Lifetime Service to Wrestling

Dennis Giaimo graduated from Brown Deer High School in Brown Deer, Wisconsin in 1978. While in high school he was a 3-sport athlete competing in football, wrestling, and baseball. He started wrestling in ninth grade and his first head coach was Hall of Famer Duffy Brelsford. In his senior year Dennis was a selected Braveland Conference 1st team in baseball and a conference champion in wrestling and a one-time State qualifier in wrestling.

After high school, Dennis attended University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and competed in wrestling for four years under head coach John Munson. Dennis was a 3-time WIAC place winner and a 3-time NCAA DIII qualifier. In 1983 he was a NCAA All-American (5th) at 158 lbs. In 1984 Dennis earned NCAA DIII Academic All-American honors. He was a 4-time team most outstanding wrestler and a 3-time team captain. In 1984 Dennis was named UWSP Co-Male Athlete of the Year. In 1995, he was inducted into the UW Stevens Point Athletic Hall of Fame. Dennis graduated in 1984 with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Physical Education. In 1991, Dennis earned his Master’s degree in Physical Education from UW La Crosse.

In 1985, Dennis was hired in the Appleton Area School District. His teaching assignments during his 36 years included teaching Adaptive Physical Education, Elementary and Middle School Physical Education. From 1985-87 Dennis was an assistant wrestling coach at Appleton West H.S. under Fred Reseburg. From 1987-1995 he was the head wrestling coach at Appleton West H.S. From 1995-98, Dennis was the head wrestling coach at Appleton North H.S. From 1999-2021, Dennis was the head coach at Einstein Middle School. From 2004-2021, Dennis was an assistant coach under Scott Clough at Appleton North. Throughout his years coaching he was involved with the Appleton Youth Wrestling programs. Coach Giaimo will tell you his biggest impact and most rewarding coaching was the 22 years introducing so many student-athletes to the sport of wrestling at Einstein Middle School and the 17 years as an assistant coach at Appleton North High School.

Dennis has been a member of the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association since 1987. He served as a District 4 Rep from 1993 to 1997.

Dennis and his wife Jeanne have three children. His oldest son Thomas is a CV-22 Osprey pilot in the Air Force. His son Andrew is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) in the Air Force. Their daughter Halle is a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner. Dennis would like to thank his family, wife Jeanne and their three children whose love, sacrifices, and support has enabled him to stay involved in this great sport for all those years.

Dennis wishes to thank Dave McCarthy and Scott Clough for the nomination and promotion of this honor and induction, as well as the Wisconsin Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame selection committee. Dennis would also like to thank the many assistant coaches he worked with throughout the years as a head coach, fellow coaches across the State, as well as all the administrators, parents, and student athletes in the Appleton community. It has been an amazing journey with lifelong relationships made and great memories.