Van Gelder broadcasts joy for wrestling

  CEDAR FALLS – Doug Van Gelder has been spreading his love of wrestling over the airwaves for almost a decade.
  His involvement as a co-host for the radio show “On The Mat,” broadcast by Cedar Falls radio station 1650 The Fan, is merely an amplification of a near life-long love of the sport.
  Van Gelder, 66, went to school in Grundy Center and was a part of the Spartans wrestling program in its infancy after Iowa wrestling mainstay and founder of The Predicament, John Doak, brought the sport to Grundy Center.
  According to National Wrestling Hall of Fame Director Kyle Klingman, who started the radio show as host on Jan. 3, 2007, Van Gelder was only supposed to make a one-time appearance.
  “When we first started, the idea was that we would have a revolving guest host and Doug just showed up,” Klingman said. “He heard the show and showed up to the studio because he liked what was going on.”
  For more on Van Gelder's contributions to wrestling, check out the Jan. 12 Grundy Register or click here to sign up for E-Edition access.