Mike Blasczyk was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He was the second oldest of 8 children, 3 sisters and 4 brothers. He attended Green Bay Southwest High School where he was a three sport athlete, competing in football, wrestling, and track. One of the greatest thrills that Mike remembers about high school wrestling was when they defeated Coleman in a dual match when Coleman had a string of more then 100 consecutive dual wins. Mike attended UW - Stevens Point where he earned his Bachelor degree with a major in Resource Management and a minor in Biology. He proceeded to further his education and received a Masters degree in Education in 1992. Mike played linebacker on the football team at UW Stevens Point where he was a starter for 4 years. His senior year, as team captain, Mike earned All Conference and All District recognition as well as honorable mention All-American and was voted the Most Valuable Team Player. Following his senior year he was awarded the Scholar Athlete of the Year. In 1997 Mike was inducted into the Stevens Point Athletic Hall of Fame. After graduating from Stevens Point in 1973, Mike accepted a teaching position in Kimberly, Wisconsin. Since that time, he has primarily taught at the middle school level in a variety of Sciences and continues to teach there today. During that time he was head Freshmen Football coach for I} years. Mike helped start the middle school wrestling program, which he also coached for 5 years. He continues to volunteer his time to help officiate and coordinate the annual Youth Wrestling Tournament. In 1975, Mike began officiating High School Wrestling and within several years was officiating sectionals. Mike worked his first state tournament in 1986 and since that time "has worked either the team state or individual state tournament on 11 different occasions. In addition, he has acted as an off mat tournament special assistant and head of officials at both events. During the days of the WISAA, he worked their state tournament on 7 different occasions. Mike has been lead official at the "Oshkosh On the Water Classic" since its origin in 1991 and serves the same role at the "CheeseHead Invitational". He has worked team state sectionals since the beginning of the tournament. Mike officiates an average of about 30 contests per year and frequently helps out with local youth programs, post high school tournaments, as well as All-Star events. Mike was one of the founders of the wrestling division of the FOX CITIES OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION (FCOA) and has been their acting chairman since 1986. He also acts as a Contest Coordinator and works with schools and conference commissioners throughout Northeastern Wisconsin in meeting their officiating needs for the sport of wrestling. He helped facilitate and coordinate three different WIAA sanctioned state - wide wrestling officiating clinics and hopes to do another in 2005. Mike is extremely proud of the FCOA and all its' members and their individual accomplishments. He takes seriously the responsibility of "education" as a means to protect the safety of the athletes as well as being the key to successful officiating. Mike has built many lifetime friendships with its' members, and considers the FCOA one of the finest group of officials / men within the state. He indicated that the organization is averaging about 40 members per year. In 1991 and 1992 Mike was Vice President then President of the FOX CITIES OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION which is comprised of officials from all high school sports. From 1995-1998 he served on the WIAA "Officials Advisory Committee". Presently, and for the past 5 seasons, Mike has been a rules interpreter for the state of Wisconsin. He has presented the annual "rules meeting" to the WWCA since 1999. He enjoys this role a great deal and spends much time during the season corresponding with individual officials and coaches, as well as directly to the WIAA. Mike and his wife, Cathi, a Human Resources Director at Automotive Supply Company, live in Appleton. They have two children, Jodi and Kari. Jodi is an elementary teacher in Kaukauna and married Joe Hurley in 2003. Kari is a RN working for Appleton Medical Center and is engaged to be married next summer.