Quincy High School 1955-1961 Bellingham High School 1961-1986 George Yonlick was a graduate of Highline High School in 1946 and Western Washington College in 1950. Following service in the U.S. Army and the Korean conflict, George started teaching in Sedro-Woolley prior to taking a teaching and coaching position at Quincy High School in 1955 where he started their wrestling program. In 1961 Coach Yonlick moved to Bellingham High School where he again started their wrestling program and coached for the next 25 years. Yonlick retired from teaching and coaching in 1986. Statistics are not available for Yonlick's years at Quincy High School, but at Bellingham High School he compiled a 182-130-2 dual meet record. Bellingham High School won the State Championship in 1986 and George coached 4 state champions and numerous place winners as well as team regional, league and district titles. In order to develop the wrestling program at Bellingham High School Coach Yonlick began many programs in support of the high school team, many of these programs may have been the first of their kind in the state. They included starting a youth wrestling program in 1967, Mat Maids in 1971, and the Bellingham Wrestlerama Wrestling Tournament in 1972. This tournament was later re-named the George Yonlick Memorial Wrestling Tournament and the tournament has run the past 39 consecutive years. Yonlick was honored by the State Wrestling Coaches Association when he was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 1987. George continued his involvement in support of wrestling by serving as a staff member at Mat Classic, the State High School Wrestling Championships. George passed away on February 11, 2007, after attending the regional wrestling tournament to support the Bellingham Red Raider wrestlers. Coach Yonlick is survived by his two adult children, Cathie and Chris, their families and three grandchildren. Coach Yonlick felt that wrestling, more than any other sport, could prepare a student for life's challenges. Everything he did in the practice room was designed to provide his wrestlers with the tools to prepare them for the important daily life challenges that everyone faces. Coach never measured success by a wrestler's won-loss record but by the level of effort they put forth in the wrestling room and matches. This philosophy is exemplified by a sign that hangs in the Bellingham High School Wrestling room that states, "Those who Stay will be CHAMPIONS".