Cindy Nelson – Kasson-Mantorville, 2023 Lifetime Service Honoree

Cindy Lou Nelson, daughter of James and Geraldine Christian, was born and raised on a farm near Brownsville, Minnesota, along with brother Lloyd and sister Lora.

James was a farmer and Geraldine took care of the family and helped on the farm until her children were all in school, then worked in an assisted living facility in Austin.

Cindy attended Hayfield High School, participating in Volleyball and Track & Field. She was also active in 4H and FFA all through school and worked at a Roller Rink, a Floral Shop, and a Truck Stop during her High School years. She had some friends who were wrestlers (Kevin and Gary Heydt), but was never too interested in going to watch any matches, even though Hayfield had an outstanding program under Dave Erickson.

After graduating from Hayfield, she started working at the Mayo Clinic, where she received on-the-job training as a R. EEG Technologist. Cindy is currently in her 43rd year on the job.

In 1982 Cindy married Dean Nelson, a Hayfield classmate, and moved to Kasson, where Dean works as a Homebuilder. Dean and Cindy had their first child, Zachary, in 1985 and took him to his first youth wrestling practice when he was four years old and things snowballed from there. Zachary became a member of the K-M Lightning Youth Wrestling Club and soon Dean and Cindy were hitting the youth wrestling circuit and meeting people from all walks of life with one common bond – a love for the sport of wrestling. Nathanial came along four years later and the Nelsons had two boys who became part of a wrestling family that extended way beyond the boundaries of Kasson-Mantorville. Daughter Clarisa followed in her brothers’ footsteps even though there were not very many girls in the sport at the time. In seventh grade, Clarisa became a wrestling cheerleader and continued cheering for the Komet wrestling team through her Senior year. Zachary and Nathanial were both hardworking, dedicated wrestlers and both served as K-M Wrestling Captains, were HVL Conference Champs, and Section Champions with Zachary placing 4th at State at 112 pounds in 2003. Zachary works as a welder and farms with Grandpa Jim and is planning to get married to his fiancé, Mackenzie, in August. Nathanial serves as Co-Head Wrestling Coach with Ryan Radke at Byron. Nathanial and his wife, Jess, have three boys and are expecting a fourth child in September. Clarissa and her husband, Anthony, have one daughter, Oaklynn, and they are expecting another daughter, Raelynn, in May. Dean and Cindy also have a daughter Mylaa (6 years old) who became a Nelson in 2017, and now follows mom and dad to all their wrestling events, including the Section and State Team and Individual Tournaments as well as the NYWA Section and State Tournaments, where they continue serving as table workers.

Mylaa says she wants to wrestle, so wrestling may continue in the Nelson home.

Cindy is involved in many community service organizations and has served as chair in a number of them, including the Rochester Epilepsy Foundation and Marigolds Day. Cindy was named the Director of the 2023 National Girls Clash Tournament and was thrilled to be involved in the first Clash Tournament with both a Team and Individual Tournament for girls. Cindy was also recently inducted into the 2023 Region One Hall of Fame.