Bruce Anderson (Faribault ’94), a member of a Big Nine championship team and two Region 1AA championship teams, Anderson recalls being part of two State Tournament teams and placing as Consolation team champions as highlights. 

Bruce joined the Faribault Coaching Staff in 2007-08 season and serves as the Youth Assistant Coach.  He was named Volunteer of the Year by the Faribault Wrestling Club in 2007.

Jesse Armbruster (Faribault ’92), a former All-State wrestler for the Falcons, was named the 9^th Head Coach in the history of the Faribault Wrestling program in 2001.  In the 2009-10 season, he will enter his 17^th season as a member of the Faribault coaching staff, the last eight as the Head Coach.  He also teaches Science at the Faribault Middle School.

Armbruster was one of the top lightweight wrestlers in the history of the Faribault Wrestling program.  Voted team captain and team MVP, he holds All-Conference certificates as well as All-State honors.  Armbruster, a member of Faribault’s Career Win Club, was selected to the 1992 Minnesota All-Star Team and competed in the prestigious National High School Wrestling Championships, finishing 5-2. 

Armbruster continued his wrestling career at Augsburg College.  A four-year letter winner for the NCAA powerhouse Auggies, he finished his career with 134 wins, and once again, was regarded as one of the best in school history.  Winner of three conference championships and named the team duals conference Outstanding Wrestler in ’94, Armbruster went on to earn three NCAA All-American certificates placing third in 1994, second in 1996 and winning the NCAA National Championship in 1995.  He was voted team MVP twice, competed for two National Championship teams, and captained the 1995 Championship team as well as the 1996 NCAA Runner-up Team.

As a coach, Armbruster headed the Faribault club program during the mid 90’s while competing at Augsburg.  In 1996, he was named Region 1 and MN/USA Coach of the Year.  He began his full-time coaching career at Augsburg and assisted under legendary Coach Jeff Swenson and helped aid the Auggies in winning the NCAA Team Championship in 1997.  Armbruster was named to the Faribault staff and assisted under Tim Tousignant where he was named Region 1AAA Assistant Coach of the Year in ’98.  In his tenure, Armbruster has coached 37 High School All-Conference wrestlers, 30 State Entrants, and 19 All-State athletes.  He has sat in the corner of seven State Championship matches and celebrated three Individual State Championships.  Armbruster was honored to sit in the championship corner of Brady Wilson during the 2005 National High School National Championships.  Armbruster also serves as an assistant on the MN Storm National Team.  Jesse lives in Faribault with his wife Amanda and daughter McKayla.

Brad Babcock (Faribault ‘90), a member of two Big Nine Championship wrestling squads,  Babcock was the spark plug in the lower weights for the mighty Falcons during the late 80’s.  Coach Babcock wrestled one of the finest Regional Championships by any Falcon.  Entering the 1990 Championships, Brad was seeded #3 behind two wrestlers from Apple Valley and Rochester Mayo, who were both regarded as untouchable and projected to represent their schools at the State Tournament.  In the semifinals, Brad dominated and ensured himself a place in the 1990 Individual State Tournament.  We will never forget the parade around the mat, arms held high in victory as he celebrated with coaches and teammates.

Coach Babcock enrolled at Normandale and competed in football, only to return to Faribault and assist Dave Henry in 1991.  Babcock was hired full-time in 2001 and has been part of the varsity program ever since.  He took over the Youth Program in 2001 and has been extremely involved in rebuilding a feeder program that was once required as a leader throughout the state.  Since Babcock has taken over, numbers have grown from the mid 30’s in grades K-5 to well over 150 the last three years.  The Green Machine youth program has also greatly improved over the past few years and it looks as if Faribault will once again be ready to compete for Big Nine, Section, and State championships. Coach Babcock is also coaching at the Faribault Middle School and is working hard to improve numbers that will one day represent Faribault at the State Tournament.

Tom Dolezal (Danube ’77). Tom began his association with Faribault Wrestling when his youngest son, John, became interested in wrestling.  He and his wife Val became valuable members of the Faribault Wrestling Club assisting with everything from tournaments to fundraising.  Today, both are still very active in club fundraising efforts and, even though, Johnny has graduated (In 1998, John finished his career with the third most wins in the history of Faribault Wrestling with 140.  He remains in the top five today), Coach Tom can still be found shouting encouragement to those who put on the green singlet.  Tom helped coach the Freestyle program from 1989-1994, Middle School from 1994-2006, High School from 1994-1997, and the Youth since 2007

Coach Dolezal serves as the Youth Wrestling Coach and lives in Lonsdale with his wife Val.   

John Frank (Wabasso ‘00).  Frank was hired at the Middle School as the new Physical Education teacher.  This addition should assist greatly in transforming the Middle School program back to one of the best feeder programs in the state.  Coach Frank will join Babcock and the Middle School, then join the High School staff in January to assist at the Varsity and Junior Varsity level. 

Frank was a three-time state place-winner (5^th in 1998, 3^rd in 1999, and winning the State Championship in 2000 at 189 for Wabasso High School).  He recorded 126 career wins.  A standout in football as well, Frank went on to college and played ball for NDSU and was the starting fullback for the Bison. 

After college, John was hired at Morris Hancock Area High School and was named the Tiger Head Wrestling Coach.  He also spent one year at Little Falls (07-08).  Following his wife to Owatonna (she is employed by Federated Ins.) last year, John assisted with the Owatonna Youth Program.  Coach Frank is happy to be in Faribault and looks forward to a season on the mat with the Falcons.  He and his wife Ann, reside in Owatonna with their children, Johnny and Jaycee.

Steve Gare (Faribault ’84) competed for the Falcons during the early 80’s, Gare was a member of three Big Nine Championship teams during his time with the Falcons.  An avid fan of the sport, Gare wanted to become more involved and therefore began assisting with the Youth Club Program in 2005.  He has since moved to the Middle School level in 2007 and frequently works out with the big boys in the varsity room after the Middle School season concludes.

Gare enjoys coaching and is proud of the fact that his daughter, Erika, is Faribault’s first female wrestler to earn a varsity letter.  Steve is also a coach for Faribault’s Rugby Team.

Gare works at Malt-o-Meal companies as a Maintenance Technician and lives in Faribault with his wife, Misae, and daughters, Maiya and Erika   

Chad Gunhus (Faribault ’93) another member of Faribault’s All-time Win Club.  Gunhus was as technical in his style as he was in his ability.  Gunhus captained the 1993 team that won the Regional Championship and won the Team Consolation State Championship.  Chad also represented Faribault on the individual level, representing Region 1AA as its champion, and claimed All-State honors as he finished his final season as a State Runner-up at 130 lbs.  For his efforts, his team voted him MVP.

Gunhus went on to compete for Mankato State and was part of a National Runner-up team in 1995.  He began his coaching career in Faribault during the 2007-08 season.  Gunhus currently resides in Burnsville and works for the Burnsville Parks in maintenance.   

Jeremy Jirele (Owatonna ’98), a former standout from rival Owatonna High School, Jeremy was a 129-match winner and All-State athlete for the Huskies, finishing as a State Runner-up at 145 pounds in 1998.  Jirele also served as team captain of the 1998 State Championship team.  Jirele competed in the National High School Championships, finishing 2-2 and was also selected to represent Team Minnesota in the All-Star series against Team Wisconsin. 

Jeremy went on to wrestle for powerhouse Augsburg College where he was a two-time national qualifier and part of three NCAA Championships teams.  Jeremy was also a three-time NWCA All-American.  Jeremy was named the Head Coach of Blooming Prairie out of college and was with the team until 2008.  Last season, he coached at Medford High School.  Coach Jirele works for Faribault Energy Park &

John Roach (Faribault ’82) a member of the famed 1982 wrestling team, which has been regarded as one of the best teams in the history of Faribault Wrestling.  The team won the Big Nine championship, Region 1AA championship, and represented us at the State Tournament where they were crowned Consolation champions.  Roach also won an Individual Regional title and competed in the ’82 State Tournament.

Roach began coaching the Falcons in 2007, the same year his oldest son Brandon was a senior for the Falcons at 145 lbs.  John resides in Faribault with his wife Brenda, daughters Colleen and Alanna.  Brandon, and oldest daughter Dana, are both students at UM-Duluth.

John Ryan (Faribault ’93) an All-Conference wrestler for the Falcons, Coach Ryan was also a Individual State Qualifier at 140 lbs.  Ryan is also a member of Faribault’s All-Time Win Club.  He was elected captain of the 1993 Team that won the Region 1AA Championship and led his team to a State Consolation Championship.

Coach Ryan was a big part of Faribault success during the early and mid 90’s, first as a standout athlete then as a coach.  Ryan began his Faribault coaching career in 1994, as he joined Armbruster at the Youth level and then moved into working with the Middle and High School kids in the Freestyle Program.  Working with three different levels at 100 kids each level, Coach Ryan offered excellent technique and assisted in challenging his athletes to attain new heights.  Ryan stepped down in 1998, but again, joined Faribault Wrestling in 2006 as he served as an assistant coach at the High School and became a board member of the Faribault Wrestling Club with significant contributions to the annual golf tournament and fundraising.

Ryan lives in Faribault with his wife Jenny and daughter Megan.  He owns his own electric company business (Lighthouse Electric Inc.) and serves as a Master Electrician.       

Dave Wieber (St. Cloud Cathedral ’84), came to Faribault in 1990 as a Physical Science Teacher and began his coaching career in 1993-94 season.  Wieber is a member of a staff that has coached two Big Nine Championships teams, four Section Championship teams, and State Tournament teams that have placed 5^th in 1993, 5^th in 1994, 3^rd in 1995, and 3^rd in 1996.  He has assisted in coaching 25 Individual Section champs, 51 State Entrants, and 31 All-State athletes.  Of the 31 All-State athletes, 13 of those have wrestled for Individual State Championships with eight claiming the top prize. 

As a three-sport athlete himself (football, wrestling, and track), Wieber understands the importance of being active and involved.  Not only is Dave a member of the wrestling coaching staff but also heads the Faribault Track Program since 2000, after serving as assistant since 1990.  Wieber was named Assistant Coach of the Year in 1996, and named Section 1AA Head Coach of the Year in 2007.

Dave lives in Faribault with wife, Ann, and daughters, Alison and Meredith.