Dan Pernat

Dan Pernat was born and raised in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. A 1962 graduate of Oconomowoc
High School, he was a state qualifier in 1961 at 154 pounds, and placed 3rd at the state
tournament in 1962 at 180 pounds and was the team captain his senior year. Dan went on to
attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison on a wrestling scholarship, was a 3-time team captain and an academic All-American. He was the NCAA runner-up at 191 pounds in 1965 and was the Badger wrestling team MVP. He capped off his collegiate career with a 3rd place finish at the Big Ten Championships in 1966.

Coach Pernat taught and coached wrestling at Evansville High School in 1967-68 before moving on to Milton High School where he taught physical education and was the head wrestling coach for 23 years, where he never had a losing season. A fixture in the Milton Wrestling program since 1969, his impact went far beyond the varsity wrestling room, and continues to this day. While at Milton, Pernat coached Mike Barlass, a 2-time state champion and the first Wisconsin wrestler to win a championship at the national tournament in Fargo, North Dakota, as well as numerous conference champions, state qualifiers, and state placewinners, including some of the best heavyweights in Milton and Wisconsin wrestling history such as Bruce Bass, Myron Jenson, Jason Pernat, Pete Traynor, Katon Bethay, Alex Gibson, Nick Hammon, and Nick Gibson. Pernat started the Milton Youth Wrestling Club, and continued to work with the youth, middle school, and high school programs long after he had officially retired from teaching and coaching. His knowledge of wrestling and tenacious attitude are the foundation for the success that the Milton Wrestling program has enjoyed for decades.

He was inducted into the Milton Area Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Coach Pernat has been married to his wife Ingrid since 1971, and together they have 2 sons, Jason, a WIAA state champion in 1996 and University of Wisconsin-Madison wrestler, and Mike, a 4-time WIAA state qualifier and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse wrestler.

Career Accomplishments:

● Competed at Oconomowoc High School, WI

● 1961: State Qualifier at 154 lbs.

● 1962: Finished 3rd at the State Tournament at 180 lbs.

● Wrestled for the University of Wisconsin-Madison on scholarship

● 1965: NCAA All-American by virtue of his 2nd place finish at 191 lbs.

● 1965: Most Valuable Wrestler, University of Wisconsin-Madison

● 1966: 3rd place in the Big Ten Conference at heavyweight

● Academic All-American, University of Wisconsin-Madison

● 3X Team Captain at University of Wisconsin-Madison

● 1967: Head Wrestling Coach at Evansville High School and physical education teacher

● 1969-1990: Head Wrestling Coach at Milton High School

● Coached Mike Barlass, Milton 2X state champion, and first Wisconsin wrestler to win a

national championship in Fargo, ND.

● Started Milton Youth Wrestling Club