Dave Natvig began his wrestling career in New Hampton, Iowa, where he was coached by Bill Waters and Finn Eriksen, a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Natvig was undefeated as a junior and senior and won the Iowa state high school championship at 85 pounds in 1932 and at 95 pounds in 1933.

He continued his wrestling career at Iowa Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa. Wrestling for Dave McCuskey, a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Natvig lost only one dual meet match in four years. He was a two-time All-American, reaching the finals in 1937 and finishing third in 1938 at 118 pounds.

He coached wrestling at Gilmore City High School from 1938-41 and at East Waterloo High School from 1946-70. In his 27 years, he had a career record of 228-48-12 while coaching 41 individual state champions and seven state team champions.

Natvig retired from coaching in 1970 and from teaching in 1979.

He was inducted into the Cresco Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1975 and into the

Natvig was wrestling coach at Gilmore City High School from 1938-41 and at East Waterloo High School from 1946-70. In those 27 years he coached 41 State Champions and seven State Championship Teams with a record of 228 dual wins, 48 defeats and 12 ties.

He and West Waterloo head coach Bob Siddens, a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, had many battles during their careers for the bragging rights at the high school level in Iowa.

Natvig retired from coaching in 1970 and from teaching in 1979.

He was inducted into the Cresco Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1975.