Carl Wenham graduated from DeSales High School in Walla Walla, Washington, and attended college at Central Washington University where he graduated in 1976. 

Wenham’s first teaching and coaching jobs were at Forks High School, where without any previous wrestling experience, he became the assistant wrestling coach. Wenham became the head wrestling coach at Forks before moving to Quincy High School as head wrestling coach. His last wrestling coaching position was as an assistant at Thomas Jefferson High School in Federal Way, Washington.

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

His proficiency with computers led to further involvement at the state level. He became a staff member for Mat Classic I in 1989 and was one of only eight staff who had worked all 32 Mat Classic state tournaments through 2020. Since 2014, Wenham also served as the director of Mat Classic the State Wrestling Championships. 

Serving as the state director for the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Wrestling Weight Management program, Wenham 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, Wenham developed a weight management program for Washington State schools before the state began using the National Wrestling Coaches Association weight management program. He then worked 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.