Warrior Hall of Fame
NAIA All-American 1964, 1966, 1967
NIC Champion 1966
Member of NIC team championship 1966, 1967
Captain 1967
Merle H. Sovereign may tell you that managing a grain elevator has no connection to wrestling, but the experience he gained from wrestling at Winona State College eventually played a key role in the success of the grain elevator he manages.
Sovereign wrestled at Winona State during its golden period under head coach Bob Gunner. The Warriors compiled a 53-16-1 mark from 1963-1967. He earned All-American status for placing second in 1964 and 1966 and third in the 1967 NAIA nationals. Sovereign was also a 1966 NIC individual champion and added second place efforts in 1964 and 1967.
After completing his eligibility at Winona State, Sovereign went on to teach and coach in Ble Earth, Minn., before moving back to his hometown of Cresco, Iowa to take over the management of the family owned grain service that eventually grew over a million bushels of grain for handling, drying and storage.
Sovereign continued to be involved in wrestling after returning home. He wrestled freestyle, coached junior high and high school wrestling on an interim basis, was a wrestling referee and was a longtime member of the board of directors for the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Sovereign and his two brothers and spouses and the Sovereign Grain Service continue to be involved with the many activities in the Cresco community.
Inducted into the WSU Athletic Hall of Fame October 1, 2005
