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The University of Nebraska at Omaha each November hosts the nation’s largest collegiate wrestling meet. The Ryan Kaufman-Glen Brand Open attracts 500-700 wrestlers from 35 teams in 12 states to the Sapp Fieldhouse. In 2007, 600 wrestlers competed in over 1,400 matches during the 9 a.m. - 11 p.m. non-scored meet.
The meet, originally named the UNO Open, was renamed after the late Ryan Kaufman, a Maverick national champion and a member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame. Kaufman, an Omaha fireman, was killed in a traffic accident in early 1991. However his legacy lives on, not just with this tournament, but also in the North Central Conference, which has named its award to the outstanding wrestler in the NCC meet after him.
Glen Brand, an Omaha resident and former Olympic champion, has given the financial support to the tournament and also sponsors the Glen Brand Open, held at UNO each January.
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Glen Brand, who passed away one week prior to the 2008 Kaufman-Brand Open, was honored and remembered in a ceremony at the tournament on Nov. 22.
His family was escorted to the center of the mats by the UNO wrestling team and coaches prior to the start of the tournament and the following words were given by Coach Denney.
“Last Saturday, we lost a friend. His family lost a husband, father and grandfather. Glen Brand was a true warrior for our sport of wrestling. Glen passed away peacefully in his home. He was 85.
Sixty years ago in London, England, Glen won a Gold Medal in Freestyle wrestling at 174 pounds. He grew up in Clarion, Iowa, served in World War II for the United States Marine Corps before enrolling at Iowa State University. He won the NCAA title in 1948 for ISU and followed by winning the Olympics later that year.
In his professional career as a hydraulics engineer, Glen built a highly successful company in Omaha. His company, Brand Hydraulics, was founded in 1956. It continues to thrive under the direction of his son Greg Brand.
Glen was honored in 1978 as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
In 1995, Glen was inducted into our Kaufman-Brand Hall of Fame. We have named two tournaments after him. This tournament and our Glen Brand Open every January. He has been a loyal supporter of our UNO wrestling program for 25 years.
Glen Brand was a positive force in his family, on every team he wrestled on and in the community. He was a man of great character. He had some moxy and grit. He was a warrior. He lived a full life right up to the end.
We thank his family for being here. It is with an attitude of gratitude that we honor and remember him. I am so personally grateful and thankful I had a chance to know him. I know that anyone who has ever met him feels the same way.”
The packed Sapp Fieldhouse honored and remembered Glen Brand and his family with a long standing ovation! |