ONCE A WILDCAT, ALWAYS A WILDCAT

#FIGHT #FAMILY

like to create a video showcasing RF wrestling, spanning from kindergarten through high school.

Discover the home of champions at River Falls, one of the most distinguished wrestling programs in Wisconsin.

River Falls Wrestling: A Legacy of Excellence

River Falls Wrestling isn’t just a program; it’s a community legacy. Since the introduction of wrestling at River Falls High School in 1963 by coach Bill Wright, the program has flourished, developing a renowned non-profit youth organization and booster club in the 1970s.

Home of the Northern Badger Classic

For nearly two decades, River Falls has proudly hosted the prestigious Northern Badger Wrestling Classic, alongside birthing the WWF Kid’s Folkstyle State Tournament series established in 1988. These events showcase the depth of talent and commitment in our community.

Legends

River Falls has produced numerous wrestling luminaries, including National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductees Dave Amdahl, Dave Black, Paul Cudd, and Kirby Symes. Further celebrating our heritage, David Brandvold was recently honored in the 2022 Class of the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association George Martin Hall of Fame.

The Wildcat Hall of Fame honors our history through 12 former wrestlers, coaches, and enthusiasts who have significantly contributed to the sport. Notable members include DeWayne Benedict, Mike Benedict, Kevin Black, among others, and the unforgettable 1997 team, embodying the spirit and dedication that define River Falls Wrestling.

Achievements

National Recognition

RFHS graduates have earned significant honors on the national stage:

  • 5 NCAA Division 1 All-Americans honors: B. James, K. Black, T. Black, and Brandvold.
  • 4 NCAA Division 3 All-Americans honors: B. Cudd, S. Johnson, G. Pope, and N. Fuller.
  • USA Wrestling/AAU All-Americans: Numerous NAIA and USA Wrestling/AAU All-American honors have been achieved by our athletes.

State and Local Success

Our athletes have excelled at the WIAA state level with 20 individual state titles and 76 state placement medals from over 135 state qualifiers. Our team has also won 15 conference team titles and qualified for the WIAA Team State Tournament five times. Individual honors include:

  • Conference Champions: 127 individual conference championships with four athletes winning four titles, five with three titles, and 18 two-time conference champions.
  • Northern Badger Classic: Our wrestlers have won the team title three times and finished as runner-up six times. Vito Massa (2019, 2021) and Jenna Lawrence (2022, 2023) have won individual Northern Badger titles.

Jenna Lawrence
3x State Qualifier
2x Northern Badger Champion

Fostering, Promoting, and Encouraging Wrestling in our Community.