Wisconsin George Martin Hall of Fame 2019

Carter Turner was born and raised near Spring Valley, Wisconsin. He was raised on a dairy farm. Carter’s parents, Harold and Lorraine Turner, demonstrated lifetimes of hard work ethic, honesty, and responsibility. Those family values were instilled into each of their six children.

Carter attended the Spring Valley School District and was a standout athlete while in high school, gaining special recognition as a three-time football letter winner and All-State Football Running Back under Coach Bob Thomas and 3-time wrestling letter winner under Coach Jim Stowell. He was also a three-time letter winner in track and Captain for all three sports as a high school senior.

After graduating from Spring Valley High School in 1976, he attended UW River Falls and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education in 1981. During college, he married his high school sweetheart, Ann, and they began to raise a family even as they both pursued degrees. His first teaching position was in Greenwood, Wisconsin, where he remained for two years.

Moving back to Spring Valley in 1983 to purchase his father-in-law’s dairy farm, Carter continued his teaching career as Spring Valley High School Agriculture Instructor and FFA Advisor. His equally long tenure as a wrestling coach began as a varsity assistant under Coach Bob Thomas. In 1990, he was hired as the head varsity coach and he held that position for 26 years. Over the years, additional school duties included leading an active FFA program and coaching football at the assistant varsity and middle school levels.

As the Spring Valley High School, and later as the Spring Valley/Elmwood Wrestling Varsity Head Coach, Carter’s career tallies include 160 dual wins for Cardinals Wrestling. He coached seven wrestlers to a total of nine WIAA Individual State Championships and led his team to eight Conference Tournament Championships, seven Regional Tournament Championships, and four Sectional Tournament Championships. Spring Valley/Elmwood Wrestling qualified for the Division III Team State Tournament four times, finishing 2nd in 2012, 2nd in 2014, Team State Champions in 2015 and a top four finisher in 2016.

Carter retired from coaching in 2016. He feels coaching has many more benefits than the statistical tally of successes. “I have had the good fortune of not only coaching my own sons through the pressures of this unique sport, but of coaching hundreds of other ‘sons’ throughout the years. All these young men have influenced me as much as I have influenced them. It has been an honor to know, to lead, and to instruct them during my career.”

Carter and his wife, Ann, have been married for 42 years and have four sons; Ryan, Adam, Tony, and Tyler. Each of their sons have enjoyed recognition throughout their high school sports histories and Division I collegiate success on the UW Madison wrestling team under Coach Barry Davis.

Carter and Ann very proud of their twelve grandchildren and enjoy spending as much time as possible watching the next generation grow up and discover their own interests and talents.

To his family, fellow teachers, coaches and administration, students, student athletes and their families, Carter would like to express his gratitude for their love, friendship, and support over the many years of his teaching and coaching careers. Carter would like to express sincere thanks to the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association for this great honor.

Carter E. Turner
Educational Background
1976 Graduate Spring Valley High School, Wisconsin
1981 Graduate University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Bachelor of Science Degree Agricultural Education
High School Athletic Accomplishments
1972-1976 3-Time Letter Winner in each / Football, Wrestling, Track
1st Team All-Conference Running Back
All-State Running Back
Teaching / Coaching Experience
1981-1983 Greenwood HS: Agricultural Education Teacher
Varsity Wrestling Assistant Coach
Spring Valley High School
1983-2019 Agricultural Education Teacher / FFA Advisor
1986-1990 Assistant Varsity Wrestling Coach
1990-2016 Spring Valley - Spring Valley/Elmwood Varsity Wrestling Head Coach
1985-2002 Assistant Varsity Football Coach
2005-2015 MS Football Coach
Coaching Accomplishments
1990-2016 Varsity Wrestling Head Coach – Spring Valley HS and Spring Valley/Elmwood
160 dual wins
8 Dunn-St. Croix Conference Championships
56 Individual Conference Champions
7 Team Regional Championships
58 Individual Regional Champions
4 Team Sectional Championships
30 Individual Sectional Champions
1 Team State Championship
2 Team State 2nd Place finishes
4 Team State appearances
63 Individual State Qualifiers
39 Individual State Placewinners
9 Individual State Champions
Two-Time District Coach of the Year
2015 Inductee – National Wrestling Hall of Fame / Wisconsin Chapter

National Wrestling Hall of Fame Wisconain Chapter 2015

Carter Turner has been the high school varsity head wrestling coach for the Spring Valley Cardinals (now the Spring Valley-Elmwood Cardinals) for the past 25 years. 
Turner grew up in Spring Valley and was a standout three-sport athlete while in high school – gaining special recognition as a football running back under Coach Bob Thomas and wrestler under Coach Jim Stowell.
After graduating from Spring Valley High School (1976), he attended UW-River Falls. He married Ann (in 1977) and graduated with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Agricultural Education (1981). During college and his first agriculture teaching and assistant wrestling coach position at Greenwood High School (Greenwood, WI), he also became the proud father of four sons (Ryan, Adam, Tony, and Tyler).
Moving back to Spring Valley in 1983 to purchase his father-in-law’s dairy farm, Turner also continued his teaching career as the Spring Valley High School Agriculture Instructor and FFA Advisor. His equally long tenure as a wrestling coach began as a varsity assistant under Coach Bob Thomas. In 1990, he was hired as the head varsity coach and he has held that position since. Over the years, additional duties have also included leading an active FFA program and coaching football at the Assistant Varsity and Middle School levels.
Turner’s wrestling coaching career to-date tallies include 135 dual wins – 124 losses. He has coached eight WIAA Individual State Champions and led his team to six Conference Championships and five Regional Championships. In 2012 and 2014, he coached his team all the way to the Division III Team State Championships. They placed 2nd each of those years behind Coleman. 
He is proud of each of these accomplishments but counts his sons’ successes amongst the highest. Each of his four sons were high level wrestlers in high school (earning five individual state championships between them), were all starters on the Badger wrestling team (Tyler was an All-American), and each graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.
He feels that coaching has many more benefits than the statistical tally of successes. “I have had the good fortune of not only coaching my own sons through the pressures of this unique sport, but of coaching hundreds of other “sons” throughout the years. All these young men have influenced me as much as I have influenced them. It has been an honor to know, to lead, and to instruct them during my career.”
Besides a lifetime in education and sports, Turner’s other interests include spending as much time as possible with his eight grandchildren, working outside on the farm, keeping up with current affairs, and participating offstage with the local community theatre.

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