Tracy Dahl
Class of 1989

A 1989 graduate of Anoka High School, Tracy Dahl was a two-time Cross Country State Champion, placing first her junior and senior years. Tracy is a two-time Track Champion, winning the 3200 meter run and was a member of the 3200 meter relay team. She also finished second in the 1600 her senior year with a time of 4:56.14. She has the 17th and 16th fastest times in the 1600 meter run and 3200 meter run, respectively. Tracy was a four-time letter winner in both cross country and track and won the prestigious Athena Award.

After high school, Tracy competed at the University of Iowa on a scholarship. In 2010, she was inducted into the University of Iowa Athletic Hall of Fame. Tracy competed all four years of her collegiate career as a standout in both cross country and track. She is an eight-time varsity letter winner and became Iowa's first ever Big Ten Women's Cross Country Individual Champion in 1992. At the 1992 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, Tracy won the 5000-meter event with one of the fastest times recorded in the nation. She then successfully defended the title in 1993. In addition to being a two-time NCAA Champion in the 5000 meters, Tracy was a five-time Big Ten Champion and a two-time Iowa Female Athlete of the Year Award winner.

Tracy now resides in St. Michael, Minnesota.

Dave Hazewinkel
Class of 1962

A 1962 graduate of Anoka High School, David Hazewinkel was a high school state Wrestling Champion his senior year. After high school, David wrestled at St. Cloud State. David went on to be a member of the World Team for four years. He competed on the U.S. Olympic Team in 1968 and 1972.

Coach David Hazewinkel was a member of two U.S. Olympic Teams, four World Teams, and six consecutive World and Olympic Teams. Coach Dave was the first American to win a Silver Medal in Greco-Roman World Wrestling and the first American to win two Medals in Greco-Roman World Wrestling. He has won ten National Titles and was voted the “Outstanding Wrestler” of the nation.

He, along with his twin brother, Jim, have placed 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th in world competition, won fourteen Masters National Titles in Folk, Free, Greco, and Sombo, crowned All-Army and inter-Service Champions, and were assistant coaches at the West Point Military Academy. Coach Dave carried the Olympic Torch in 1996 when the Olympic Games were held in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Dave and Jim are the first brothers and twin brothers to be on a Greco-Roman World wrestling team at the same time; the first brothers and twin brothers to be on a Greco-Roman Olympic wrestling team at the same time; hold the longest streak record for brothers and twin brothers for being on six consecutive World and Olympic teams at the same time (1967-1972); the first brothers and twin brothers to be voted “Outstanding Wrestler” in a National Tournament at the same time in Greco-Roman wrestling (1971.)

James Hazewinkel
Class of 1962

Jim Hazewinkel is a 1962 graduate of Anoka Senior High. His senior season, Jim finished as a Minnesota State runner-up at both 95 and 103 lbs. He attended St. Cloud State, where he was a three-time Conference Champion and a four-time National NAIA Champion. Jim served as co-captain of the St. Cloud State wrestling team in 1964-65 and 1966-67.

Jim was a member of the 1966, 1967, 1969, 1970 and 1971 US World Team. In addition, he was on both the 1968 and 1972 U.S. Olympic Teams. Jim is a six-time Masters National Champion: Folkstyle, Freestyle Greco-Roman and Sombo. Jim has coached for over 41 years. Some of his stops have included Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, Pensacola Christian College and West Point. In 1974, Jim served as the Assistant Coach for the U.S. Greco-Roman World Team that competed in Poland.

Jim, along with his brother Dave, holds the longest streak for brothers and twin brothers for being on six consecutive world Olympic teams at the same time in Greco-Roman wrestling (1967-1972). He is also a member of the NAIA Wrestling Hall of Fame, St. Cloud State University Hall of Fame, Minnesota State Wrestling Hall of Fame, and National Wrestling Hall of Fame for "Lifetime Service to Wrestling."

After building a nationally-ranked wrestling program at Pensacola Christian College, two-time Olympic wrestlers James and David Hazewinkel headed up the Marion Military Institute (MMI) Wrestling Program in Marion, Alabama. Their past record of 16 Conference Titles, 9 National Team Titles, 12 Individual NCWA National Champions, and an impressive 45 NCWA All-Americans will certainly boost the MMI program to the next level. 

Jim is currently coaching wrestling with his brother at Marion Military Institute, in Marion, Alabama.

Garth Lappin
Coach

Garth Lappin grew up in northern Iowa and wrestled for the wrestling power, Cresco High School. After serving in the South Pacific with the US Navy in World War II, Garth wrestled for the University of Minnesota. He was the Big Ten Champion in 1948, a NCAA National runner-up, a two-time All American in 1947 and 1949, and team captain in 1948 and 1949.

Garth began his teaching and coaching career at Anoka High School in 1950. Garth coached nine seasons where his teams accumulated a 102-17 win-loss record. He coached two Minnesota State championship teams and 16 individual State champions.

Garth was elected to the Minnesota High School Coaches Hall of Fame, United States Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009 and the University of Minnesota Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.

Garth was a tireless promoter of Anoka and Minnesota wrestling. He arranged for the USSR to wrestle the USA at Anoka High School as well as served as the tournament director when he brought the 1972 United States Olympic Wrestling trials to Anoka. Garth gave back for decades working with multiple wrestling activities at the state level.

Garth’s 36-year career with the Anoka Hennepin School District #11 began as a teacher and concluded as Director of Secondary Curriculum. Garth was chosen as the principal to open both Coon Rapids Junior and Senior High Schools. Garth was dedicated to improving the educational institutions in the Anoka/Coon Rapids area. He was committed to his students and fellow staff members. One example was his service for 25 years on the Board of the Harlan R. Thurston Foundation. Garth passed away at the age of 89 in 2010.

Richard K. Sorenson
Class of 1942
Medal of Honor Recipient

Richard K. Sorenson, a 1942 graduate of Anoka High School, wanted to join the military at the age of 17, but at the time his parents did not allow it. After the football season in 1942, Richard enlisted in the Marine Corps. In January of 1944, he was sent to the Marshall Islands attached to the Fourth Marine Division. Richard was with a machine gun battalion that landed on Namur Island. Richard Sorenson, along with five other marines, were defending their position, when an enemy grenade was tossed into the shell-hole they were in. Richard threw himself on the grenade, taking the impact of the explosion, and thus saved the lives of his fellow marines. The grenade fragments did significant damage to his body. While still recovering from his wounds, he was presented the Medal of Honor on July 19, 1944 by Major General Joseph C. Fagan.

After being separated from the Marine Corps in 1946, Richard went to work for the Veterans Administration. In 1947, Richard enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve. In 1948, he enrolled at St. John’s University in Collegeville. While studying Business, he met his future wife of 55 years, Mildred (Milli). During the Korean War, Richard was recalled to active duty as a Marine Corps Recruiter. In 1955, Richard returned to civilian life, again working for the Veterans Administration in Minneapolis. In 1967, he moved to Southern California, where he was promoted to the Division Chief of the Veterans Service Department. In 1978, he transferred to Reno, Nevada as Director of Veteran’s Affairs Department. Richard passed away on October 8, 2004 in Reno, Nevada and is buried at Fort Snelling Cemetery.

Private Richard K. Sorenson, United States Marine Corps Reserve:

“For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with an assault battalion attached to the 4th Marine Division during the battle of Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, on 1-2 February 1944. Putting up a brave defense against a particularly violent counterattack by the enemy during invasion on operations, Pvt. Sorenson and five other marines occupying a shell-hole were endangered by a Japanese grenade thrown into their midst. Unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his own safety, Pvt. Sorenson hurled himself upon the deadly weapon, heroically taking the full impact of the explosion. As a result of his gallant action, he was severely wounded, but the lives of his comrades were saved. His great personal valor and exceptional spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States