Here is a gentleman with a long involvement in wrestling. Ben certainly was successful on both sides of the mat in coaching and officiating. Ben graduated from Greeley High School in 1944. He was a two time State placer at the Colorado State Wrestling Tournament. He wrestled for Colorado Teachers College, (University of Northern Colorado) 1947-50. Ben Knaub wrestled in the NCAA tournament in 1949 (as a quarter finalist) and in 1950 (semi- finalist). He began coaching at Sterling High School in 1951 and through 1954 his teams won two conference titles. Ben became a wrestling official in 1955, after moving to the Denver Public School system, where he completed his teaching career. He officiated for eleven years at the high school and college levels. Ben officiated several Colorado State Tournaments. Mr. Knaub was selected to officiate in three NCAA Wrestling National Tournaments. There he was able to show his incredible officiating skills between 1954-1966. Those officiating skills were sought at the highest levels of the sport. "I remember watching my dad referee the college match when UNC upset Oklahoma State. I even recall watching him on Wide World of Sports, refereeing Individual NCAA finals Matches." said son Rob. The real impact Coach Knaub had on wrestling was at John F. Kennedy (JFK) High School from 1966 to 1986, where he was hired as JFK's first wrestling coach. Starting from scratch, he built the wrestling program into a conference power house. In just four years, JFK won their first conference championship in 1970. Ben's teams went on to win 14 championships in 15 years and recorded a conference dual meet streak of 155 wins. In 20 years of coaching he strongly impacted hundreds of young men with his positive coaching style along with his high moral and ethical standards.