La Crosse, Wis. - Two former University of Wisconsin-La Crosse head coaches and a former student-athlete are set to be inducted into the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division III Hall of Fame Thursday, March 9.  Former head coaches Tim Fader and Greg Lonning along with wrestler Jeff O'Gara will be inducted at the Hall of Fame Banquet starting at 6 p.m. in the La Crosse Center Ballroom.  The induction ceremony will be part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships scheduled for Friday-Saturday, March 10-11 at the La Crosse Center. 

Brandon Novak (Saint John's University, Minn.) and Stef Sair (SUNY-Cortland) join Fader, Lonning and O'Gara in this year's induction class. 

Fader is in his second season as head coach at UW-Eau Claire after serving as an assistant coach at Wheaton College (Iowa). He was head coach at UW-Whitewater for 10 seasons, guiding the Warhawks to a second-place finish at the 2014 NCAA III Championships.  Fader was head coach at UWL from 1998-2004, leading the Eagles to a 94-22 (.810) duals record.  UWL captured the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship all six seasons under Fader as he was named the league's coach of the year three times (1998-99, 2000-01, 2001-12).  UWL had 26 individual conference champions under Fader with five WIAC Wrestler of the Year awards and two John Peterson WIAC Wrestler of the Meet selections at the league championships.  

The Eagles placed in the top-14 in all six seasons at the NCAA III Championship, finishing second in 2001, fourth in 2002, sixth in 2000, seventh in 2004 and eighth in 2003.  UWL had 21 NCAA III All-Americans under Fader, including three national championships.  The Eagles had 31 NWCA Academic All-Americas.  Fader served as an assistant coach at UWL for three seasons (1995-98) prior to be named head coach.   He was also an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota-Morris (1994-95), Oregon (Ill.) High School (1993-94) and Augustana College, Ill. (1991-93). 

Earning his bachelor's degree from Augustana (Ill.) in 1991 and master's degree from UWL in 1997, Fader was inducted into the Augustana (Ill.) Hall of Fame in 2011.  He went 124-39 in his collegiate career, was a three-time NCAA III qualifier and two-time College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) champion.  Fader placed fourth in 1990 and fifth in 1991 at 142-pounds at the national championships. He was a three-time NWCA Scholar-Athlete and two-time College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-American. 
 

Lonning served as UWL's head coach from 1992-98, compiling a dual record of 77-19. He led the Eagles to their first WIAC title in school history in 1993 while also capturing the crown in 1998.  UWL finished second four times (1994-97) at the conference championships under Lonning.  He led the Eagles to top-12 finishes in all six of his seasons as head coach, including a third-place finish 1998 and fourth-place showing in 1996.  UWL finished sixth in 1993 and 1994; eighth in 1997 and 12th in 1996. 

Named the 1993-94 WIAC Coach of the Year, Lonning coached 19 NCAA III All-Americans at UWL, including three national championship.  He coached 19 conference champions. Lonning was an assistant coach for three years at UWL before being named head coach. Prior to coming to UWL, Lonning coached at Central College (Iowa) for five years, serving as an assistant coach for two years before becoming head coach in 1986-87.  He led Central (Iowa) to 23-10 dual record and coached 10 All-Americans including the school's first national champion.  Lonning was selected the 1988-89 Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) Coach of the Year.

Lonning was a three-year letter winner at Luther College (Iowa) from 1980-83, earning two NCAA III All-America honors at 118-pounds.  He captured the national title in 1983. Lonning won two IIAC titles and was named the Most Valuable Wrestler at the 1982 All-Lutheran Tournament.  Inducted into the Luther (Iowa) Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994, Lonning earned his bachelor's degree in 1984. He earned his master's degree from UWL in 1991.

O'Gara wrestled at UWL from 1992-96, finishing with a career record of 111-14 with 58 wins by fall.  His 111 victories are tied for 10th in school history.  O'Gara earned three NCAA III All-America awards at 118-pounds, capturing the title in 1996 with an overall record of 34-0.  He is the only wrestler in school history to win the national title at 118-pounds.  O'Gara placed second at the 1994 NCAA III Championship and third in 1993. 

Named to the WIAC All-Time Team, O'Gara won the 118-pound title at the 1994 and 1996 WIAC Championship while finishing second in 1993. 

The native of Elroy, Wisconsin, O'Gara has been Luther's (Iowa) lead assistant coach since 1996-97. During his time at Luther (Iowa), the Norse have posted top-10 finishes at the NCAA III Championships nine times, had 45 All-Americans, and eight national champions. 

UWL wrestlers Brandon Penzkover (inducted in 2007), Jason Ott (2011) and Ryan Allen (2013) are also members of the NWCA Hall of Fame.

The NWCA Hall of Fame Awards Social is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. March 9 followed by the program beginning at 6:30 p.m.  Tickets are available for $10.00 at the door.