Soo Line: A Memorable Journey to the Hall of Fame

 by Soo Greiman 

It’s been 33 years since Wayne Haskovec suited up in sports uniforms for the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Schools like he once did. Back then he needed four different ones: a football jersey, wrestling singlet, baseball uniform and track cleats. Although his days as a talented athlete at the school concluded when he graduated, they’ve not been forgotten.  

In fact, Haskovec’s past athletic achievements at Gladbrook-Reinbeck are why the Morrison, Iowa native was invited to walk into Oak Leaf Country Club earlier last month with several other alumni named to the school’s 2025 Hall of Fame. The honorees included the 2004  G-R football team (team inductee), Rod and Mardel Brockett (volunteers), Ty Niedert (fan), Deb  Cooley (booster member) and Wayne Haskovec (athlete).  

Reflecting on how young he was when he committed to sports programs in school, he remembered he was in first grade. The favorites he continually played were football, wrestling and baseball. As a seventh grader, things changed. No, Wayne didn’t step back from any of his favorites — he just added another one: track. He continued with all four sports his freshman  through senior year, lettering in each one, every year. If you’re counting, that totals 16 letters. If  he had a letter jacket, it must have been very heavy.  

When asked who was louder as he wrestled his opponent on the mat — his dad, Wayne Sr., or his coach yelling maneuvers — he didn’t hesitate.  

“Neither one. It was my mom I could always hear. My dad was behind the video camera taping each of us on the team, and I didn’t often hear coach, but I could always hear my mom.  She yelled like a crazed fan.”  

During his high school seasons as a Rebel wrestler, Haskovec placed high in district tournaments for three years before qualifying for the Iowa High School Wrestling Tournament in Des Moines.  

“Looking back, I know how lucky I was to have parents who were very supportive of all the sports I was in. When people ask if it was a coach or role model who inspired me back then, I can honestly say it was my parents.”  

Following high school graduation, Wayne headed to Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, where he played baseball for two years. Wrestling, however, remained his primary focus. He competed for four years, lettering in three, and earned first place in the open division of an Omaha wrestling tournament.  

After graduating, Haskovec accepted a job at Riceville High School, where he taught social studies while serving as head baseball coach for two seasons, assistant wrestling coach and assistant football coach. While still at Riceville, he attended the 2000 state wrestling tournament and watched an impressive Hudson freshman, C.J. Ettelson, win his first state title.  

“I watched C.J. get his first state title knowing I would be going to Hudson the following school year.”  

In the fall of 2000, Haskovec arrived in Hudson as a high school social studies teacher and assistant coach. Twenty-six years later, his coaching résumé is extensive.  “I am heading into my 22nd season as junior high baseball coach, spent four years as assistant football coach, assisted wrestling for six years and am now in my 18th year as head wrestling coach.”  

In January, Haskovec also earned his 250th career dual win as Hudson’s head wrestling coach.  

As head coach, he has worked with six individual state champions and six more while serving as assistant coach. He is also proud of the eight others from his teams who have reached the state finals.  

“For me, it’s rewarding seeing young team members evolve, learn skills and gain confidence as they grow in the sport, whether they accumulate a great record or not. I never  get tired of seeing their improvement. There is no other sport quite like wrestling — it’s as much  mental as it is physical.” 

Another benefit of coaching, Wayne adds, is the friendships he has built with coaches from other schools throughout the conference and district.  

“Most of them are just like me, enjoying their work with students and knowing what they are giving them through dedication and skill building.”  

Part of Wayne’s joy at being inducted into Gladbrook-Reinbeck’s Hall of Fame was having his family there to share the moment — his dad, Wayne Sr., his mom, Sara, his wife, Toni, and daughters Anna and Maggie.  

“It was a great night. I was very honored to be part of the Rebel tradition. Great to see so many familiar faces, even if it has been 33 years since I donned a Rebel uniform.”