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Feb. 20—GRAND FORKS — Grand Forks Red River alum John Basting went out on top at the North Dakota state boys wrestling tournament, winning a state championship at 145 pounds as a senior in 2006.
At the time, Basting was the state's all-time wins leader with a record of 231-47.
This weekend, Basting, now 38, returns to the Fargodome for the state tournament for the first time since winning a state championship. This time, he's being inducted into the North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame.
"It's an honor," Basting said. "There are a lot of things that go on in life — high school, college, kids, family — and wrestling was a large component of my life through college. It's an honor to get in but it's also a great opportunity to get back and reconnect with people who were large, guiding components that shaped me as a person today."
Basting was a five-time state place winner, finishing fourth, third, third, second and first. He was also a two-time Fargo National All-American, a High School Nationals runner-up and a Cadet World Team alternate.
Among those Basting is excited to reconnect with is former Red River coach Bruce Moe, who Basting credits with presenting the idea of attending an Ivy League school. Moe told Basting "don't get a B" and Basting graduated Red River with a 4.0 grade-point average and attended Cornell, where he was a starter on the wrestling team.
Basting said wrestling was a key factor in success later in life.
"It was highly important," he said. "It was something that shaped how I approached the classroom and work today ... having a certain level of grit. I don't think they were the only guiding principles but athletics was a great base and a necessary base. Would I be where I am today without it? Absolutely not. It helped me go to Cornell and graduate from Cornell. Years later, that is still one of my main networks."
Basting, whose brother Phil Basting also won four state championships for Red River, graduated in 2010 from Cornell with a minor in Real Estate and a concentration in Investment Banking and Finance.
Currently, Basting is a Senior Vice President of Investments at Cain, a private equity real estate firm in New York City.
He lives in Bronxville, N.Y., with his wife and two kids.
Basting is entering the Hall of Fame along with Belcourt's Derrick Dixon, West Fargo's Jared Franek, Minot's Gene Krebs, South Border's Junior Nolz, Oakes' Erik Loepp and Cavalier's Ryan Bachman.
Bachman was a four-time state champion and five-time state placer from 1994 to 1998.
Continue reading...
At the time, Basting was the state's all-time wins leader with a record of 231-47.
This weekend, Basting, now 38, returns to the Fargodome for the state tournament for the first time since winning a state championship. This time, he's being inducted into the North Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame.
"It's an honor," Basting said. "There are a lot of things that go on in life — high school, college, kids, family — and wrestling was a large component of my life through college. It's an honor to get in but it's also a great opportunity to get back and reconnect with people who were large, guiding components that shaped me as a person today."
Basting was a five-time state place winner, finishing fourth, third, third, second and first. He was also a two-time Fargo National All-American, a High School Nationals runner-up and a Cadet World Team alternate.
Among those Basting is excited to reconnect with is former Red River coach Bruce Moe, who Basting credits with presenting the idea of attending an Ivy League school. Moe told Basting "don't get a B" and Basting graduated Red River with a 4.0 grade-point average and attended Cornell, where he was a starter on the wrestling team.
Basting said wrestling was a key factor in success later in life.
"It was highly important," he said. "It was something that shaped how I approached the classroom and work today ... having a certain level of grit. I don't think they were the only guiding principles but athletics was a great base and a necessary base. Would I be where I am today without it? Absolutely not. It helped me go to Cornell and graduate from Cornell. Years later, that is still one of my main networks."
Basting, whose brother Phil Basting also won four state championships for Red River, graduated in 2010 from Cornell with a minor in Real Estate and a concentration in Investment Banking and Finance.
Currently, Basting is a Senior Vice President of Investments at Cain, a private equity real estate firm in New York City.
He lives in Bronxville, N.Y., with his wife and two kids.
Basting is entering the Hall of Fame along with Belcourt's Derrick Dixon, West Fargo's Jared Franek, Minot's Gene Krebs, South Border's Junior Nolz, Oakes' Erik Loepp and Cavalier's Ryan Bachman.
Bachman was a four-time state champion and five-time state placer from 1994 to 1998.
Continue reading...
