Former Bulldog wrestler earns Hall of Fame nod
—Courtesy photo Former Sandpoint wrestler Jared Lawrence, pictured right against Jamill Kelly during the 2004 Olympic Team Trials at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, was recently inducted into the University of Minnesota Hall of Fame.
SANDPOINT — Former Sandpoint four-time All-State wrestler and four-time All-America wrestler Jared Lawrence was honored recently with enshrinement into the University of Minnesota’s “M” Club Hall of Fame, one of 11 former Golden Gopher athletes as part of the Class of 2016.
Lawrence wrestled for Minnesota from 2000-2003, helping turn the program into a national powerhouse. Lawrence won the 2002 national championship at 149 pounds, was a runner up in 2003, was a two-time Big Ten champion, and posted a 130-23 career record while contributing to three consecutive Big Ten team titles for the Gophers.
On the national stage, Lawrence helped Minnesota win the first two national titles in program history and — along with teammate and fellow Hall-of-Famer Luke Becker — became the first Gopher to be both a four-time All-American and an individual national champion.
Jared’s younger brother Brett Lawrence was also a rare four-time state champion while at Sandpoint, from 1993-96, while Jared won his from 1995-98. Both went on to wrestle for Minnesota.
After just missing out on a spot on the Olympic team at 66 KG during the 2004 U.S. Trials, Jared was a graduate assistant coach for four years at Minnesota from 2004-08, and is now the owner of the highly-successful Pinnacle Wrestling School in the Twin Cities.