SEATAC — Longtime Forks wrestling coach and teacher Bob Wheeler estimates he’s logged nearly 300,000 miles traveling from his Port Angeles home to Forks and another 100,000-plus traveling to away meets.
For all those miles spent seated, Wheeler jokes that he should be given the “Best Butt Award” when The Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association convenes Saturday.
Instead, Wheeler will be honored with induction to The Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
It’s a deserving honor for Wheeler, who has devoted his coaching career to the sport, spending much of the last 37 years guiding Spartans grapplers.
Wheeler has coached Forks to a 246-68-2 record in dual meets, won 16 league titles and has 10 top 10 finishes at Mat Classic, the annual state wrestling championship.
He has coached 75 of the Spartans’ 77 state placers, including his sons Ryan and Rob.
Six Spartans have won individual state titles under his watch, including heavyweight Miguel Morales last season.
“Wrestling is just . . . me,” Wheeler said.
“There were three years there [2002-04] where I didn’t coach at all when my wife Lyn was going through cancer treatments,” Wheeler said, quick to point out her recovery.
“I did miss it. Those three years were hard.
“But I didn’t stay away entirely, I still went to meets here [on the North Olympic Peninsula] and helped out at the state tournament.
“It’s just hard to picture myself not involved in wrestling.”
Wheeler said he was nominated for the honor by Rainier head coach Chris Holterman.
“I’ve been coaching since his dad [Hall of Fame member Rolland] was coaching and Chris was wrestling at Mount Baker High School,” Wheeler said.
When Wheeler moved to Forks in 1979, he started the Forks Freestyle Wrestling Club which has supported youth wrestling ever since.
In 1986, Wheeler was named the Class 1A State Coach of the year.
In 1989, he was a coach for one of the state Centennial Games regional wrestling teams.
In 1991 he was the team leader for a cultural exchange team to Japan.
He also spent six years as a regional representative for the coaches’ association.
Wheeler also spent six years coaching Little League and Babe Ruth baseball teams.
For eight years he served as the Forks High School softball coach and also coached baseball for four seasons.
Wheeler, a quiet man, plans to keep his speech short at Saturday’s ceremony.
“They told me not to go over 10 minutes,” Wheeler said.
“And I thought, ’10 minutes?’ So, I’m thinking that won’t be a problem to go over 10 minutes.”
Wheeler will be inducted along with four other coaches.
They are Jay Breckenridge of Sedro-Woolley High School, John Casebeer of Lynwood , John Eklund of Chehalis Middle School and Ruben Martinez of Othello High School.
Tickets are available for Saturday’s ceremony by phoning 360-374-6262, ext. 105.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 5250 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
