1969-1990 Hoquiam High School Ron Baze started his wrestling career as a senior at Issaquah High School where he was coached by Hall of Fame coach Roger Wilson. He then attended Central Washington University and wrestled for Hall of Famer, Eric Beardsley. Baze was the NAIA District Champion his senior year and qualified for the NAIA National Tournament. Base served as a graduate assistant under Beardsley. Ron has stated that "Coach Wilson gave him the love for the sport and Coach Beardsley gave his life meaning and he wanted to do nothing else but coach high school wrestling." Baze began his 21 year coaching career at Hoquiam High School in 1969. He began immediately developing Hoquiam into a state wrestling power. He started the freestyle program in the Grays Harbor area in 1971 and initiated the Hoquiam Middle School and Elementary School wrestling programs in 1972. The Grizzlies placed in the top five at State five times winning the 2A State Title in 1988, finishing second in 1979, fifth in 1980, fourth in 1989 and fifth in 1990. He also produced 30 individual state placers, 8 state champions and 3 high school All-Americans. Baze's leadership and involvement extended beyond Hoquiam serving as a regional representative for the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association (WSWCA) and active with the state wrestling rankings from 1986 through 1990. Hoquiam High School hosted the Japanese and German Cultural Exchange Teams and Baze was also the Team Leader and coach of the Washington Cultural Exchange Wrestling Team to Mexico City in 1980. Coach Baze was also the clinician at the 1989 WSWCA Fall Clinic. Coach Baze was recognized by his peers as the Daily World Coach of the Year (2 times), Black Hills League Coach of the Year (4 times), AA Coach of the Year and WSWCA Coach of the Year in 1990. Baze was inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1991. After retiring as wrestling coach in 1990, Ron turned his efforts to the Career and Technical Education programs at Hoquiam High School. He obtained his State Principal's and State Career and Technical Director certification. Baze took on many leadership roles and was a presenter at local, state and national vocational conferences. He fostered a unique partnership with Americorps and wrote the first National Community Service grant in the nation in 1992. Hoquiam students were first tasked with rebuilding the dilapidated "Kamp Kiwanis" summer cabins at Lake Quinault. They later went on to construct a public walkway along the Hoquiam Riverfront and initiated the building of the community's first Public Market. Ron retired from education after 37 years at Hoquiam High School. Baze currently stays active in the community as a volunteer photographer and bilingual interpreter (Spanish) for school and community events. He also volunteers to provide his grant writing skills as needed. Coach Baze currently resides in Hoquiam and has two adult children, Jennifer (47) and Ryan (45) and three grandchildren Sylvia (24), Sergio (21) and Haley (17).