DON SONDGEROTH
Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award

Don Sondgeroth, recognized for several years as one of the county's top wrestling officials, slapped the mats for 38 years. He was an outstanding referee-judge at all levels from youth to international and all styles and one of the best educators in the international styles. Among his many honors, he was named the Official of the Year by USA Wrestling in 1980, USA Man of the Year in 1983 and received the 1994 Lifetime Achievement Award from USA Wrestling. The Aurora resident, now retired, made a monumental contribution to wrestling during his tenure as the USWOA president in the
early 1980s when he successfully merged rival factions into on national organization after the legal settlement of the long AAU-USWF struggle. He was an official in 36 national tournaments, 16 as the head official. He was the head official at the 1984 Olympic Trials and participated in three Olympic Festivals. He also was the state director of Freestyle Officials. He and his wife, LaDella live in Aurora, Colorado.