MP?s Jamy Ball inducted into wrestling hall of fame

Mt. Pleasant?s Jamy Ball has been inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Lifetime Service Honoree.

?That?s pretty exciting,? Ball said. ?When you coach that long, it?s icing on the cake.

?It?s a tribute to all the good kids I?ve had ? it doesn?t happen on its own,? he added. ?I?ve been in a couple good schools: Lake Mills and Mt. Pleasant.?

Ball was a wrestling head coach for 22 years. He started as an assistant coach at Lake Mills in 1983 and assumed the head coaching role in 1988. He moved to Mt. Pleasant in 2002 and coached until he retired from wrestling in 2009.

At Lake Mills, Ball had a dual meet record of 154-70. Four of his teams finished in the top three at the state dual team tournament, including the 2000 state champions. His 1998 team finished second, while his 1990 and 1997 teams placed third.

At the traditional state tournament, his 1990 team placed third and 2000 team placed sixth.

The 1997, 1998 and 1999 Lake Mills teams also earned North Iowa Conference titles under Ball.

Overall, Ball coached 50 state qualifiers at Lake Mills ? including 22 placewinners and four state champions.

He was a two-time Class 1A state coach of the year (1990 and 1997), a rare feat.

At Mt. Pleasant, Ball had a 57-81 record. He coached nine state qualifiers, four of whom took a spot on the medal stand.

Ball also worked with Mt. Pleasant Athletic Director Bob Jensen to design and construct the Panthers? wrestling room.

At both Lake Mills and Mt. Pleasant, Ball contributed to far more than the wrestling program.

He aided in football, track and field, softball and golf programs. He helped to start youth programs and youth tournaments.

He is still an exerise science teacher in the Mt. Pleasant Community School District and remains heavily involved in sports.

Ball has taken over head coaching duties of the Mt. Pleasant boys? golf team.

?I was looking for something to do after wrestling, and I like to golf,? Ball said. ?So when that position opened up, I took it.?

He is also a year-round strength coach at the high school, helping kids in and out of season, and even in the summer.

?I?m still busy,? Ball said. ?I also officiate middle school and JV wrestling matches. I go to a couple meets a week.?

He adds that by keeping wrestling committments limited to the weekdays, he has free weekends to spend with his family.

Ball and his wife, Beth, have three grown daughters: Jessica, Dana and Keely.

Talking about wrestling also brings to mind one of Ball?s other family memebers.

?My brother Tom just retired after about 30 years of coaching and teaching, and he was inducted into the hall of fame last year,? Ball said. ?It was neat to follow him in there.?