Training opportunities aplenty at Dubuque between Camps, RTC, growing women’s program
Photo: Dennis Hall (left), Wil Kelly (center), and Jon McGovern (right) are continuing to try to build student-athletes physically, mentally, and spiritually at Dubuque through various opportunities.
By Tristan Warner
Training opportunities are abounding at the University of Dubuque.
Between the plethora of summer camp offerings, the young but thriving women’s program, heading into just its third year of existence, and the addition of the Dubuque Regional Training Center (RTC), there is no shortage of opportunities for wrestlers of all ages, genders, and experience levels to make gains on and off the mats.
Starting with the camp system, the University of Dubuque Wrestling Team Camp, set for June 23-26, is yet another training opportunity as well as a chance for the coaching staff to recruit more prospects.
Designed for high school teams with personalized daily instruction and no shortage of competition in the form of daily dual meets, camp clinicians include Hall, McGovern and Kelly, as well as Grand View head coach Nick Mitchell, who has led the Vikings to 13 of the last 14 NAIA team titles, two-time World Team member Brady Koontz, and Jim Miller, who earned 10 NCAA DIII team titles as head coach at Wartburg.
Registration is also still open for three separate Train Like a Spartan Camps, set for June 7-9, June 14-16 and June 28-30, which are designed to “sharpen your skills, enhance your mindset, and provide a one-of-a-kind training experience with NCAA champions and college All-Americans from the University of Dubuque.
Click here for more information about Dubuque’s summer-camp system.
The Dubuque women’s wrestling program continued to flourish under the leadership of World champion, three-time Olympian and Olympic silver medalist Dennis Hall during the 2024-25 season.
Hall garnered American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Coach of the Year honors this postseason after leading two student-athletes, Alex Hofrichter and Shea Reisel, to NCWWC All-American honors. For her accomplishments, which included a NCWWC seventh-place finish, the highest of any women’s wrestler in the conference, Hofrichter was named A-R-C Most Valuable Performer.
Expressing his gratitude for the heights the young program has already reached in just two seasons, but the Spartan front man emphasized his optimism for the future above all else.
“Our numbers this year were a little lower than what I wanted, but we had girls that wanted to be here,” Hall said. “They were focused on getting better and doing the right things.
“We finished 17th in the country with both girls as AAs. We will continue to build numbers and get up to between 15-20 girls and hopefully break into the top 10 next year; that is the goal.”
While the Spartans were only able to compete in four dual meets this season, there was no shortage in competition opportunities for his wrestlers, as the Spartans women’s team competed in several tournaments including three Opens to begin the year and the Soldier Salute, Cliff Keen-Mike Duroe Invitational, the A-R-C Women’s Invitational and the Quad Cities D3 Invite.
Hall expects to continue to add hungry student-athletes to the roster, as both training and competition opportunities continue to increase for women’s wrestlers at Dubuque.
“It is hard because they want to know if they are going to have practice partners every day, but at Dubuque, the guys are super cool and will come work with the girls if need be. Some teams keep them separate, but we like to help each other out. We just need more girls on the team to keep building.
“Next year we are just looking forward to having a full team to be able to be competitive in dual meets and have more opportunities to have matches. Hopefully we will have a full roster.”
Dubuque head men’s coach Jon McGovern has been pleased with Hall’s leadership on the women’s side so far, stating, “It has been great so far. Dennis has brought in a great energy. We have guys and girls training for World and Olympic teams.
“We are bringing in girls with great character, chemistry, and competency. People aren’t jealous of each other but supportive of each other. People who are really happy for your brother or sister when they get first even if you got third. It is about sharpening each other.”
Perhaps the best news for prospective recruits, both on the men’s and women’s front, is the addition of the Dubuque RTC. With that, the Dubuque RTC recently announced the addition of incoming coach Wil Kelly, the former Loras College women’s wrestling head coach. Kelly was a former NCAA DIII champion and excelled in the international styles during his career, winning a Fargo national title in freestyle and reaching the finals in Greco-Roman.
“We now have the opportunity with the RTC for them to train year-round, both men and women,” McGovern said. “It is critical and almost essential to have one. There weren’t many RTC clubs when I was at Iowa, but it gave guys the opportunity to train with guys at a higher level. If you don’t have one, how are you training guys to be the best they can be?
“We have guys and girls training all year-round. We are just trying to raise money to be able to keep and build that RTC. You got guys representing America on the Senior level here at Dubuque.”
Kelly also believes in the RTC structure and what it can do for student-athletes at Dubuque.
“The Dubuque RTC is really a dream job for me,” Kelly said. “I get to be involved with Senior-level athletes and prepare them internationally helping them prepare to make World Teams. I think RTCs are an amazing opportunity for athletes who want to compete internationally and are awesome for the universities that go that path.”
“The position comes with its own set of challenges. It is a great opportunity to come at it from a supportive role, to support both men’s and women’s programs. I am super excited for the opportunity.”
Both Hall and McGovern believe the foundation they strive to instill in both their men’s and women’s wrestlers will lead them to successful futures, no matter which roads they pursue.
“We are just trying to teach these kids who is in charge, and it isn’t us,” Hall explained. “We are all put on this earth to make it a better place. We are not worried about wins or losses. You can be what you want, but there will be sacrifices. These kids have a lot on their plate. We just want them to know who they are and who they want to be.”
McGovern added, “It is just really good for them to get the habits and the mindset down of loving the hard work. We are not just working hard but working for a purpose.”
