This is the sixth of seven articles highlighting the CSU Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025 Inductees, and today's sixth article features former Pack men's wrestler Bryan Hawkins (1983-1985)

When Bryan Hawkins returns to campus on October 10 to accept his induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame at Colorado State University Pueblo, he'll take a morning jog to prepare for talking about his memories from five decades ago when he became the school's first collegiate wrestling champion.
 
You see, Hawkins is an avid runner these days, running 30 miles a week, having competed in seven marathons, 12 half-marathons, and numerous 10Ks.
 
"I have nothing but great memories while attending CSU Pueblo," said Hawkins, who captured the 126-pound crown at the 1985 NAIA National Championships in Jamestown, N.D.  "I am surprised by this honor and grateful for all those who have helped me along the way."
 
Hawkins will join Reco Burt (men's basketball, 1993-1995), Rachel Espinosa (women's basketball, 2007-2011), Marcelo Lagüera (men's cross country, track & field, 2015-2020), Molly Rohrer (women's basketball, 2015-2018), and Andrea Tuck (women's track & field, 2012-2017) as the newest inductees into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame at the Occhiato Student Center on October 10.
 
Also being inducted that evening will be contributor Jim Brooks (radio broadcaster, 1987-1991, 2010-present), who also played golf at the school in the 1980s, where he was a member of the school's 1981 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship team.  
 
Hawkins now joins seven other CSU Pueblo wrestlers in the Pack Hall of Fame, along with coach Doug Moses, who coached the program from 1982 to 2001 and produced two national runners-up (1985 and 1991), 12 national top ten finishes, and eight top five finishes over 19 seasons with seven Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships, 11 national champions, and 64 All-Americans.
 
Other wrestlers in the CSU Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame are Chuck Pipher (2009, 1986-1989), Andy Pipher (2010, 1988-1992), Chris Currier (2012, 1994-1999), Dax Charles (2015, 1989-1994), Mannie Garcia (2018, 1990-1993), Trent Monlux (2020, 1998-1999) and Jesse Hillhouse (2022, 2011-2013).
 
"I am so grateful for Dax Charles, who has been carrying on the legacy here at CSU Pueblo," Hawkins added.  "Dax and I were both state champions at the same high school in Louisiana (John Ehret High School in Jefferson Parish) under Billy Duplessis, and both won national championships under Moses at CSU Pueblo."
 
After Hawkins' success in winning the 126-pound crown, Mike Guenther won the 177-pound division to help lead the University of Southern Colorado to a second-place finish in the 1985 national finals in the school's fourth year of collegiate wrestling competition.
 
With a 42-5 record during the 1984-1985 season, Hawkins posted a 12-7 win over Northern State's Doyle Everson to win the 126-pound crown after gaining a spot in the finals by defeating Mark Peterson of Central Washington 16-9 in the semifinals.
 
A two-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champion at 126 pounds, Hawkins guided the then-Indians to two straight conference championships as USC broke the streak of 13-straight mat league titles by Adams State.  He also earned All-American honors in 1984 and had a 30-win season in his first campaign in Pueblo.
 
Before arriving in Southern Colorado, Hawkins was a standout at Phoenix College, where he was the region's top junior college wrestler.  "My high school wrestling coach (Duplessis) had a relationship with Gary Keck at Phoenix College. Coach Keck knew Moses and Doug took a chance on me."
 
In a July 2018 article in The Pueblo CHIEFTAIN, Moses said, "I talked to (Hawkins) about coming up for a visit.  He said 'Yeah,' but he never made it up for a visit."  Moses waited a while and still heard nothing from Hawkins. Moses then decided to call Hawkins in Louisiana.  "I got hold of his brother, and his brother said he was on his way to Colorado. I was a little surprised because he never made a visit or anything.  It was sheer luck."
 
Hawkins said Moses "helped elevate my wrestling IQ.  He built on all my strengths and weaknesses. More importantly, he allowed me to be me on and off the mat."
 
A 1986 graduate of USC, Hawkins has been a payroll manager at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta since 2016.  He and his wife have four children, two boys and two girls.