Hall of Fame
Joel Meyer (’82) competed on the Bethany Wrestling team during the 1980-81 and 1981-82 seasons. He was the co-captain and voted Most Valuable Wrestler on the ‘81-’82 team, which was one of the most successful teams in Bethany’s history finishing with a 11-2 record. Eight of those 11 wins came down to the heavyweight class where Joel successfully led the team to a win. That season, Joel individually held a 21-10 record, placed fourth at state, third at the regional championships, and qualified for the national tournament. He also served as an assistant coach for the team from 1982-85. He then went on to coach high school wrestling at Glenwood (Minn.) Senior High from 1985-87, and then Litchfield (Minn.) High School until 1999 where he was named Section 5A Wrestling Coach of the year in 1995 and brought over 15 individuals to the state tournament coaching two that became state champions. After his teaching and coaching career, Joel started his own business, The Meyer Group, which operates over fifty Papa Murphy’s Take ‘N’ Bake Pizza stores in the Midwest. He is married to Jane and they have two children, Kjerstin and Nic (’18). They make their home in Litchfield, Minnesota, and East Gull Lake, Minnesota. They are members of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Cold Spring, Minnesota, but also attend St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Litchfield, and Christ Lutheran Church in Baxter, Minnesota. Joel is the son of Bethany’s President Emeritus, Marvin (’59) and the late Pat (’59 Salomon) Meyer.
