Ron Gaffner Room Campaign

The new MCC Health and Wellness Center opening in January 2019 includes a multipurpose room, double the size of the current wrestling facility and equipped with state-of-the-art training equipment and mats.

Ron Gaffner has been a teacher, mentor, and a role model to student-athletes for more than 40 years.

He embodies the best of Jayhawk wrestling and, even today after 42 years, continues to give back to current wrestlers through his work with academic study halls and his selfless behind-the-scenes efforts with the Dan Burt Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament.

Campaign to Honor Coach Gaffner

Working with the Foundation for Muskegon Community College, the committee spearheaded by Coach Gaffner’s former wrestlers has launched a fundraising campaign to have the new MCC multi-purpose facility named in his honor. Jayhawk wrestling alumni, wrestling coaches who competed against Coach Gaffner, and other friends of MCC wrestling are being asked to support the effort.

Organizers want to ensure that the new MCC multi-purpose facility is forever associated with Coach Gaffner and his legacy as a tireless advocate for the Muskegon Community College student-athletes. His countless contributions and his 332 career victories have brought national prestige and success to Muskegon Community College for decades.

Campaign proceeds will also create and build endowed scholarships for future Jayhawk wrestling teams.

Please support the Ron Gaffner Room campaign by clicking on the “Donate Now” button. For more information, please contact Amy Swope, the director of the Foundation for Muskegon Community College, at (231) 777-0571 or foundation@muskegoncc.edu.

 

The Ron Gaffner Dinner Roast 

The Ron Gaffner Dinner Roast, a fun event to benefit the Ron Gaffner Room Campaign, was held on Saturday evening, May 20, 2017 at the White Lake Eagles Aerie #3214, 1204 S Lake St., Whitehall, MI 49461.

Click here to check out images from the event on MCC’s Facebook page. 

Ron Gaffner Wrestling Achievements at MCC

332 Career Dual Meet Wins (Ranked 3rd in Nation)

13-time National Junior College Athletic Association Region XII Coach of the Year

Six-time Michigan Community College Athletic Association Wrestling Coach of the Year

Junior Pan-American Team Coach (1977)

Junior Pan-American Team Chief of Mission (1979)

National Junior College Athletic Association Wrestling Coach of the Year (1980)

National Junior College Athletic Association Wrestling Hall of Fame (Inducted 1981)

President of the National Junior College Athletic Association Wrestling Coaches Association (1982-1986)

National Junior College Athletic Association Wrestling Man of the Year (1986)

Michigan Wrestling Association Hall of Fame (Inducted 2002)

Greater Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame (Inducted 2003)

National Wrestling Hall of Fame (Inducted 2009)

Committee Members

John Arter ‘76
North Muskegon, MI

Fred Schmitt ‘76
Holland, MI

John Dingledine ‘80
Newaygo, MI

Dan Yoder ‘80
Tecumseh, MI

Tim Cooper ‘83
Big Rapids, MI

Brian Jones ‘87
Midland, MI

Todd Cheney ‘92
Hartland, MI

Mike Michelli ‘95
Muskegon, MI