A champion for all seasons, styles, and continents, Don Behm's extraordinary mat feats span four decades. From thrilling championship pins to international gold medals, his unique accomplishments are etched in the annals of wrestling history.

The solid beginnings of his career were but a foreshadowing of the success to come. A two- time undefeated state champion, he went on to wrestle for Michigan State University. For the Spartans, he was a two- time All-American, two- time Big Ten champion and three-time Midlands champion.

In his post collegiate freestyle career, Behm became a dominant and formidable force both nationally and internationally. In AAU and USWF tournaments between 1969 and 1973, he won five national championships, received All-American honors 11 times, and was twice named Outstanding Wrestler.

In the international forum, his world was gold and silver. Representing the United States in the 1968 Olympic games, Behm earned an impressive silver medal in the first and only "no match final" in the history of the sport. In 1970, he was the first American to capture a gold medal at the grueling Tblisi tournament, wrestling seven nine-minute matches in one day! He captured two silver medals at the World Championships (1969,1970) and another silver at the World Cup (1973). He added more gold in 1971 at the Pan Am Games and, in 1993, he stood on top of the victory stand one more time to receive the gold medal at the Veterans Worlds.

Behm has shared his skills as a member of the AAU coaching staff (1977-1983) and for over 20 years as a high school coach. He is a member of the Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame and a charter member of the Midlands Hall of Fame.

In recognition of his accomplishments that represent all that is excellent in the sport of wrestling, Don Behm is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.