Ott Bay had never wrestled when he was assigned the task of becoming Waukegan High School's wrestling coach in 1950.

Over the next 17 years, his teams were 236-49-8, winning 105 of his final 108 dual meets, and capturing four state championships. His squads also finished second three times and third three times while registering Top 10 finishes in 15 of 17 years.

Bay coached 28 individual state champions, including at least one winner in each of his last 13 years, both records that still stand over 40 years later. A feat made even more impressive by the fact that his coaching career, compared to his peers, was cut short by at least 15 years.

The relative brevity of his career notwithstanding, he was a member of the Charter Class of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame and the Illinois section of the United States Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Adding drama to the unlikely story is that among his stable of state champions were his three sons. Rick was the first and then Steve. However, as the youngest, Mike, was poised to become the third to complete his father's dream, Coach Bay became seriously ill with a brain tumor. No one believed he could persevere long enough to see Mike win.

Given only three months to live, all hope seemed dashed when, as a junior, Mike suffered an upset loss in the semifinals of the 1966 state tournament, a loss that probably also cost Waukegan the team title.

Mike would have only one more chance, and that opportunity was 12 months away.

His father rallied and was able to see Mike win the individual state title and his undefeated Bulldog powerhouse squad run away with the team title, Waukegan's fourth. Less than three months later, Ott Bay died.