When Tim Fader’s Augustana wrestling career ended, only two grapplers in the history of the school’s storied program had recorded more wins in a Viking singlet. He won 124 matches in his four years, while dropping just 39, capped by a 43-10 record as a senior. He finished his four years as a two-time team MVP, CCIW champion and All-American and three-time national qualifier.
After earning a second-place state finish at 126 pounds at Rochelle (Ill.) High School, Fader came to Augustana and wrestled at 142 pounds for his entire four years. As a freshman, he split time at that weight with future Viking head coach Pat Marsh, going 16-14. For the next three years he would have the weight class all to himself.
He led the team in wins as a sophomore, going 31-9 and winning his first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin 142-pound title as well as team MVP honors. He qualified for the national tournament, where he finished just one match shy of earning All-America honors.
He achieved that All-America recognition a year later, qualifying again for nationals and bringing home a fourth-place finish. He finished his junior season with a 34-6 record, leading the Vikings in wins and capturing the CCIW championship and team MVP honors for the second straight year.
Augustana hosted the NCAA Division III nationals in 1991 and Fader again qualified, winning fifth-place hardware at 142 pounds in front of the Carver Center faithful. He finished the year with a 43-10 record and won All-America honors for the second time.
As impressive as Fader’s feats were on the mat, his academic achievements were no less striking. He was a three-time National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar Athlete and a two-time GTE first team Academic All-American as selected by CoSIDA. In addition, his senior year was capped when he was named the winner of Augustana’s Knut Erickson Award, presented annually to the senior blanket award winner with the highest cumulative grade point average.
“Lived it and loved it!” said Fader of his Augustana experience. “It made me who I am. Great friends, mentors and memories.”
Fader is currently the head wrestling coach at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and NWCA Division III president. He graduated from Augustana in 1991 with a degree in business administration. He later earned his master’s degree in sports management from the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. Prior to taking the head coaching job at UW-Whitewater in 2004, he spent nine seasons at UW-LaCrosse, including the last six as head coach. He had assistant coaching positions at his alma mater for two years and Oregon (Ill.) High School and the University of Minnesota-Morris for one year each. He also spent two years with the accounting firm of McGladrey & Pullen in Moline, Illinois.
Tim and his wife Tracey are parents to McKenzie, Molly, Shae and Rye and reside in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
