LIFETIME SERVICE TO WRESTLING

1977-1979 Forks High School Assistant Wrestling Coach

1979-1982 Forks High School Head Wrestling Coach

1982-1986 Quincy High School Head Wrestling Coach  

1987-1990 Thomas Jefferson High School Assistant Wrestling Coach  

Carl Wenham graduated from DeSales High School in Walla Walla, Washington, and attended college at Central Washington University where he graduated in 1976. Carl’s first teaching and coaching jobs were at Forks High School, where without any previous wrestling experience, he became the assistant wrestling coach at the high school. Wenham became the head wrestling coach at Forks High School before moving to Quincy High School as their Head wrestling coach. Carl’s last wrestling coaching position was as an assistant at Thomas Jefferson High School in Federal Way, Washington.

Coach Wenham became involved in wrestling at the local, state, and national levels when he started working in the state cultural exchange program. Carl was a coach or team leader for Washington State wrestling exchange teams to Japan, China, Columbia & Venezuela, and Poland. Carl was also active at national level camps and tournaments for the AAU and USA Wrestling. He was the USA Wrestling Washington State Director from 1989 to 1994. 

Carl’s proficiency with computers led to further involvement at the state level. He became a staff member for Mat Classic I in 1989 and is currently one of only eight staff who have worked all 32 Mat Classic State Tournaments through 2020. Since 2014, Wenham has been the Director of Mat Classic the State Wrestling Championships. 

Wenham has been the State Director for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Wrestling Weight Management program since 2007. During the initial 2007-2008 wrestling season, he actively worked with the WIAA staff in putting on workshops and assisting member schools in the implementation of the new weight management program. At one point Carl developed a weight management program for Washington State schools before the state began using the National Wrestling Coaches Association weight management program. He now works yearly with individual schools, leagues and the WIAA in the efficient operation of the state wrestling weight management program.

In recognition of his dedication to the sport of Wrestling he was presented the Joe Babbitt Contributors Award by the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association in 1998. Carl currently resides in Walla Walla, where he can occasionally be found working in the local wine industry.