1978 to Present: Wrestling Announcer State and Local Events Al Rasmussen was a student at Lynnwood High School where National Wrestling Hall of Fame Announcer Ed Aliverti was a counselor. Aliverti encouraged Rasmussen to get involved in announcing wrestling dual meets and tournaments. Rasmussen took over for Aliverti as the announcer at the Edmonds Invitational Wrestling Tournament in 1978. Since that time he has worked many local, league and regional wrestling tournaments in the WESCO league area. Edmonds High School Hall of Fame wrestling coach Mike Hess encouraged Al Rasmussen to be part of the announcing staff at Mat Classic, the State Wrestling Tournaments with Ed Aliverti. Al has been a PA Announcer for 30 years at Mat Classic in the Tacoma Dome since its inception in 1989. Rasmussen then replaced Aliverti as the "Voice of Wrestling in Washington State" upon Aliverti's retirement in 2010. Rasmussen has also been very active in other Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) state events. He has been the lead announcer at the WIAA Gridiron Classic State Football Championships the past 20 years. Additionally he has served as the head announcer for the 3A and 4A WIAA State Hoop Classic Basketball Championships held in the Tacoma Dome for the past 30 years. Rasmussen was also the announcer at the WIAA Kick-off Classic at held at Century Link Field. Al has donated his time over the past 9 years to be the Master of Ceremonies at the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame Program. Additionally Rasmussen has been the Master of Ceremonies for the Washington State Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies since 2011. In 2010 Al Rasmussen was presented the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association Joe Babbitt Contributor Award. Al Rasmussen currently lives in Lynnwood following retirement from Quest Communications and Fred Meyer.