LIFETIME SERVICE TO WRESTLING

1960-1965: Air Force Academy High School

1966-1969: Snohomish High School

1969-1998: Oak Harbor High School

Richard Linsenmayer was a two-time Colorado High School Wrestling Champion who went on to wrestle at Oklahoma State University under National Wrestling Hall of Fame coach Art Griffith. His collegiate wrestling career was cut short by a back injury. Linsenmayer transferred to Colorado State University to earn his B.A. degree. He started his coaching career in 1960, at the Air Force Academy High School, winning league and district titles in five seasons. After earning his Master of Science degree at the University of Utah, he moved to Snohomish High school as assistant wrestling coach. In 1969 he accepted the head coaching position at Oak Harbor High School. 

For 30 years, Linsenmayer coached wrestling and taught Biology at Oak Harbor High School until his retirement in 1998. He compiled a dual meet record of 248-126-5, a winning percentage over 70 percent. His teams won eight league, seven district, and two regional titles and finished in the top ten in the state tournament several times.  Linsenmayer coached six state champions and 40 state placers and had a competitor at every state tournament for 37 years.

Linsenmayer’s coaching record is particularly noteworthy in Oak Harbor, where the population is dominated by servicemen and their families from the local Naval Air Station and the average household income is far below the state average, with many of the residents living in poverty. Coach LInsemayer’s consistent individual and team successes far exceeded expectations for athletic teams representing Oak Harbor during his 30-year tenure. He was able to help underachieving student-athletes thrive in school and excel in a sport that instilled academic and life lessons of motivation, teamwork, and success in a location and among families which were not always accustomed to those sorts of accolades.

Coach LInsenmayer hosted several Japanese Cultural Exchange teams and held freestyle qualifying tournaments for years. He also coached the local freestyle wrestling club in the 1980’s and 1990’s. He was recognized by his peers as the 3A Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1981 and received the prestigious Paul Reiman/Bo Campbell/Ken Driscoll Award in 1999. In 2001, he was inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame. 

Richard LInsenmayer passed away on December 26, 2015. He is survived by his wife Myrna, who still resides in Oak Harbor, and four adult children and their spouses: Kurt (Susan), Kristi, Mark (Fareeha) and Erik (Jaana). The Linsenmayer’s have seven grandchildren: Audra, Emma, Hannah, Nigel, Natalie, Laila, and Zara.