One of the well known wrestling names in Minnesota is that of Jim Beshey.

Already a successful high school coach at the time, Beshey certainly increased his name recognition by wresting enthusiasts across the state when he purchased the Guillotine in l986.

Jim is a graduate of Britt High School in Britt, Iowa. There he participated in football and wrestling. He went on to attend Mason City Junior College and completed his post secondary education at Mankato State College with majors in health and physical education.

Jim's wife, Jeri, also a teacher, has been a great help to Jim over the years too. They have three children Mark, Jeff and Dawn, who is married to Kurt Simonette, and three grandchildren Louis, Audrey and Joey.

All three children have been active with wresting with their involvement with the Guillotine.

Mark also has worked as an official. Jeff, a two-time high school state qualifier, is the current owner of the Guillotine. Dawn served as a wrestling cheerleader and team statistician.

Jim's first teaching and coaching position was at Brownton High School in l968. He coached and taught at Brownton until l974. During that span he led them to their first District 12 title in 1970 and an undefeated 13-0 season. Beshey moved on to Glencoe High School where he coached from 1974 to 1986.

He took time off from coaching from 1986 to 1998 to serve as publisher of the Guillotine, but returned to coaching Glencoe-Silver Lake from 1999 to 2003. At Glencoe, Beshey led his 1977 team to the school's first state tournament appearance, winning District 16 and Region 4A titles along the way. That team placed sixth in the state tournament.

Beshey's overall coaching record at Brownton and Glencoe was 194-161-4. He also captured 2003 Region 4 Coach of the Year honors. Jim coached 18 individual state tourney qualifiers and two state champions. Pat Halloran (Glencoe) was a three-time state qualifier and state champion. Nate Matousek (Glencoe-Silver Lake) was a six-time state qualifier and three-time state champion.

Beyond coaching, Beshey always did his part to help wrestling prosper beyond his own program. He first served as a Region Coaches Representative and was later elected president of the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association. During that time he served as "Team Leader" for the 1985 Minnesota verses Iowa High School Wrestling Classic. He also led a cultural exchange team to South Africa.

He is a member of the Dave Bartelma - Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The efforts of Jim Beshey and his family were highlighted in 2003 when the Guillotine won the National Media Award for "Best State Wrestling Publication."

Son, Jeff, continues that tradition today, and some of his family still help. Minnesota Wrestling at all levels is well publicized today due in part to the great efforts of Jim Beshey.

Many thanks go to Coach Beshey for his passion and contributions to our the great sport of wrestling with his Lifetime Service to Wrestling award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.