Verne Gagne graduated Robbinsdale High in 1943. A star in wrestling and football, he went on to excel in both sports at the University of Minnesota. In 1947, after graduation, he was drafted by the NFL’s Chicago Bears but chose to pursue wrestling instead. Verne’s son, Greg Gagne graduated from Robbinsdale High in 1969. By 1972, he was a fixture in the AWA.
In the period 1976-1979, 8 more wrestlers emerged from Robbinsdale Senior High School, all of whom achieved prominence in major promotions from the mid 1980s.
Top row – left to right – John Nord, Verne Gagne, Barry Darsow, Dean Peters (‘Brady Boone’), Debra Miceli (‘Madusa’) Bottom left to right – Larry Hennig, Curt Hennig, Rick Rood, Tom Zenk, Scott Simpson (photo montage - Robbinsdale Historical Society)
02 · Tom Zenk
At Robbinsdale
At Robbinsdale, I was the same year as Rick Rood, Barry Darsow ('Krusher Kruschev'/'Demolition Smash'), Curt Hennig ('Mr. Perfect') and Dean Peters ('Brady Boone'). Rood was a loner. Dean was captain of gymnastics and a stud. Hennig was a varsity wrestler. We graduated together in 1976. Steve Simpson ('Nikita Koloff') and John Nord ('The Berzerker', 'The Barbarian') were a year behind. I was small as a kid, about a hundred and thirty-five pounds and five foot eight at a stretch. Since I was sent to school early, I was always small for my year. I played Little League baseball with Barry Darsow and made team captain. At High School, I took up soccer to avoid getting creamed at football. I played forward inside right, made the high school team and lettered a couple of years. But, I always wanted to play football.
— Tom Zenk
03 · School Years
Yearbook & Soccer
Zenk in the 1975 Robbinsdale High School YearbookRobbinsdale school years.
