Class of 1998

Dave Klemm

Lincoln

Dave began his career at Lincoln High School wrestling for Hall of Famer Floyd Bee. Dave also participated in football. As a football player Dave was a member of a State playoff team where he earned 3rd Team All-State honors. As a wrestler Dave was a two time State Qualifier, placing third as a senior. In the Summer of 1976 he won the AAU Junior Nationals and the USA Federation Championship.

He wrestled at Eastern Illinois University for Hall of Famer Ron Clinton and was named Frosh of the Year by Amateur Wrestling News in 1977. At Eastern he had a record of 129-23. He owns the Most Falls records in a season at 24 and career at 54. Dave was a 3 time All American in Division II, placed 3rd and 2nd and winning the championship. He was also a runner-up in Division I. He was on a team that placed 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 3rd in Division II, along with Hall of Famers Geno Savegnago and Ralph McCausland, and coached by Hall of Famer Ron Clinton.  The 1979 team, as a unit, was inducted into Eastern Illinois University's Hall of Fame in 1997. Dave also finished 4th in the Midlands and was one of the few to ever defeat Bruce Baumgartner at any level. In 1979 Dave also competed in the World Championships.

Dave's coaching career began in 1980 as an assistant at Eastern Illinois University where he coached for 2 years. He was an assistant at Oklahoma for 2 years; an assistant at the University of Illinois for 3 years and then back to Eastern for 2 years while he also received his Master's Degree.  He became the head coach at MacMurray College from 1989-91 and in 1991 he became the head coach at Lincoln Community College. Since coming to Lincoln College he has produced 41 national qualifiers, 18 All Americans, of which 3 were champions. His career Dual Meet record is 54-34-1. His teams have finished 36th, 19th, 5th, 9th, 3rd and 6th in the Junior College National Tournament. He was voted Regional Coach of the Year in 1994, 1995 and 1996 and was voted National Coach of the Year by Junior Colleges in 1996.

Dave was inducted into the Eastern Illinois University Hall of Fame and also is in the Lincoln High School Hall of Fame.