As a high school athlete, Fred Marjerrison participated in as many sports as possible. He wrestled and played football and base­ ball, and pursued the latter two sports in college at Mesa State. However, through a stroke of coincidence, Marjerrison also reconnected with wrestling at Mesa, and it produced what has been a long and productive career on the mat as an official. As part of a work study program with his athletic scholarship at Mesa, Marjerrison found himself working the scorer's table at the Warrior Classic, a long-time high school tournament in Grand Junction. An official asked if he would be interested in officiating. Marjerrison said yes "” and it proved to be the beginning of a journey that has taken him to the pinnacle of collegiate wrestling. Marjerrison expanded his officiating duties in college. He then continued to call high school matches when he graduated and began working at Widefield High School. There he has taught as well as coached wrestling and football. Then came another break! A local college official, Dave Frisch, convinced him to work a match at the Air Force Academy, and soon Marjerrison's collegiate officiating career was on track. "It just kind of took off," Marjerrison said. "I really didn't expect to officiate at the highest level, it just kind of happened. I figured doing college officiating would make me a better high school official "” and now I'm doing almost all college matches." Marjerrison first officiated college matches in Colorado, then got the assignment to call the Division II national championships. A couple of years later, he was assigned to the Division I nationals, and last year, he called his first Division I national championship match. "I had butterflies in my stomach," he admitted with a laugh. "At the D-l level, you have 23,000 people watching you walk out there on one mat. I just wanted to make sure I did a good job. At that point, the wrestling is so tight, one little thing could make the difference in a kid winning a national championship. You want to make sure the wrestlers decide who wins." Marjerrison has called four Division I national tournaments and will make it five this year. But while the stage is bigger, he said the goal is always the same. "It boils down to wanting to get it right every time for the kids," said Marjerrison, now in his 25th year of officiating. "Officials are our own harshest critics. We're tough on ourselves, but that's because you want the kids to decide it on the mat. You're doing it to get it right for kids. The end goal is to always make sure the right kid wins. That's the No. 1 reason you are out there." One thing Marjerrison never considered in his 25 years of calling matches? Getting a call to say he's been selected for the Colo­rado Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. "I was shocked "” stunned," he said. "What a terrific honor. I've been blessed. The sport has given a lot to me, and I have just tried to give back."