Eggen was gentleman off mat, tiger on it
Posted 7/18/02

By GARY LARSON
Mille Lacs County Times

"A positive attitude...great character...a fine role model...many great achievements."

Those were the words Milaca Wrestling Coach Randy Zimmer used when asked to describe Bryce Eggen, a standout on Zimmerís teams in the early í90s.

Eggen, a 1992 graduate of Milaca High School, was killed in a two-vehicle accident Saturday afternoon in Sherburne County.

Eggenís character also included a lot of tenacity.

"He was a doer--when he set goals he really went after them," said Zimmer.

That was already evident when Eggen was in fourth grade.

"We had a run-a-thon set up for the fourth graders during the noon break," said Zimmer, who teaches at the elementary school. "The goal was for each student to run at least a lap at the high school track. When they ran a lap they got a ticket. We wanted to cover the distance it would take to run from Milaca to California.

"Bryce went out to the track at noon and started running. He ran one lap, then two, then three and he didnít quit until he ran four miles! I knew then he wasnít going to sit back and watch--he was going to get things done."

And get things done he did.

Eggen went on to become the first Milaca wrestler to claim 100 victories, finishing with a career record of 106-17-1. He now ranks sixth on Milacaís all-time victories list.

Eggen scored 30 wins his sophomore season and claimed 33 wins in both his junior and senior years. He put together a 30-match winning streak during his senior season and he ranks second in career pins at Milaca with 72.

Eggen won Sub-Region 7A and Region 7A titles in 1990 (103 pounds), 1991 (112) and 1992 (112).

He didnít place at the 1990 state meet but placed sixth in the 1991 state tournament at 112.

The following season, his last at Milaca, he advanced to the championship match at 112 pounds at the state meet, losing to unbeaten Aaron Gudahl of Blue Earth, 6-2.

"I knew it would be a good match but I felt confident I could win," Eggen said, following the match. "Itís a little disappointing to get that close to the state title and lose but I feel good about my showing. Overall, I feel I wrestled well."

After the season was over Eggen was a member of the Minnesota team in the Minnesota-Wisconsin High School Wrestling Classic. He pinned a Wisconsin state champion on the first day of the tournament and was named the meetís outstanding wrestler for his efforts that day. He followed that match by getting a fall in his second match the next day.

Eggen, who was a member of a prep all-star team that toured Australia the summer before his senior year, posted a 33-2 record his final season at Milaca. During his career he won numerous invitational titles in addition to his sub-region and region crowns.

"He defeated many outstanding wrestlers," said Zimmer. "He had great technique...he went into matches knowing what he wanted to do and how to do it.

"He was sort of a ëDr. Jekyl-Mr. Hydeí - quiet and a gentleman off the mat and a real tiger when the match started.

"Bryce is one of the big reasons our program has reached the status it has today. His efforts, and the efforts of the kids who wrestled with him helped our program turn the corner. He set some great benchmarks for other wrestlers.

"And, like a lot of other Milaca athletes, he came back and helped the program after he graduated. He was one of our assistant coaches in 1997.

"His death is a loss to his family and the entire area."

Eggen was the son of Philip and Marlene Eggen. Funeral services are today (Thursday) at 2 p.m. at the Milaca Evangelical Free Church.