MEDICAL LAKE - Former Cardinals wrestling coach Mike Carr, who spent 25 years at the helm of a highly successful program and 38 years teaching world and United States history in the school district, is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2021.
Carr was inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005. He was nominated for the national Hall last year, but didn't expect to make the cut.
"I was shocked at first," Carr said. "All of a sudden I get a letter, open it up, and I'm in. I didn't think I had a shot in hell, to tell you the truth."
Carr led a powerhouse Cardinals team to a state championship in the 1991-92 season, which was the only title for the school in all sports. His teams amassed a record of 252-130-7 in dual meets and won 10 league championships, 10 district championships, four regional titles and eight top-10 finishes at state. Carr's teams finished with a winning record in 21 of his 25 seasons.
"I had one team that finished third...it was the biggest surprise," Carr said. "We didn't have a whole lot of kids at state. All of a sudden, I look up and we're listed as third."
He also coached 67 state placers and five individual champions split between four athletes at Medical Lake: Tim Bloom in 1984 at 122 pounds, Sam Peterson in 1984 at 158 pounds, Robert Charlesworth in 1989 at 141 pounds and back-to-back titles from Viet Do in 1992 and 1993 at 101 pounds. He also coached David Weins to an individual state championship in Blaine in 1973.
Carr attributed much of his wrestling coaching success to his assistant coach, Larry Peterson, who is now retired and living in the city.
"I can't stress enough what a help he was to me," Carr said.
In addition to teaching history and coaching wrestling, Carr also spent over 20 years as a football official, five years as an assistant football coach and 12 years as an assistant baseball coach. Several years of youth baseball coaching experience were sprinkled in.
Carr was also active in the Medical Lake community, having been president of the Founders Day and the Medical Lake Float Association and a member of the Kiwanis Club. He helped begin the annual Easter Egg Hunt in the 1980's.
"They still use that today," Carr said. "That's one of the things I most proud of, starting the Easter Egg Hunt for the kids."
Carr went to high school at Davis High School in Yakima, where he began his wrestling career in 9th grade. He went on to attend Whitworth College, now University, in Spokane, where he continued his career.
He was one of the top wrestlers in the country by this time, earning All-American status in 1969 and finishing second in the nation. At the time, only two wrestlers were named All-Americans at Whitworth's level. Carr finished 7th in the Olympic Wrestling trials in 1972 and was a starting lineman on the Whitworth football team.
Carr majored in teaching with a minor in history, and after college, began his teaching career at Blaine High School in Blaine, Washington, where he also helped start a wrestling team. He then moved to Medical Lake in 1973, where he immediately became head wrestling coach and a teacher.
He retired from coaching in 1998 and wrapped up his teaching career in 2011.
Carr has been married to his wife, Helen, since 1967, and has three children and seven grandchildren. He is now fully retired and living in the city.
He attributed most of his coaching career's success, in addition to Larry Peterson, to his players.
"You're only as good as the kids you coach," Carr said. "I give all the credit to them."
Carr noted that he still misses his students today. Sometimes, he'll run into former students at the grocery store or elsewhere around town, where he is thanked for making a positive impact in the students' lives.
"If the kids believe in you and they know you care, they'll do anything for you," Carr said.
Carr doesn't know when the Class of 2021 induction ceremony will take place due to COVID-19 concerns, or even where. But the Hall of Fame is located in Stillwater, Oklahoma, home of Oklahoma State University.
If masks are required, Carr, a die-hard Oklahoma Sooners fan, said he'll be wearing a mask representing OSU's top rival at the ceremony...without question.
Drew Lawson can be reached at drew@cheneyfreepress.com.
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