JACK LaBONDE
Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award

Jack LaBonde was a graduate of Denver North High School going on to earn his BA and MA degrees at the University of Northern Colorado. He coached wrestling and baseball at Brush (1955-56), Montrose (1956-59) and at Northern Colorado (1959-1981). His teams had a combined record of 238-73, with a record of 155-68-2 at UNC. While coaching for the Bears, his teams won five RMAC titles (1966, .67, .69, .70 and .71) and five MIWA championships (1968, .71, .73 and .75). The Bears also finished in the top 15 in four national tournaments, the highest, 12th in 1967. He coached three NCAA champions - Jack Flasche, Len Groom and Larry Wagner. He won two state high school state championships at Montrose, 1957 and 1959, and the Indians finished second in 1958. He also coached the state.s first, four-time prep champion, Bob Thompson, at Montrose. He also won a pair of state runner-up trophies in baseball with the Indians. He was also award various coach of the year honors five times in his career. He helped organize the Class A wrestling tournament in 1968 and served as its director for 10 years while the tournament was held in Greeley.  He is married to wife, Fay, and they have six children, Janie, Jack Jr., Jerry, Jill, Brian and Brad.