One of the great organizers, contributors and coaches in Minnesota High School Wrestling has been Dave Sohn. This former Orono High School Coach and State High School Wrestling champion played a signifi cant role in the development of wrestling in Minnesota. Sohn got started in wrestling growing up in Blue Earth, Minnesota. He placed fourth in State in l955 and was 138 pound Minnesota State High School Wrestling Champion in l956. After high school Dave attended Mankato State College, graduating with a B.S. degree in l965 with a major in Industrial Technology, with minors in health and driver education, then completed his M.A. degree in 1978. Wrestling as a college freshman under legendary Coach Rummy Macias, but due to family obligations the last years was working out with the wrestling team. His first teaching position was at Litchfield High School and also served as assistant coach in football and wrestling. After four years there he moved on to Orono High School taking a head wrestling coaching position and teaching Graphic Arts Technology. As coach at Orono, Sohn turned out 22 State Tournament entries and eight state place winners. Allen Eisinger ('77) and Mike Arne ('79) won State Class AA titles. His most renowned wrestler though was Evan Johnson who wrestled for the U of M where he was a NCAA champion in 1976 and NCAA runner-up in 1977. Johnson also made the l976 United State Olympic Greco Roman team, placing seventh. Dave was selected to The MWCA Bartelma Hall of Fame in 1976 and was also selected as an honoree Minnesota coach for the Dream Team Classic in 2000 at Apple Valley High School. Even as a successful coach, Sohn's greatest contributions to wrestling probably came as a tireless contributor and organizer. Dave served as Minnesota Junior's coach / director for the United States Wrestling Federation. He was involved in establishing the first state USWF training camp, USWF National team and the first State exchange teams with Wisconsin. He also served as counselor and coach for the United State Wrestling Federation developmental camps. As one of the original members of the Minnesota State Wrestling tournament committee, Sohn did much to organize and develop the State Tournament in Minnesota to its high standards of today. Promoting Minnesota Wrestling which involved raising money through donations or the sales of mugs, buttons and pins was started to help the membership money go further. From that came the largest sit-down brunch in St Paul, wrestlers participation plaques, The (Bartelma) Hall of Fame induction/social and the reunion of past state champions. Promotion of a live television broadcast of the individual final matches, the parade of champions that are still being used today. Dave also contributed in other ways too, such as compiling individual point leaders and records for The Minneapolis Star/Tribune for making easier selections for Conference ratings. Dave's family includes wife, Priscilla, sons Blake, Bradley (deceased in l986) and daughters Heidi (Sohn) Gobel and Jodi (Sohn) Lewis. Dave retired in l986 as an active high school coach and has continued to work with the wrestling programs and youth programs up to the present. He continued his classroom teaching in Technology until 1994 when he retired from teaching and then continued with the Orono School District computers and network program until 2002. He spends his time enjoying his grandchildren and serving on the Lake Ada Board of Directors, while working on his hobbies of woodworking, hunting, fishing, hiking and gardening.