to his home state to study and play football. Josh thinks returning home is the second-best decision he ever made, since he met his wife in college. If you ask him, the best decision was marrying his wife, Ciera.

            While in college, Josh was a stand-out player and leader on the football team. He was a starter for a total of 43 games, 39 consecutive, from freshman through junior football seasons. During that duration Josh only missed four plays, and played every single offensive play otherwise. Had the team competed for a conference championship, and Josh remained healthy throughout his senior football season, he was on track to beat the (at the time) NCAA all-time college football start record. In addition, Josh was the first sophomore offensive lineman to be voted team captain in decades. In the classroom he excelled during undergraduate and finished a bachelor’s degree early and jump-started a master’s degree. Josh earned All-Conference for a 4.0 GPA in his master’s courses. 

Josh is appreciative of his wife, family and friends, the Fergus Falls High School coaches and Fork Union Military Academy coaches, and the Fergus Falls community for their support throughout the years. "It means the world to me!"

Tina Pulido Draper

Tina’s introduction to gymnastics was through the Fergus Falls Park and Recreations Department at age six. She started competing as a Fergus Falls High School varsity gymnast as an eighth grader and was coached by Carolyn Schmidt (1990 Fergus Falls Sports Hall of Fame inductee) her entire high school career.

During her first year, she competed exclusively in the floor exercise, earned five first place finishes, and received her first varsity letter.

As a freshman, from 1979 to 1980, Tina began competing as an all-around competitor. She earned 11 first place finishes during the regular season and qualified for her first Minnesota state gymnastics meet in both all-around and floor exercise.

During her sophomore year, from 1980 to 1981, Tina earned 22 first place finishes and was the Region 8AA balance beam champion. She qualified for the state meet in all-around, floor exercise and balance beam.

In her fourth season on the gymnastics team, from 1981 to 1982, Tina received 35 first place finishes during the regular season, which included first place finishes on all events during two separate dual meets. She was the Region 8AA all-around and beam champion, and qualified for her third straight trip to the state meet in all-around, beam, floor exercise and vault.

As a junior, Tina placed sixth in the state meet on the balance beam. As a senior, she had 33 first place finishes, including one meet where she took first in all events. She

earned her last trip to the state meet in all-around, balance beam, floor and vault. Tina was able to improve her balance beam standing by placing fifth.

Throughout her high school career, Tina earned five varsity letters in gymnastics and was voted Outstanding Gymnast her freshman, sophomore, junior and senior years. She was also co-captain of the gymnastics team her junior and senior year, and was voted Rotary Club Athlete of the Week on two occasions.

In 1983, Tina was named the Fergus Falls High School Female Athlete of the Year. She also earned varsity letters as a football cheerleader her sophomore, junior and senior years.

Outside of gymnastics, she played the piano and placed first in her age group at the Minnesota Music Teachers Association state meet, which earned her two appearances at the honors concert in Minneapolis.

After high school, Tina attended Gustavus-Adolphus College and was a member of the Gustavus gymnastics team from 1983 to 1987. During her 4 years, she competed as an all-around gymnast under head coach Nancy Baker (1977 Gustavus Hall of Fame inductee, 2011 NCGA Hall of Fame inductee).

As a freshman, Tina helped her team earn the MIACW team championship. That same competitive season, Tina finished fifth on the vault at the national meet to help the Gusties win the first-ever National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) Division III team title.

The next year she finished fourth on the vault at the national meet as Gustavus won its second consecutive national title. In her junior year, she placed third in the all-around and fifth on the vault at the NCGA Championships as the Gusties finished third as a team.

 As a senior she placed second in all-around, third on beam, third on the floor exercise and sixth on the uneven bars to help Gustavus claim its third national team title in four years.

Tina is one of the most decorated gymnasts in the history of Gustavus Adolphus gymnastics, having earned All-American honors eight times in her four-year career. She holds an All-American title in all gymnastic events including all-around. In addition, she is one of only three gymnasts to have earned All-American honors in each of her four seasons of competition.

She was inducted into the Gustavus Adolphus Hall of Fame in 2006. She gave back to the sport by coaching in the Fergus Falls Park and Recreation program and at several Gustavus gymnastics camps.

Tina is a Med/PIP Consultant with Farmers Insurance. She has been with Farmers for 28 years and specializes in arbitration and litigation. Tina was honored as one of the first Farmers Insurance Legend Winners in 2011, which is presented to a limited number of employees.

Tina and her husband, Kris, have been married for 26 years and live in Burnsville, Minnesota. They have 2 children; Allie (25) and Mayte (23.) She is the daughter of Dr. Ernesto and Dorothy Pulido, formerly of Fergus Falls.

Tina also has two brothers, Mike, and Dave, who were competitive swimmers at Fergus Falls High School and at Gustavus Adolphus.

Peter Campion

While at Fergus Falls High School, Peter Campion (class of 1998) competed in football under Don Stueve, Steve Atchison, Wally Pearson and Paul Ratz. He was also a state champion and All-American wrestler under Mark Aho and Daryl Tysdal.

Peter went on to be a student-athlete competing in football at North Dakota State University (NDSU) under Bob Babich. 

He was presented with the Langer Award as the nation's top NCAA Division II lineman. Peter was drafted into the National Football League (NFL) by the Carolina Panthers. He signed free-agent contracts with the St. Louis Rams, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks and Oakland Raiders. The Seattle Seahawks allocated Peter to the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe. The NFL awarded him one credited season. 

After his professional football career ended, Peter returned to NDSU. He earned an undergraduate and master's degree and began a career as an educator. Peter gained extensive collegiate teaching and research experience at the University of Minnesota -Twin Cities where he earned a doctoral degree from the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development (OLPD). 

Peter started a journey in federal service in 2021 at the Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) as a training specialist. He currently serves as a Management Initiatives Program Manager at the Department of the Interior (DOI) - Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) - Equal Employment Opportunity Directive (EEOD). His primary tasks include managing education and training for the BSEE EEOD and managing disability programming for the BSEE. 

Peter lives with his partner Amanda, his two daughters Cadence and Addison, and their dog Koda Luna. He enjoys time with family, travel and nature. You might spot him cycling on the Central Lakes Trail in the fall.

Doug Dufty

Doug was raised on a farm northwest of Fergus Falls after starting his education in a rural one-room school near Austin, Minnesota. “My six siblings and I were expected to find ways to help our parents, Gene and Florence, and that instilled a life-long work ethic.”

His parents were Doug’s model for establishing a strong moral base, attaining educational goals and maintaining life-long friendships.

“Coach Oats LeGrand encouraged me to try out for the varsity wrestling team after we wrestled during seventh grade phy ed class and after I had climbed the gym ceiling rope without using my legs,” Doug recalls. “I was on Coach Dick Green’s varsity wrestling teams from 8th through 12th grades.”

He also enjoyed one year of baseball under Coach John Hermes his senior year after many summers of fast-pitch softball in 4-H and rural church leagues. His brother Mark (married to Marcia Hermes) was an excellent FFHS football and baseball player, and Doug regrets the 5-year age difference limited his chances to watch Mark play while Doug was in college.

His sisters Linda Grinde, Gail Marx, Jan Simon, Debbie (Gary Hanneman) and Barb Pauly did not have the athletic opportunities provided boys, so Doug was pleased to be involved implementing Title IX that promoted women athletic participation and equal programing at the University of Minnesota, Morris.

“My sisters helped shape my life but sadly four have passed on, but Debbie continues to inspire me.”

Doug met his wife, Karen, at Concordia College and they have been married 57 years. Daughter Paula Smith (Reid Sellgren) resides in Woodbury, Minnesota, and son Jay (Michelle) lives in Sterling, Virginia. They are blessed with three grandchildren,  Cooper Smith, 20, (University of St. Thomas), Mason Dufty, 17, and Mia Dufty, 14.

“I taught in the Physical Education & Athletics Department for the U of M, Morris, from 1969 to 1981. I coached some football (offensive backfields), and golf, and was head wrestling coach while teaching the science base PE classes as a tenured assistant professor.”

Doug still enjoys many contacts with those student athletes. After leaving UMM, he began a 32-year business career in sales and marketing of agricultural products in Fargo. From 1979 to 2022 his family enjoyed lake cabin vacations in the Park Rapids area in three log cabins they built on different lakes.

“Retirement brings time for international travel, golf, pickleball, fishing and hunting with life-long friends. Home now is a condo in Stillwater, Minnesota, near the St. Croix River.”

Contributors influencing Doug to wrestle and coach:

  • Arthur and David Mobraten, FFHS graduates and wrestling uncles
  • Richard Green, his high school coach
  • Finn Grinaker, his Concordia College wrestling coach
  • Warren Williamson, SDSU wrestling coach during his graduate assistant coaching assignment in 1967-68
  • Frank Kurtenbach, co-head SDSU wrestling coach with Doug in 1968-69.

Accomplishments:

  • 4-time high school wrestling state qualifier, 4th place finisher in 1963
  • Concordia College, Moorhead graduate 1967
  • 4-time MIAC champion, 4-time NAIA national qualifier and 1965 All American 2nd place
  • South Dakota State University graduate assistant in wrestling while attaining Master’s Degree
  • South Dakota free style champion 1968
  • U of M, Morris, head wrestling coach 1969-1981 with 100 dual meet wins
  • Northern Intercollegiate Conference team titles 1979-81
  • Multiple NIC all conference and individual champion wrestlers
  • Multiple NAIA All-American wrestlers, multiple NCAA Div. III wrestling champions (4) and multiple All-Americans
  • 2-time NIC Coach of Year and NCAA Div. III Coach of Year 1981
  • 3 NCAA Div. III top ten team finishes (3rd in 1981)

Contributions and Highlights of note:

  • High school and collegiate wrestling official for 35 years
  • Multiple HS state tournaments and those qualifying tourneys in MN, ND, SD, GA
  • Multiple collegiate NAIA Nationals, NCAA Div. II Nationals, NJCW Nationals and qualifying tourneys
  • Lead Minnesota State High School League wrestling rules clinician multiple years
  • Concordia College Athletic Hall of Fame induction
  • U of M, Morris Athletic Hall of Fame induction
  • Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association, Bartelma Hall of Fame induction
  • MSHSL Contribution Service Award (Head Official, Wrestling Rules Clinician)
  • UMM NCAA Div. III 2-time wrestling national HWT champion (Dennis Koslowski was U.S. Olympic Greco Roman Silver and Bronze medalist); Twin brother Duane Koslowski (HWT NCAA Div. III champion) made the U.S. Greco Roman U.S. Olympic wrestling team
  • Past UMM collegiate NCAA Div. III All-American Tim Shiels, collegiate wrestling official, promoted to national NCAA Wrestling Officials Coordinator. 

Doug said to many people over the years that it was the “rewards from wrestling, not just the awards” that made wrestling participation such a wonderful life-long experience.

“Rewards are the memories. Relationships with others in the ‘wrestling family’ are still precious.”

Gregg Preston

Gregg Preston served as head boys basketball coach at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy for 27 years, from 1992 to 2019. His career record was an outstanding 463 wins and only 198 losses. He had nine 20-win seasons, among his many accomplishments.

            Other noted achievements as Comets boys basketball coach:

  • 12 conference championships
  • a stretch of 50-plus straight conference wins
  • second-place finish in 1999 state boys basketball tournament
  • third-place finish in 2001 state tournament
  • participant in 2010 state tournament
  • three section boys basketball championships
  • seven sub-section championships
  • 14 conference and section coach of the year awards
  • 2019 Coach of the Year, celebrates high character among coaches

The hometown for Gregg Preston was Eau Claire Wisconsin, where he graduated from Eau Claire Memorial High School in 1984. He played high school basketball and baseball.

His high school baseball team played in the Wisconsin state tournament and Preston was selected for all-conference and all-state team honors. The basketball team also played in the Wisconsin state tournament and Preston was selected to the all-city, conference and all-northwest squads.

Gregg earned a BA degree in Social Studies Education and coaching athletics from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire in 1989.

He coached basketball for the Badger Basketball camps in Wisconsin from 1985 to 1990 and played basketball for the Christian Sports Outreach International team in Europe in 1988. He was assistant basketball and JV boys basketball coach at Eleva-Strum High School in Wisconsin from 1987 to 1989.

He and his wife, Marie, and have been married for more than 30 years and Fergus Falls has been their home for their entire married life. The Prestons have four children.

Tony and his wife, Paola, and their two children live and work in Fergus Falls. Susana resides and works in Chicago. Daniel and his wife, Anna, live and work in Boston and Gabriel and his wife, Lizbeth, live and work in Detroit Lakes.

Preston currently is a teacher at Hillcrest Lutheran Academy in Fergus Falls in the Humanities and Bible department. Gregg was awarded 2024 Herzog Foundation National Teacher of the Year for Christian Education.

As a new member of the Fergus Falls Sports Hall of Fame in 2024, Preston joins the late Hillcrest Comet boys basketball coach Bill Colbeck who was a charter member in 1986, former Hillcrest football coach Richard Risbrudt who was inducted into the Fergus sports hall of fame in 2004 and former Comet player Scott Colbeck who joined the hall of fame in 2019.