Jason Christenson ‘91

Jason Christenson '91
Wrestling

Christenson is on a path to rank among the most successful high school wrestling coaches in Iowa history.

As a wrestler for the Dutch, he posted a 50-20-4 record over his final two seasons. He was third in the conference at 190 pounds in 1989-90 and third at 177 in 1990-91, gaining a berth in the 1991 NCAA Division III tourney.

He spent six seasons as head coach at Collins-Maxwell-Baxter High School and three at Oskaloosa before taking over at Southeast Polk in 2002. His Rams are the reigning Class 3A state team champions and took the state dual meet crown as well. The squad also took both state crowns in 2013. For the past four seasons, his squad has also been ranked in the top-20 nationally, reaching the No. 7 spot in the U.S. this year. Since 2009, at the state tournament Southeast Polk has claimed two titles, two second-place showings and two fourth-place finishes. Christenson's squads have made 10 state dual meet appearances with seven top-four finishes.

A past president of the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association, Christenson has a 386-104-6 dual record, ranking among the top 15 winningest coaches in state history. He was named the Iowa Wrestling Federation coach of the year in 2001, 2008, 2010 and 2012 and was the Class 3A coach of the year in 2001 and 2012. The Open Mat named him the Midwest Coach of the year in 2012.

Also active in the sport beyond high school competition, Christenson was a USA Wrestling team leader for the 2013 Junior World Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria and he’s served as junior director of the Iowa Wrestling Federation for USA Wrestling. He was tabbed the USA Wrestling National Developmental coach of the year in 2007. Christenson was also named Cadet Pan American Games head Greco-Roman coach for 2015.

In 2013 he was named the inaugural winner of the Bob Siddens High School Coaching Excellence Award by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.