Messerli family honored for contributions to wrestling program

FAIRFIELD – The family of Ralph and Linda Messerli was presented with a plaque at Friday’s football game to commemorate the new wrestling facility being named in their honor.

Ralph and Linda, and their three children David, Darin and Dana, appeared on the track at Fairfield’s Trojan Stadium just before the start of the varsity game between the Trojans and the Mt. Pleasant Panthers. The public address announcer told the crowd about the accomplishments of each member of the family, their involvement in Fairfield High School, and what they’ve done in their careers.

Fairfield Activities Director Jeff Courtright presented the family with an engraved plaque bearing a picture of the five members of the family. That evening, the family entertained guests who visited the wrestling room. Several people who had Ralph as a wrestling coach came in from out of town for the dedication ceremony.

Ralph worked at the high school for 38 years as a counselor, wrestling and football coach, and was the high school principal for his final 25 years in the district. Linda worked at Pence Elementary School for 25 years as a teacher’s aide and elementary secretary. She was also a founding member of “Mat Mothers,” a support group for wrestlers to help cover their expenses.

After the couple retired in 2003, they remained active in organizations, including the committee responsible for remodeling the high school, together with Greg and June Lowenberg. That committee was responsible not just for the new wrestling facility but also other areas of the school including science, music, the foyer to the gymnasium and a new elevator.

The couple’s three children all said they were proud to see the wrestling facility named after their family.

“Our family has been devoted to wrestling for many years,” Dana said. “We’ve benefitted greatly from the program, so we’re honored to have this dedication.”

Dana, a 1986 FHS graduate, was a four-year letter-winner in gymnastics, and captain of the team and MVP her senior year. She took after her parents and became a teacher, too, first in private school and now at Marion Elementary Schools, where she also coaches mock trial.

Dana said her parents played a major role in her decision to enter the educational professional.

“It was something I was comfortable and familiar with, and I knew the benefits from working with kids,” she said. “When I was searching for a career in college, it was natural to gravitate to this. And I’m so glad I did because I love it.”

David, a 1981 FHS graduate, said Ralph was assistant principal when he was going through school. As assistant principal, Ralph was in charge of disciplining students.

“He never had to discipline me. I was the good kid,” David joked. “Some of my classmates who had to be disciplined weren’t always happy about it.”

David said his mother and father put so much time and effort into the wrestling program, and it’s nice to see the school district recognize their hard work.

“Mom started ‘Mat Mothers,’ and Dad was officiating,” said David. “He’d come to the wrestling room and wrestle with me and my classmates. He was a lot bigger than I was. I was a little guy.”

Ralph was a wrestling official at the high school and collegiate levels for 44 years, and he was even inducted into the State of Iowa’s Wrestling Officials’ Hall of Fame.

As a member of the FHS wrestling team, David wrestled varsity all four years and was a state qualifier his senior year, placing in the Top 8 in his weight class. After graduating from UNI, he returned to Fairfield to teach and be its wrestling coach. His tenure as head coach preceded that of Jeff Courtright, so it was fitting for Courtright to be the one to hand the family the engraved plaque Friday night.

“Jeff was my assistant at the time,” David said. “My dad gave me advice on things the kids needed to do because he’d come to the meets, and gave me advice about how to motivate kids, since every kid needs to be motivated differently. We’d watch tape together. He was a big supporter of the wrestling program. I loved seeing my parents at meets wearing Trojan colors.”

Darin, a 1983 FHS graduate, wrestled and played football in high school, including two trips to the state tournament in wrestling. Given how involved his parents were in wrestling, he said there was “never a doubt” that he and his brother would join the team.

When Darin was a boy, Ralph coached wrestling at Parsons College, so the Messerli children got to meet college wrestlers.

“It was quite the experience. We knew the wrestlers, and they were really good to us,” Darin said.

Darin became a teacher and a coach, too, and spent most of his career coaching wrestling, football and track in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where he and his family have lived for 34 years.

“Our parents told us to do whatever we needed to do to be successful,” Darin said. “I knew I wanted to coach because of the relationships you build with families.”

Darin said that, like his brother, he got a lot of coaching advice from Dad.

“We spent many nights on the phone after each dual or tournament,” Darin said. “He used to come down and watch my kids wrestle.”

Darin said he’s thoroughly impressed with the new wrestling facility that bears his family’s name. When he was in wrestling, the team had to use the girls’ gym, so they had to roll up the mats after each practice.

“It was cold all the time,” Darin said. “Now the facility these kids have is outstanding.”

Ralph and Linda said they wanted to recognize two groups that should share the honor of the dedication, and those were the all the wrestlers who have come through FHS and their parents, who sacrificed their time and money.

“We look to all of them as part of this family honor, and we genuinely thank them for all of their support throughout their school years,” the couple said.

Ralph and Linda thanked Jeff Courtright, the school administrators, the school board and FHS faculty and staff and the student body who come out to support the wrestling program.

“We have really enjoyed the opportunity for our whole family to grow and prosper here,” the couple said. “We hope we have given back as much or more to our community. We are very appreciative of this honor you have bestowed on our family. It is a very uplifting and enjoyable experience for all of us.”

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com