Randy Holtberg
Athlete: Wrestling

Prior to graduating in 1997, Randy Holtberg would set a standard for future Linden
Wrestlers to follow. Following in the footsteps of his father Craig and uncle Gary, Randy
knew early in life that his chosen sport would be wrestling. After competing in freestyle
wrestling for several years as a youth, he would embark on a high school career that
would make him one of the best wrestlers in school history.

During his freshman and sophomore years, Randy played JV football. But it was
wrestling that he chose to be his focus. Randy wrestled on the Varsity as a freshman
and made an immediate impact. While spending much of the year at 112 lbs, he made
the transition to 103 lbs and would go on to place 3 rd at the Kirby Page Duals and place
2 nd in the Mother Lode League Tournament. Randy would be in the MLL Finals all 4
years.

As a sophomore, Randy started a trend that put him into the finals of every tournament
he wrestled in that year. Just like his freshman year, he started out at 112 lbs and
finished at 103lbs. He would place 2 nd at the Hilmar Rotational, 2 nd at the Gordon Hay, 1 st
at the Kirby Page Duals, and finished 2 nd in the Mother Lode League. In both his
freshman and sophomore years he qualified for sub sections.

Randy would hit his stride in his junior year. Wrestling at 130 lbs, Randy would go on to
be one of the top wrestlers in the area. Placing 2 nd at the Hughson Invitational, 3 rd at the
Hilmar Rotational, finishing in the top 8 at the prestigious Coast Classic, and 2 nd at the
Kirby Page Duals would set the stage for great finish to the season. Randy won the
Gordon Hay Championship and placed 2 nd in the Mother Lode League Tournament. After
placing in the top 4 at Sub Sections, Randy then qualified for sections and finished the
season in the top 8 of the Sac Joaquin Delta Section.

As a senior, Randy chose to make the commitment to wrestle down a weight at 125lbs.
This choice would propel him into the record books and make him one of the most
dominate wrestlers in the central valley. As the Team Captain he would place 7 th at the
Coast Classic and 6 days later finish 11 th in the 64 man Sierra Nevada Classic, and 2 nd at
the Hilmar Rotational. For the rest of the season Randy would not settle for second best
again. He went on to win Championships at the Lodi Shootout, Gordon Hay, Kirby Page
Duals, and the Mother Lode League. Once again he would go on to the sub sections and
section tournaments. It would be here in the post season where he was narrowly
defeated in the final seconds 4-2 by Uriah Faber. Faber would later become a world
champion MMA fighter. After finishing his high school career, Randy went on to compete
in the United States Western Regional Junior Championships in Las Vegas.

Randy’s hard work and dedication would bring many accolades. Randy is the only
wrestler in school history to be recognized by his peers as the teams “Most Dedicated
Wrestler” all 4 years. The record books would also be re-written as Randy would break
5 school records, 3 of which still stand today; most career takedowns with 211, most
career team points with 517.5, and the most Varsity wins with 107.

Randy epitomized the term “Student Athlete”. He earned Mother Lode League All-
Academic honors all 4 years carrying a GPA of 4.1. During his senior year he was also
the Homecoming King and Student Body President. Randy would continue his
academic career at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Randy was also a member of the
nationally ranked Cal Poly Mustangs Wrestling Team but, following his freshman year,
he turned his focus to academics. Randy received his Bachelor’s of Science in Civil
Engineering in 2002. Randy is a Project Manager for Knife River Construction in
Stockton and currently lives in Wilton, CA with his wife Sara and their 2 Sons Kyle and
Cody.

The Linden Athletic Hall of Fame is proud and honored to induct Randy Holtberg into the
2010 Class for his accomplishments in Wrestling.