Former NRHEG wrestling coach named to hall of fame
A LITTLE OLDER, A LITTLE WISER — Former NRHEG coach Paul Cyr was inducted into the Minnesota chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame April 27. (Submitted photo)
By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
Like your favorite old retired ballplayer, the memories of Paul Cyr at NRHEG seem to get sweeter with age.
Only with the passage of time can we fully appreciate the daily enthusiasm and genuine joy he brought to the job, not only as head wrestling coach, but as a teacher and principal.
But it’s in wrestling he truly shined. And it’s where he’s been honored at the national level.
Cyr, who retired from NRHEG in 2013 after 27 event-filled years, was inducted into the Minnesota chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame April 27 at the Austin Holiday Inn.
Spencer Yohe, chairman of the NWHOF Minnesota chapter, described Cyr as one of the truly likeable, enthusiastic and successful coaches in Minnesota high school wrestling history.
“It’s an honor,” said Cyr. “It’s great, and I appreciate it.”
But it wasn’t the highlight of his weekend.
“For me, it was so much more fun to see so many people from New Richland there,” said Cyr.
They included his former secretaries at Ellendale, Pat Theurer and Shawn VanHal, and several former wrestlers. He saw more people at New Richland Liquor Co. and was reminded why he liked New Richland so much. A June visit is planned.
“I miss New Richland,” he said.
A native of Oklee, Minn., Cyr graduated from Oklee High School in 1972. He attended the university of Minnesota-Morris where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in education in 1978. He continued his education (on and off) with stops at Moorhead State, St. John’s University, Bemidji State (Master’s degree in math education) and concluding at Mankato State with a sixth-year certificate (principal’s license).
Cyr began his coaching career in 1977 at Fertile-Beltrami, helping lay the foundation for a team that would win four consecutive Region 8 titles.
After taking some time away from teaching and attending St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., Cyr helped John Elton coach the Johnnies in 1982-83. From there he took a job in New Richland. The school at that time was a combination of New Richland and Hartland. Soon the school became NRHEG, with the addition of Ellendale and Geneva.
At NRHEG, Cyr first taught math and, after receiving his principal’s license, he became the middle school principal, transitioning later to high school principal.
Cyr’s wrestling teams, which he still coached while serving as principal, were always extremely competitive. He challenged his teams with a tough schedule. His wrestlers displayed great conditioning and were sound on their feet. His career high school coaching record was 445-304-12, with 11 teams capturing Gopher Conference titles and four teams qualifying for state, with his 1999 team claiming a state runner-up finish. Those teams produced some outstanding individuals. Six of Cyr’s wrestlers won seven state titles among them with three individuals going on to capture national titles in College. Kory Mosher (Fertile-Beltrami) won an NCAA II title at the University of North Dakota. Joe Moon (NRHEG) won two NCAA III national championships at Augsburg College as a three-time All-American and Matt Petsinger (NRHEG) became an NCAA Division II national champion at Mankato State in 2001, making him a four-time All-American.
Cyr also did officiating throughout his coaching career and continues doing so today, for well over 40 years behind the whistle. Cyr says he learned a lot from his college wrestling coach Doug Dufty at U of M-Morris.
Cyr has always lent a helping hand with wrestling events in the area. He volunteered as an official for several years at the large Owatonna Open. Former Owatonna High School Coach Scot Davis says, “Paul was always a great help and one of the finest people you will ever meet. Our sport of wrestling had a great role model in Coach Paul Cyr.”
Cyr’s successful coaching over the years earned him numerous awards and recognition. He was voted section coach of the year by his peers five times (1999, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2013). He also served as president of the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association.
Of course, all this is easier if you don’t have a wife and kids at home. Cyr never married and, in fact, spent time in a seminary.
“I would say it’s made it a little easier for me to spend the time doing what I did,” he said. “I realized that early on. If I wanted to be at the school until 8 p.m., that’s O.K. From that sense, it made it a little easier. Other times, I wished I had somebody. Heaven knows you go through things. But my family has been very supportive, especially my brother John. We’ve been extremely close over the years.”
To know Cyr is to know he is an outstanding handler of guns. He is an avid hunter and now enjoys more time to hunt ducks and geese. He has also been a longtime trapshooter. He has also traveled across the Midwest, to the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and the Grand American Tournament in Sparta, Illinois.
Cyr started shooting at a young age, first at the trap club in Oklee, then traveling with his dad to Thief River Falls to compete in league as a 12-year-old. He shot his first registered targets in 1975. He also attended the Grand American for the first time in 1978, and has attended 35 Grand Americans since that time. He has also won several state shoot trophies and served on the MTA board of directors for 11 years and one year as vice president. He continues to volunteer at the state shoot. While living in New Richland he served on the Owatonna Gun Club board of directors and was president for five years. He also served on the Minnesota Trap shooting Association board.
Besides substitute teaching these days, Cyr volunteers as an assistant coach at Red Lake County Central High School in Oklee, and works scoring tables and serves as a public address announcer at home meets.
During the next two weeks, he’s substitute teaching every day and umpiring every day except Wednesday.
Cyr, who turns 65 on May 19, jokingly says he’ll be eligible for Medicare then, but doubts he’ll need it anytime soon despite undergoing a second hip replacement eight weeks ago. He spends a great deal of time these days caring for his parents, Harold and Shirley.
Cyr looks forward to seeing more NRHEG people in June.
“I honestly miss being in the New Richland community and being around NRHEG,” he said. “I just needed to do some stuff. But the people there have been so good to me, and I do miss them.”
By now, it’s probably safe to say most everyone here misses him too.
Publisher’s note: This article contained information provided by Spencer Yohe.