Brian Kelvington, along with twin brother Brad, started his wrestling career early with the Olivia Elementary Program under the direction of his father Rick. Both boys were multiple 212 Conference and District 12 Champions, Region 3 place winners and State Tournament Qualifiers for Coach Kelvington while at Olivia High School and the BOLD pairing. Brian went to Mankato State and wrestled for a year under Rummy Macias and learned a lot but following his freshman season, with guidance from his father, determined his way forward in the sport was blowing a whistle and his competitive career ended.

At the end of Brian’s freshman wrestling season, while in Rummy’s golf class, the coach asked him if he could golf as well as his dad. Brian wasn’t sure about that, but said he played golf in high school and helped lead Olivia to regionals as a team and individual qualifier his junior and senior season. Rummy, who also served as the Mankato State Golf Coach, invited Brian to try out for the MSU Golf team. It was a great fit for Brian. Rummy retired from MSU that Spring and Brian later transferred to St. Cloud, where he was able to complete his major in Broadcast Journalism and was also able to play varsity golf for another two and a half more years. Before leaving Mankato, Brian connected with Ken Stockdale following his dad’s introduction and began the process of registering to be a Minnesota High School League wrestling official. While at St. Cloud State, Brian’s officiating career kicked into high gear. Brian joined the St. Cloud Officials Association and was fortunate to be assigned Joel Toedter as his initial mentor. Joel took him along to do some Junior High and J.V. matches while providing constructive criticism. Brian would watch and learn from Joel as he did the varsity meet. In the winter of 1989 Roger Wilson called Brian and said, “We need another official for the Paul Bunyon Tournament. Can you do it?” Brian wasn’t sure how well he would do, but said, “I’m in”. He was off and running– or more specifically – off and REFFING.

Brian spent 34 years as a high school and college wrestling official, working as an independent and under associations including St. Cloud and Gold Country. After years of officiating for Gold Country and association leader Ron Ackerman, Brian served as a board member for Gold Country Officials Association. Brian was a founding member of the Minnesota Wrestling Officials Association, serving colleges and universities in Wisconsin, Iowa, North and South Dakota, as well as Minnesota. Over his career, he officiated everything from youth tournaments to the prestigious Minnesota State High School Wrestling Tournament, NCAA Division I qualifiers, NCAA Division II and III National Championships and NJCAA National Championships.

Brian credits the many mentors he had along his officiating journey that include Byron Olson, Tim Shiels, Ron Ackerman and David Frisch. Young officials need guidance and confidence to grow and become better at the profession. He simply had the best mentors and advocates, helping him hone his mechanics, develop his demeanor on the mat, and incorporate best practices to approach the art of officiating a match. Without the many peers like Rod Frost, Jerry Reker and Bill Benson, who shared a lot of window shield time, after match/tournament hamburgers, and rules interpretation conversations and phone calls, this whole journey would have had no meaning. The shared camaraderie with fellow officials made every mile traveled worth the commitment to the sport.

Brian acknowledges the many coaches along the way that supported his mission of building a college wrestling officials association that was truly service orientated. Coaches Jim Makovsky, Troy Haglund, Bucky Maughan, Jesse Nelson, Kraig Pressler and Jason Reitmeier all put their trust in the service organization when launching more than 20 years ago. The MWOA offered more than just scheduling services, it also provided training so team members were experts on the rules and provided consistency and professionalism that schools using the organization could rely on event after event. When not on the mat, Brian has enjoyed broadcasting wrestling on the radio and streaming platforms as well as announcing and working the scoring table at home meets for Scott West in Jordan and Belle Plaine. 

Brian has been married to his wife, Mari, for 31 years and they have three children: Ben, Molly and Adam. Mari is a Scott County social worker and works with adults that have developmental disabilities. Ben is finishing his PHD in Neuroscience and Pharmacology at the University of Iowa, Molly is employed by Avera Health in Sioux Falls as a business analyst, and Adam is an assistant superintendent at Olympic Hills Country Club in Eden Prairie. Brian is the Director of Media for The Kinetic Group, which is the parent company of Federal Ammunition, a Minnesota company in business for more than 102 years. He has been in this role for 19 years.