Inductees

Dennis started wrestling as a sophomore, and after moving to California he was a CIF North Coast Section Champion who placed 4th at the Northern California Championships for Petaluma High School. He was the school’s first Section champion and its only Nor Cal placer. At Santa Rosa Junior College, Bardsley was a conference, Northern California and California Junior College State Champion, voted the Outstanding Wrestler in 1973. He compiled a record of 59-1 with 40 pins, and he was a Junior College All-American, selected as the Northern California Outstanding Wrestler, and the Santa Rosa JC Athlete of the Year.

He earned a scholarship to wrestle for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he placed 2nd in the NCAA Far Western Region and was an Honorable Mention All-American in the NCAA Division 1. Dennis also excelled in the international styles, and he won or placed in many local and regional tournaments, including the AAU Junior World Regionals, and the AAU Junior World Freestyle and Greco-Roman National Championships. He won for USA against the Japanese National Team, and he won the Far Western Freestyle Championships, defeating Marlon Grande and then Joe Seay in the Finals. Bardsley was 3rd in the AAU Sambo Nationals, and 2nd in the Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships in the Mexico City International Tournament.

He was an alternate on the 1978 USA Greco-Roman World team. Dennis coached for 35 years (19 as head coach), and his teams won 216 dual matches, 11 League/City championships and a Greco-Roman National Team Championship for CA USA Wrestling. He coached many CIF State medalists, including one State Champion, and many of his wrestlers became college All-Americans. He was Coach of the Year nine times, and he served as league representative for seven years.

A member of SCWAY, USA Wrestling and the CIF, Dennis was on the CA USA coaching staff to the Nationals for many years. He was head coach and director of the CA Junior National Team for two years, with his Greco team winning a National Championship. Bardsley hosted exchange teams from Japan, New Zealand, Turkey and Russia, and he coached the CA Team in Japan. He ran the Kids, Cadets and Junior/Open Western Regionals and State Tournaments at Fresno City College and in the Selland Arena.