One of the great coaches and contributors to the sport of wrestling is longtime Janesville coach Mike Niemczyk. This Forest Lake native and Bemidji State grad coached at Janesville and Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton (J-W-P) and left a strong legacy in the sport of wrestling in Minnesota. Raised in Forest Lake, Minnesota, Mike was a three-sport athlete, earning numerous Letter Awards in football, wrestling and track. He was a two-time All-Conference wrestler and 1966 state qualifier. Mike was also a Boys State nominee in 1965. From high school, Niemczyk went on to wrestle at Bemidji State College where he was an NAIA National Runner-up and All-American. He was also a two-time All-Conference wrestler, placing third his sophomore year. In addition, he served as Team Captain his junior and senior years, wrestling for Hall of Fame Coach, the late Chet Anderson. He earned a B.S. Degree, majoring physical education, health, and driver education, with a minor in geography. After serving a year as an assistant wrestling coach at Bemidji State in 1970-71, Niemczyk accepted a head wrestling coaching position at Janesville High School (consolidated into Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton High School in 1991) in the fall of 1971. He began a coaching career there that lasted thirty four years. At Janesville he led five teams to the state tournament, placing seventh in 1982, fourth in 1986, sixth in 1997, and runner-up in 1998; five Region (Section) team titles and four runners-up . Sixteen teams won Gopher Conference titles also. He was honored with Minnesota State Coach of the year awards in 1986 and 1996. While at Janesville / JWP he was an assistant football coach for 27 years, the head baseball coach for 1 year, and assisted at golf for 6 years. Since retiring in 2005, Mike has kept busy. Starting in 2006 he has served as assistant wrestling coach at Minnesota State University-Mankato. He also served as an Education Liason for the Minnesota National Guard. In addition, he helps at the Minnesota State Wrestling Tournament with registration and floor management, and coordinates the play by play broadcasting for 45 Grand Stadium T.V. Niemczyk always gives back to his sport and education. Mike has been Chairman of the Minnesota Cultural Exchange Team from 1974 to 1978; He served as President of the local Janesville education Association in 1978; He was part of the Janesville Education Negotiation Team four times ; Team Leader and Coach for the Cultural exchange Team to Turkey in 1976; He was the first Chairman of the Minnesota verses Iowa High school All-Star Wrestling Classic; He served as President of the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association; Section representative from 1995 - 2005; Writer for the " The Guillotine" news paper, writing " Southern Slants", for 14 years; Assisted with and coached Minnesota teams going to National Wrestling Coaches National Tournaments from 2001 - 2007; Committee member for the Dream Team competition held at Apple Valley High School in April of 2000. Served on the Minnesota Wrestling Coaches Association Advisory Committee to the Minnesota State High School League (2005-2010); Member of the selection committee for the Dave Bartelma - Minnesota Wrestling Hall of Fame (2006 to present) and a member of the selection committee for the Minnesota Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, from 2009 to present. He was inducted into the Bemidji State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Dave Bartelma - Minnesota Wrestling hall of Fame in 1996. Niemczyk has also been extremely active in the other community organizations. He belonged to the Janesville Area Jaycees (1973 -1987); He directed the summer recreation program in Janesville (1972-1975); a member of the Board of Janesville Area Park and Recreation (1999-2001); Janesville Area Golf Association Board member (1999-2001; Active in the St. Ann's Catholic Church; Knights of Columbus and the Parish Counsel committee. In the late 1980's Niemczyk, along with then Owatonna Coach Scot Davis, organized and directed one of Minnesota's first traveling wrestling camps with the Minnesota "Wrestling Country Camps." Now, even though he is officially retired, Mike continues to give back to his community and student-athletes, coaching at the college level. He is truly one of the most unselfish "workhorses" for the sport of wrestling in the state of Minnesota. Even the initials of his first and last name stand for Minnesota, "M.N." Mike Niemczyk has contributed much time and effort to the betterment and recognition of the sport of wrestling. He continues to give his time, serving on committees and coaching at Minnesota State-Mankato. The Niemczyk family includes wife, Rene, an active helper and supporter to wrestling and Mike's coaching over the years. Son, Mike and his wife Christie live in Lakeville, MN. He was a three sport athlete in high school and wrestled on the 1986 state team, qualifying for state competition his senior year, 1988. He went on to play college baseball at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menominee, Wisconsin. Daughter Jill and her husband, Todd Wagner and their daughter Nadia reside in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Jill also a three sport athlete in high school found time to help with the wrestling program as a statistician and registrar at summer camps. She was a three time All-American gymnast at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. Mike and Rene still reside in Janesville and are very much and active part of that community.