Light joins IHSAA Wrestling Hall of Fame

The Iowa High School Athletic Association announced six new inductees into its Wrestling Hall of Fame on Monday.

Mount Vernon Coach and former two-time Lisbon state champion Vance Light will be among six new members, who will be honored during the IHSAA State Championships on Saturday, Feb. 20, at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. He is joined by Dave Ewing, Dan Cummings, Bob Buzzard, Doug Trees and the late Steve Blackford.

Light was a three-time state finalist, winning titles in 1986 and 1987. He was runner-up as a freshman in 1984 and placed fourth as a sophomore. He finished with a 133-6 career mark for Lisbon.

He was an NCAA qualifier for Drake University, competing in the 126-pound bracket of the 1992 national tournament in Oklahoma City. He held the Bulldogs' career record for most wins with 139.

Light is the Mustangs leader in dual wins, owning a 332-127 record. He has coached four state champions, including Jacob Craig, Matt Kroul and Trey Ryan. Light has also guided 31 state medalists and 81 state qualifiers. Mount Vernon has reached three State Duals tournaments, placing third in the 2004 Class 2A traditional tournament under Light.

Read the full release on the inductees from the IHSAA:

DAVE EWING — Former two time runner-up on championship teams as a prep and went on to an 85-19 record at Iowa State with All-America honors in 1985. Was a grad assistant at ISU for one season than two years as an assistant at Ankeny HS before taking over the head reins in 1987-88. Led the Hawks to a 354-141 record in 26 years before retiring in 2013. Coached 105 state qualifiers of which 4 were champions and 32 were medal winners. Teams were a consistent op 10 finisher in the traditional state meet and finished fifth twice in the State Dual Teams Tournament. 2013 Coach of the Year in 3A. Retired after the 2013 season but has been very active in the sport and serving the IWCOA at a national level.

DAN CUMMINGS — Has completed 38 years at Mediapolis with 36 as a head coach, Has authored a dual meet mark of 460-167-3 — fourth best all-time in Iowa and a 79-12 record over the past three seasons where his teams have finished third, second and first in the traditional tournament with several top 10 finishes. In 5 state dual team tournaments his teams have been second and third. He has coached 31 wrestlers with 100 or more wins and 10 who have surpassed 150, directing 131 state qualifiers that include 56 medal winners, seven runner-up and eight champions.

BOB BUZZARD, WATERLOO, EAST: was a two time state champion and a three-timer finalist with titles in 1958 and 1960 sandwiched around a runner-up in 1959. Wrestled on two championship teams and a runner-up team and posted a 50-4. Went to Iowa State where he was a two-time All American with third and fourth place finishes in the NCAA Finals. Finished with a 54-5 mark; was a two time Big 8 champion and was on their 1963 national runner-up team and the 1965 NCAA title squad. Was a national freestyle and 1969 World Champion in Greco-Roman and named to the 1972 US Olympic team. Became a successful high school coach in Illinois and Oregon. Named to the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in Cresco, 2012

DOUG TREES, GREENE: A rare four time state finalist, he was the seventh to reach this pinnacle by taking second in 1966 and 1967 before winning championships in 1968 and 1969, He had a 113-5 record as a prep. He was named twice to the high school All American squad. He went on to wrestle for North Iowa Area Community College where he was a national qualifier in 1970 with a 19-2 record before suffering a career ending injury in the second round and finances eventually caused him to return home, where he has volunteered hours and service to the North Butler wrestling program.

STEVE BLACKFORD, DOWLING CATHOLIC: With a 152-7 record he was a three time state qualifier, winning third as a sophomore and adding titles in 1995 and 1996, earning high school All American honors. Was a runner up at the 1996 Freestyle Nationals and third in the Junior Greco-Roman Nationals after two top seven finishes. Was a three time NCAA qualifier and All American at Arizona State where he was twice a Pac 10 Champion. Was the conference Wrestler of the Year in 2000. Had fourth, third and fifth place finishes at the NCAA Championships and graduated as the Sun Devils second winningest wrestler at 138-30. A law student at Catholic University, he was killed in a car accident in 2004.

VANCE LIGHT, LISBON: He was a four time state qualifier with two titles (1986 and 87) after taking second in 1984 and fourth in 1985. His prep record of 133-6 was one of the top marks in the state when he graduated. At Drake he was a four year letterwinner and NCAA qualifier. His 139 wins at Drake was best in the school's history. Has excelled as a coach at Mount Vernon where his career mark is 332-127 and is the school winningest head coach. He has coached 81 state qualifiers with 31 medal winners including and four champions. He has coached three teams in the State Dual Team tournament and his 2004 team finished third in the traditional tournament.

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