Former Basic High wrestling coach headed to NIAA Hall of Fame

News file photo

Jim Duschen talks to his wrestlers during a practice before his retirement from coaching Basic High School’s wrestling team in 2007.

By Jared Harmon (contact)

Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 | 11:48 a.m.

Basic’s new wrestling coach working on getting young team up to speed (12-18-2008)

High school sports section

Eight figures from the world of Nevada high school athletics will be inducted into the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the Orleans Arena on Feb. 26.

The class of 2009 includes coaches Larry Burgess, Jim Duschen, Bruce Momsen, Carol Leavitt, Martin Taggart and Evan Wilson as well as administrators Bruce Miller and Aldeane Ries.

Duschen, a captain of the 1968 Iowa State NCAA championship team and an alternate for the 1972 Olympics, coached Basic High School to three state titles in 29 years at the helm of the program before retiring in 2007.

"It's nice to think of some of the great coaches and educators I'll be following into there," Duschen said. "I'm very appreciative that they felt I was worthy. It's nice to see what people think about what I've tried to put into the sport."

This will be Duschen's third hall of fame induction as he is already a member of the East High School Hall of Fame and Glen Brand Wrestling Hall of Fame in Iowa and the Nevada Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

"All those years of coaching I never thought about anything like this," he said. "I was just taking care of business."

Duschen said being elected with Larry Burgess, coach of the Basic's cross country teams for 26 years and eight time Southern Nevada 4A Coach of the Year, added to the honor of induction.

"Coach Burgess set the standard for all coaches, but especially in track and cross country," Duschen said. "He's a legend in the area and I'm glad we can go into the Hall of Fame together."

Since 1992 the NIAA, the governing body for high school sports, has been honoring coaches, athletes and administrators who have made a significant contribution to youth athletics.

"(The inductees) have made a positive impact on the young men and women of our state in some very important ways and have helped to make many of their dreams come true," said Eddie Bonine, Executive Director of the NIAA in a press release. "This is an exceptional class we are very pleased to honor."