Former MRHS Wrestling Coach Dick Brenneman will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for his lifetime of service to the sport of wrestling. The event will be held Saturday, May 16, at the King Oscar Hotel and Convention Center in Tacoma. The reception will begin at 3:00 p.m., with the banquet and inductions ceremonies following at 4:00 p.m.

Dick Brenneman was the wrestling coach at Mount Rainier High School from 1962 - 1980. He was responsible for starting the program in 1962. At that time, only about ten high schools in the state had wrestling. MRHS Wrestling Coach Frank Brandt commented, "Thanks to Dick, Mount Rainier was one of the first programs in the state. He coached many state champions. Many of his wrestlers went on to wrestle at the University of Washington."

The 2009 honorees are Dick Brenneman, Bruce Cook, Bryce Cook, Gery Gehrmann, Fred Kalal, and Phyllis Meyerhoff. These individuals have given countless hours of their time instilling in young people the skills needed to succeed in all areas of life. They will be permanently recognized at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma. http://www.wrestlinghalloffame.org

Jim Meyerhoff, Western Washington State Chapter Vice-President of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the Washington Chapter said, "This is the ultimate award for an individual who has devoted their life to our great sport."