Don Kuusinen gave 50 years of his life as an official while also coaching 34 of those years. At one time at Grand Rapids High School, Don coached future NCAA National Champion Jim Kamman (Michigan) and three-time All-American Dave Allen (Iowa State). As a competitor, he was fourth in the one class system for his home town of Grand Rapids. Don wrestled at the University of Minnesota and the University of North Dakota. He served as MWCA President, is a member of the Grand Rapids High School, and Grand Rapids Wrestling Halls of Fame. A long-time math teacher at Grand Rapids HS, Don started his officiating career in his hometown gymnasium and ended it 50 years later in his hometown gym. Don wrestled in junior high under legendary Hall of Fame Coach Glen Swenson. Don graduated from Grand Rapids High School in 1963. As a wrestler he placed 4th in the old "one class" system. He wrestled for another legendary Hall of Fame Coach in Skip Nalan. Don was a Region Champion in 1962 and 1963. He also served as Team Captain his Senior year and was undefeated during the regular season. Kuusinen says, "When I was in high school there were 5 State Champions on their Grand Rapids High School team. I couldn't make the varsity team as a sophomore as there was a state champion in my weight class." Kuusinen went on to wrestle one year at the University of Minnesota in 1963-64, then wrestled one year at the University of Minnesota. Kuusinen went on to complete his college education at Bemidji State College where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree and later a Master of Science Degree. After graduation, he got a math teaching position at Grand Rapids Junior High School. He retired in 2001. While teaching Don also served as a speaker and presenter at several State and National Math conferences. He also taught math in- service workshops at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. In addition, he served as a math consultant for Glencoe Book Company for several years after retirement. Don served as a junior high/middle school coach at Grand Rapids from 1968 to 1976. He was Head Wrestling Coach at Grand Rapids High School from 1977 to 1979. He served as Assistant Coach in 1979-80 and was an Elementary Coach for 10 years. Kuusinen is a member of the Grand Rapids Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame and the Minnesota-Dave Bartelma Wrestling Hall of Fame. He now becomes a honored member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame-Minnesota Chapter. Don also served as President of the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association. Of special note, and carries special significance to Don, is that he was the first person to have won, coached and officiated in the Indian/Skip Nalan Invitational. Since retiring Don started hunting elk, deer and antelope in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. He says he's had several successful hunts and he continues to go every year. The Kuusinen Family includes wife, Laurel, sons, Kraig (a two- time cancer survivor) living in New Hope, Minnesota and Kent, who lives with his wife and 2 daughters in Vernon, Vermont, and Lance who lives in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.