Dale was born March 26, 1949 to Jim and Marie Hodkiewicz. He is the second of four boys and one girl. Dale grew up near Seymour, Wis. where his parents operated the Chicago Corners Cheese Factory. He attended Seymour High School where he participated in cross-country, wrestling, and track. He was MVP in cross-country for two years. Dale wrestled for Coach Dick Tepp who guided him to conference and regional championships and a trip to State at 120 lbs. in 1967. Dale attended UW La Crosse where he wrestled and lettered under Coach Bill Floyd. He then transferred to UW Stevens Point where he wrestled and lettered for 2 years under Coach Wayne Gorrell and his last year under Coach Reggie Wicks. He was captain his last year. Life took a big turn in the spring of 1972. With eight weeks to graduation, Dale left Point and purchased the Grass Lake Cheese Factory in Shawano Wis. with his brother, Gary. In 1975, he received a call from Tom Flanagan at Bonduel High School. For the next 6 years Dale had the privilege of coaching alongside a gentleman who taught him how to coach"”and what was important when dealing with young men. Coach Flanagan taught that the kids come first, something Dale has embraced throughout his life. Dale then began coaching in Shawano, Wis. with Jim Allbaugh. When Allbaugh stepped down, Dale took the head job and held it until a change in his career. Dale and his wife, Donna, decided to close the cheese factory in 1995. Dale was hired by Graf Creamery, a butter plant near Bonduel, to be assistant manager. Because of the job responsibilities he stepped down as wrestling coach. He worked the next 17 years at Graf. To stay involved with wrestling, Dale worked with the youth program and did radio play-by-play for dual meets, and for nine years at the State Tournament for several area schools. He was also hired by several schools to manage their tournaments. He has been the Meet Manager for the Div. 3 sectionals hosted by Bonduel in Shawano for several years. Presently, Dale is back on the mats full time at Menominee Indian High School in Keshena, Wis. along with Kirk Bahr, one of his former wrestlers. He has also been President of the Shawano County Fair Board for the past 15 years and the Race Director at the Shawano Speedway. Dale and Donna have been married for 42 years. They thank God everyday for their two sons, Jeremy and Eric, and daughter, Jennifer. They are very proud of all their children's accomplishments. They have six grandchildren that keep them running and loving it. Dale's real hero is his wife, Donna. After closing the cheese factory, Donna started college at age 40. She drove to UWGB for five years, graduated with a degree in Elementary Ed., and is teaching 3rd. grade in Shawano. Donna continued her studies and earned her Masters Degree. The Lord has truly blessed Dale and his family. To be part of this group is both humbling and exciting. Being awarded for doing something that you love is awesome.