Mike Langlais, son of Edward and Delores Langlais, was born and raised in Fridley, Minnesota, along with two brothers and a sister. The family moved to Apple Valley when Mike was in 3rd grade. Mike started his wrestling career in the youth program under some outstanding coaches, led by Doug Anderson, who coached football and wrestling at Rosemount for many years. As a ninth grader, Mike made the starting line-up on the first-ever Apple Valley wrestling team under the direction of Bill Demaray. Mike qualified for State at 112# that first year and came back as a sophomore at 126# with a Region title and a 4th place finish at State. As a junior, Langlais won the Region at 132# and made it to the State Finals before getting upset by a relatively unknown wrestler from Moorhead by the name of Steve Carr. As a Senior, Mike was crowned as the 138# state champion, capping off an undefeated season. Mike remembered his Apple Valley team taking eighth place in Region One that first season and finishing as State Runner-up to a talented and seasoned Bloomington Kennedy team in the State Finals in his senior year. In addition to Demaray, Apple Valley had some outstanding assistant coaches led by Greg Gunderson.

After graduating from Apple Valley, Mike enrolled at Division II powerhouse North Dakota State under the direction of Bucky Maughan. Mike was strong and quick, making the transition from High School to college wrestling without a hitch. Mike placed 4th at the Division II National Tournament as a Freshman, and came back as a sophomore with a National Title at 142#. Mike came back as a junior poised to repeat, but was edged in the National Finals by a pretty fair wrestler from Cal-State Bakersfield by the name of Jesse Reyes, who went on to win the Division I Title the next weekend.

The following year, Mike was struggling to keep his weight down early in the year and asked Bucky if he could go up to 150# to wrestle against the defending National Champ from Nebraska-Omaha by the name of Mark Manning to see if he would be able to compete at 150# at Nationals.

Bucky loved the idea, and they decided to “go for it”. Mike defeated Manning by a 9-0 score and decided to stay at 150# for the remainder of the season. Langlais won the National Title with a pin over Mark Kristoff (son of Larry Kristoff) in the finals, with Manning taking 3rd place after losing to Kristoff in the semis. Mike then wrestled in the Division I Tournament and took 6th place, with Kenny Monday taking top honors at 150#. Mike was indebted to Bucky Maughan and some outstanding assistant coaches, with Greco-Roman Gold Medalist Jeff Blatnik being a key person in Mike’s development on the feet.

Mike stayed on at NDSU to finish his degree in Physical Education & Health degree while serving as a grad assistant in wrestling, then did his student teaching under Bill Demaray back at his alma mater, Apple Valley. Mike then joined his dad in the landscaping business, but continued serving as an assistant coach at Apple Valley. Mike moved to Lakeville and joined forces with Darwin Rasmussen, as Mike’s son Ryan was in the Lakeville school system. After 14 enjoyable years at Lakeville, Mike returned to Apple Valley for a few more years and then assisted Kurt Habeck and Nick Fornicoia when his son Ryan wrestled at Eastview.

Mike was then recruited into the world of officiating, where he met another great group of wrestling people for another enjoyable 14-year stint, with a shout-out to Scott Erickson, Ron Ackerman, and Rod Frost for getting him started, as well as many other officials who mentored him along the way. Mike was an outstanding wrestling official and developed a whole new appreciation for the men in stripes.

Mike has started to turn the landscaping business over to his son, Ryan, and spends as much time as possible at his cabin near Remer, MN, with his wife, Robin, daughter of longtime Coon Rapids coach Bob Board, his children (Ryan and Ashley), and his five grandchildren.