Dalen Wasmund Named as New Apple Valley Wrestling Coach

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It was going to take a metaphorical heavyweight to replace Jim Jackson as the head coach for wrestling after he . Fourteen state titles, two national championships and 32 years of head coaching experience make for some pretty big shoes to fill.

Today, the school announced it had found a replacement it knows well in Dalen Wasmund, a 30-year veteran wrestling coach who has been an Apple Valley assistant for the last 12 years.

Among his many accolades, Wasmund was named the National Assistant Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2011 and has helped the Eagles to 11 state championships since 2000.

Wasmund started his coaching career as an assistant at Apple Valley in 1982 before taking over as the head coach for Eagan. Wasmund coached that program for 10 years before returning to Apple Valley in 2000.

According to an AVHS press release, Wasmund was a two-time state champion as a competitor while attending Worthington High School and finished with a career record of 117-4. He went on the wrestle at the University of Minnesota earning All-American honors twice and was also a member of two World Teams as well as being named an Olympic alternate twice.

“This is a really good fit,”  Apple Valley activities director Pete Buesgens was quoted as saying in the Pioneer Press. “He is really respected in the Minnesota wrestling world. This is really going to be a seamless transition.”

Wasmund has also taught in ISD 196 for the last 30 years and currently teaches both Algebra and Calculus classes at AVHS.