HOF Members

Northwood-Kensett

Athletic Hall of Fame

Members

Coach Maynard Midtgaard
Coach Maynard Midtgaard began his basketball coaching career at Northwood-Kensett in 1958 and continued through 1990, compiling an impressive 32-year record of 420 wins and 251 losses. Under his leadership, Northwood-Kensett teams captured 10 North Iowa Conference Championships and 4 District Titles. His squads made four appearances in the Class 1A State Basketball Tournament—in 1983, 1985, 1989, and 1990—with the 1983 team earning a 4th-place finish.

The 1985 team became part of state tournament lore, playing in a grueling 6-overtime quarterfinal matchup against Maple Valley—a record-setting game that still stands today. Coach Midtgaard was named District Coach of the Year in both 1983 and 1985.

In 1984, Coach Midtgaard was honored with his selection as coach of the Iowa Dr. Pepper All-Star Team. Later in his career, he experienced a memorable milestone: coaching his son Mark during the State Tournament appearances in 1989 and 1990. As a student-athlete, he represented Fertile High School in the 1953 Iowa State Basketball Tournament. His lifelong dedication to the sport culminated in 1991 with the highest recognition—his induction into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Basketball Hall of Fame.

Coach Robert “RJ” Weselmann
Coach Robert “RJ” Weselmann led Northwood-Kensett’s track and field program for 22 years (1968–1989), guiding his athletes to exceptional success throughout his tenure. His teams secured 10 Iowa High School State Championships in both individual and relay events and amassed over 80 first-place finishes at in-season track meets. The 1985 team placed 3rd in Class 1A—Northwood-Kensett’s highest team finish in school history.
Under Weselmann’s leadership, Northwood-Kensett also claimed the North Iowa Conference (NIC) Championship in 1985 and finished as NIC runners-up seven times. Despite regularly competing against significantly larger schools, the Vikings remained consistently competitive at the top of the standings. His program earned five district titles (1971, 1973, 1985, 1988, and 1989), further solidifying his impact on the sport.
Renowned for his strategic insight and coaching acumen, Weselmann had a remarkable ability to elevate individual talent while cultivating strong team unity. His unwavering dedication and inspirational leadership brought out the best in his athletes and established a lasting standard of excellence. He coached with a team-first mentality but emphasized that “every individual and every point mattered.” His legendary pre-meet bus meetings—where expectations were clearly set—remain unforgettable to the athletes who competed under his guidance.

2007 Boys Basketball State Championship Team
The Northwood-Kensett Vikings’ 2006–2007 boys basketball team delivered a remarkable season filled with talent, determination, and clutch performances, culminating in the Iowa High School Class 1A State Championship. The Vikings secured the school’s only IHSAA team state title to date with a thrilling 47–44 victory over Iowa Mennonite School.

During the regular season, the Vikings were Co-Corn Bowl Conference Champions with a 16–2 record. Leading the team was standout senior Dan Bestul, who earned multiple honors including:
·    All-State Academic
·    INA and Des Moines Register First Team All-State
·    Class 1A Championship Game Player of the Game
·    Unanimous First Team Corn Bowl Conference Selection

Cody Hanson was named Co-Captain of the Class 1A All-Tournament Team, earned Third Team INA All-State honors, and was also a Unanimous First Team Corn Bowl Conference selection.

Additional Corn Bowl Conference postseason honors included:
·    Jordan Cotter – Second Team
·    Matt Hengesteg – Honorable Mention

Key contributors in the state tournament run included Trevor Davidson, Jake Weisert, and Josh Walker, whose efforts helped secure the title.
Other valued members of the championship roster who were key cogs and teammates driving the success for the Vikings included
·    Jacob Krull
·    Jessie Davidson
·    Tyson Werner
·    Trent Midtgaard
·    Brock Johnson
·    Christian Burnes
·    Brian Nugent
·    Trey Gonzales

The team was guided by Head Coach Marty Cotter and Assistant Coach Joe Fierova, whose leadership helped etch this incredible chapter in Northwood-Kensett athletics history.

Brian Bestul (Class of 1969)
Brian Bestul stands among the most gifted three-sport athletes to walk the halls of Northwood-Kensett High School, leaving an indelible mark in football, basketball, and baseball throughout his Vikings career.

A three-year letter winner in football, Bestul showcased his versatility by playing multiple positions on both sides of the ball, including quarterback and defensive back. In baseball, he was a four-year letter winner and a three-year starter, consistently demonstrating leadership and athletic excellence.

Basketball, however, is where Bestul is most fondly remembered. As a three-year starter during an era when varsity rosters were typically reserved for juniors and seniors, he earned Honorable Mention North Iowa All-Conference honors as a sophomore. During his junior and senior seasons, Bestul elevated his game to earn First Team NIC All-Conference selections and was a commanding force on the court. He was recognized by the Des Moines Register with Honorable Mention All-State honors in both years.

Bestul continued his basketball journey playing collegiate basketball at the University of Northern Iowa, where he was named to the “Outstanding College Athletes of America” list during his senior year. He earned three varsity letters at UNI and was a two-time All North-Central Conference selection, earning high regard for his achievements both on and off the court.

Following college, Bestul played professional basketball in Australia for three years, extending his athletic legacy internationally. That legacy lived on through his son Dan, who was a member of Northwood-Kensett’s 2006–2007 State Championship team.

Mark Knudtson (Class of 1970)
As Northwood-Kensett’s first five-sport athlete, Mark Knudtson stands among the most versatile and accomplished athletes in Vikings history. Across Football, Basketball, Track, Golf, and Baseball, he consistently earned recognition as one of the North Iowa Conference’s finest.
In Football, Knudtson was the starting quarterback from his sophomore through senior years, earning Co-MVP and 2nd Team All-Conference honors as a senior. On the basketball court, he was a three-year starter and key contributor to the NIC Championship team that finished 17–3, earning 2nd Team All-Conference accolades. His excellence continued in his junior and senior years, where he was selected 1st Team All-Conference.
Spring sports highlighted Knudtson’s incredible range, as he competed in both Track and Golf simultaneously—a rare and demanding feat. He showcased his athleticism in Track by throwing discus, sprinting, and running long-distance events. As a senior, he qualified for the Iowa State Track Meet in Des Moines as part of two relay teams. Meanwhile, he maintained steady performance on the golf course, regularly shooting in the low 40s.
In Baseball, Knudtson was a three-year letterwinner and instrumental in leading the Vikings to three consecutive North Iowa Conference championships.

Heather Amundson-Musich (Class of 1991)
The track and cross-country accomplishments of Heather Amundson while at Northwood-Kensett are nothing short of legendary and may never be duplicated. Her athletic journey began in 1986, well before she wore the Viking High School logo, when she placed 2nd in the 800M at the U.S. Junior Olympics. The following summer, before entering her freshman year, she returned to the Junior Olympics and placed 4th in the 800M and 7th in the 1500M.
Once at Northwood-Kensett, Heather quickly established herself as a dominant force in cross country. She finished 2nd at the Iowa Class 1A State Meet in her freshman, sophomore, and junior years. In her senior year, she capped off her high school cross-country career with a long-awaited Class 1A State Championship.
Her track and field achievements are equally astonishing, totaling nine Class 1A State Championships. Heather won the 800M race in all four years of her high school career and claimed the 1500M title in her sophomore, junior, and senior years. She also anchored two championship relays: the Distance Medley Relay as a junior and the 4x800 Relay as a senior.
By the end of her high school career, Heather ranked 8th in all-time scoring in the history of the Girls Iowa Track and Field State Meet.
Adding to her accolades, she won the 800M at the prestigious Drake Relays High School division as a junior. Heather continued her running career after high school at the University of Minnesota, competing as part of the Golden Gophers’ Big Ten team. In 1995, upon meeting the minimum timeframe eligibility requirement, she was inducted into the Iowa Girls Track & Field Hall of Fame.

Brian Moretz (Class of 1991)
Brian Moretz was a dominant three-sport athlete at Northwood-Kensett, earning multiple state championships throughout his high school career.
In football, he was named First Team All-State as both a junior and senior, and earned All-American honors during his junior year. He was a three-time First Team All-NIC Conference selection as a sophomore, junior, and senior. Moretz still holds the Northwood-Kensett record for tackles, a testament to his exceptional performance as a defensive standout. After graduation, he played for the University of Northern Iowa, where he earned the role of team co-captain as a senior.
On the track team, Moretz earned one of his four individual state titles in the shot put as a sophomore. He placed fourth as a junior, and an injury prevented him from competing for a second title in his senior year. He was the NIC Conference Champion and team MVP as a sophomore.
Wrestling was Moretz’s signature sport. He was a four-time state qualifier and won three consecutive State Championships in the heavyweight division. As a senior, he was named a Third Team All-American. During his sophomore through senior seasons, Moretz compiled an incredible 89-0 record. Across all four years at Northwood-Kensett, he posted a remarkable career record of 117-6. He was named team MVP as a junior and co-MVP as a senior.  Moretz capped off his high school wrestling achievements by being inducted into the IHSAA Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004.