John Oxton grew up in Western North Dakota hunting in the Badlands, fishing in Lake Sakakawea, and golfing. He was a participant in the first North Dakota State High School Wrestling Tournament in 1959. Attending Dickinson State University from 1959-63, his wrestling team had the longest college dual meet winning streak in the nation during that era, going undefeated for three seasons, (1961-63). While undefeated in his senior year, he was injured and turned to coaching and officiating. He even helped with the broadcasting of the first televised State High School Wrestling Tournament in 1963. Following graduation from college, he signed a contract to coach and teach at Mandan High school in North Dakota. Three years later he went back to school to finish his Masterʼs Degree at the University of North Dakota. As a graduate assistant coach at the University, he was introduced to not only coaching at that level, but also to the tough North Central Conference (NCC). In 1967, he became the interim coach at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. The one-year contract became two years and he was then hired as the official coach in 1969-70. The 70ʼs were great years for the Huskies in the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC), one of the best NAIA Conferences in the country. Mankato State had moved to the NCC, leaving Bemidji State, Moorhead State, Winona State, Michigan Tech University, University of Mn Morris, University of Mn Duluth and Southwest State along with St. Cloud State. St. Cloud won the NIC four times and was runner-up twice in the next ten years. Their conference dual record was 55-26-4, going undefeated for seven seasons. In 1971, St. Cloud State became dual affiliated with NAIA and NCAA Division II (College Division). The Huskie wrestlers started the new affiliation by being the first SCSU team to participate in an NCAA championship tournament in 1971. Over the next seventeen years, SCSU crowned 32 NCAA Division II All-Americans and finished in the top ten four times. In 1981, St. Cloud State joined the NCC, which was by all measures the strongest Division II wrestling conference in the country. While the Huskies were always competitive, lack of resources, mainly scholarship, prevented the dominance they had experienced in the old NIC. SCSU wrestling contributed numerous individual NCC champions and an Outstanding Wrestler. During the 1970ʼs, John also served as menʼs intercollegiate golf coach. In 1987, John retired from coaching. He became an Associate Professor and primarily taught Recreation and coaching classes in the Physical Education major and served as advisor for coaching certification. He coauthored and published Golf - Playing It Straight in 1991. John retired in 1999 after 32 years of service to St. Cloud State University. He has continued to support the Huskies, helping them to move up and to eventually become the dominant power in Division II wrestling. John was inducted into the St. Cloud State Hall of Fame in 1999, and the Dickinson State Hall of Fame in 2003. John and his wife Jane, have been married 49 years. They have three children. Jeff lives in Sartell, MN and is the Assistant Chief of Police in St. Cloud. Katie lives in St. Cloud and works at a church as Director of Congregational Ministry with Youth. Anne is a Child Protection supervisor for Anoka County. They have seven grandchildren who are all very active in school, sports and music. John continues to be involved in his church and community, and looks forward to each new wrestling season.