Dennis Koslowski - Inducted 2010
As a Doland High wrestler, Koslowski never made it to the state finals. That didn't stop him from reaching the pinnacle in his sport, as he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009.
Koslowski was the first U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler to win two Olympic medals, winning a silver medal in 1992 in Barcelona, Spain, and a bronze in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea, both in the 220-pound weight class. He was the first U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler to medal at an Olympics that wasn't marred by boycott. In 1992 in Barcelona, Koslowski lost in the finals in overtime to world champion Hector Millian of Cuba; he beat defending champion Andrzej Wronski of Poland in his opening match. In 1988 in Seoul, Koslowski was joined on the U.S. team by twin brother Duane, who placed eighth at heavyweight. After the '88 Games, Dennis gave up wrestling but stayed close to the sport as the Greco-Roman coach of the U.S. national team in 1989-90. Believing he could beat most of the wrestlers he coached, he came out of retirement and made the 1992 team. He was an Olympic team alternate in 1984.
Koslowski competed in the world championships five times. He lost in overtime in the finals in 1987; he was sixth in 1983 and ?85 and seventh in '86 and '91. He was a four-time World Cup silver medalist and he won seven USA Wrestling Greco-Roman national titles.
At Minnesota-Morris, he was a three-time All-American and a two-time NCAA Division III national champion. He also was a three-time all-conference offensive lineman in football.
After graduating from Morris in 1982, he stayed in Minnesota for chiropractic school and began wrestling Greco-Roman, a style in which he'd never before competed. He won his first USA Wrestling national title in 1983.
At Doland, he placed third twice in the state Class B tournament.
Koslowski is a Twin Cities chiropractor. Since 1990, he has owned Koslowski Chiropractic, which has been the team chiropractor of the Minnesota Vikings since 2007 (he travels with the team).
