Four Panther standouts join Wrestling Hall of Fame

Four standout wrestler ranging from Creston’s first state finalist in 1972 to a two-time state champion in 2000 will be inducted into the Creston Wrestling Hall of Fame Nov. 16.

Honorees are Steve Harvey, Creston’s first state finalist in 1972; Dan Hayes, a state fourth-place finisher as a junior with a 29-5 record as a senior when he injured a knee before districts; 1986 state champion Randy Marlin, who was runner-up as a junior; and two-time state champion Andrew Hayes, a senior in 2000.

The event will be held at the Creston Eagles Club, starting with social hour (cash bar) at 4 p.m. Teams to be recognized at 5 p.m. will be from 1964, 1974, 1984, 1994, 2004 and 2014. Scholarships will also be announced prior to the steak/chicken dinner, followed by the Hall of Fame inductions. There will also be a silent auction and 50/50 raffle.

Tickets can be purchased at Hulett & Sons and Hartsock Insurance, or by calling John Walters (641-247-1984; Clint Hoffman 641-344-1071; Luke Baker (641-344-5601); Emmy Key (641-202-3136); or Chuck Hulett (641-202-2262).

Steve Harvey

Steve Harvey was a Hawkeye Seven Conference champion as a sophomore at 137 pounds in 1970 and was a district qualifier. He also won the league title at 138 pounds as a junior and placed third at districts, narrowly missing a state berth by a 2-1 score.

Harvey had a breakout senior season in 1971-72, again at 138 pounds. He was second in the conference tournament, came back to win the district tournament and became Creston’s first state finalist when he lost a 9-4 decision in the finals to Bernie Hanson of Humboldt.

Harvey was also a standout football player for Creston. His father, Darrell “Red” Harvey was a member of Creston’s 1936 state basketball team, and his uncle Herm Harvey was on the 1939 state championship team.

Dan Hayes

Hayes, who placed fourth at state as a junior and a state qualifier as a sophomore, was very close to being a four-time state qualifier for the Panthers. He placed third at districts as a 105-pound freshman, and compiled a 29-5 record during a senior season that included a knee injury suffered just before the district tournament. He placed third at that tournament competing with the injury.

After qualifying for state as a sophomore in 1972, Hayes came back with an outstanding junior season at 119 pounds. He reached the state semifinals with a 30-0 record before he was derailed by three-time state champion Mark Stephenson of Britt. Hayes placed fourth.

Wrestling at 126 pounds as a senior, Hayes had tournament losses only to Greenfield two-time state champ Randy Swoyer and two-time state champion Randy Nielsen of Algona, who would become an All-American at Iowa State. Hayes won the Hawkeye Eight Tournament and sectional titles before placing third at districts with the knee injury.

After more than 30 years of Creston wrestling, Hayes trailed only Jeff Abel in wins (100) and pins (48).

Southwestern Community College re-started wrestling as a sport in 1975-76 and Hayes qualified for the National Junior College Tournament in both 1976 and 1977 at 126 pounds. In 1976 he won three of four matches at nationals, losing a close match in the “blood round” of consolation to miss a chance to place.

Hayes coached youth wrestling in Creston for many years and was asked to carry the Iowa flag at the Tulsa AAU Nationals in 2000 as the coach of the team with the most Iowa finalists. His sons Beau and Boone also wrestled at the state level for the Panthers. Beau was a state qualifier in 1996 and Boone became the second four-time state placewinner for Creston in 2004.

Randy Marlin

Randy Marlin showed potential as a 126-pound freshman, placing fourth at districts in 1983. A year later he qualified for state at 126.

Marlin began an incredible two-year run as a junior at 132 pounds, going 34-3-1 as state runner-up. He lost a 14-7 decision to two-time state champion Pat Hamilton of Emmetsburg.

He won the 1986 state tournament at 132 pounds with a 31-1 record. Marlin’s only loss was to three-time state champion Steve Hamilton of Emmetsburg at 138 pounds at the Eagle Grove Tournament.

At state, Marlin won by a fall, won 9-5 over Eagle Grove previous state champ Rick Coltvet and topped Glenwood’s Mike Moreno 9-4. Moreno went on to become an All-American at Iowa State. Marlin sailed to a 21-5 win over Chris Hupke of Cherokee for the title.

Marlin continued wrestling while serving in the United States Marines. He was a member of the All-Marine wrestling squad in 1988. After starting a family, he helped with coaching local youths in tournaments across several states.

Jake and Trevor, sons of Randy and Angie, had stellar careers for Creston wrestling. Jake became southwest Iowa’s first four-time state champion and Trevor was a three-time state qualifier. Trevor wrestled at Graceland University before serving in the United States Air Force. Jake began his collegiate career as a redshirt at Iowa before transferring to North Iowa Area Community College, where he was a national runner-up.

Randy’s daughter, Chloe, was a wrestling manager and younger daughter Evy is a wrestler for Creston, qualifying for state last year as a junior.

After serving his country, Randy has made a career as a locomotive engineer for Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Railroad.

Andrew Hayes

Andrew Hayes, a 2000 graduate, wrestled varsity most of his freshman season at 140 pounds and qualified for the district tournament.

He place sixth at state at 145 pounds as a sophomore, which paved the way for a two-year run as state champion. He took the 152-pound crown as a junior with a 41-3 record, winning 8-2 over Nick Thurn of Mount Vernon in the finals. Teammate Dylan Long was his second state title earlier that evening, with Hayes and Long becoming the first pair of state champions in the same year for the Panthers.

As a returning state champion, Hayes was ranked second at 160 pounds as a senior behind undefeated junior Paul Bradley of South Tama. They met in the state finals. Hayes built a 4-3 lead and rode out Bradley for the third period to take the one-point decision. Bradley won the title the following year and became a two-time All-American for the Iowa Hawkeyes at 184 pounds.

A couple of months after the state tournament, Hayes and Creston teammate Michael Mickey won national AAU titles at Tulsa, Oklahoma, at 160 and 135 pounds, respectively.

Andrew is the son of the late Bill Hayes and Janet Hayes, and the father of a son, Silas, and a daughter, Willa.

(John Walters contributed to this story.)