HOF 2007 – Athletics
Opp was Aberdeen Central’s first state champion wrestler (winning the title twice) with an overall high school wrestling record of 60-5-1. In 1970, he was the National AAU Greco Roman Champion, the United States Wrestling Federation National Freestyle Champion and the South Dakota Amateur Athletic Union outstanding wrestler. Opp was the head wrestling coach for 21 years at Wenatchee High School, Wenatchee, WA, where he coached four State Champions and 40 state place winners. For nine straight years, his team was in the top eight at the state tournament. He was named “Coach of the Decade” in the 1990’s in North Central WA.
Achievements and awards at Central High School
Soph year 4th place at State Wrestling Tournament
Junior year 1st place at State Wrestling Tournament
Senior year 1st place at State Wrestling Tournament
Overall high school record: 60-5-1
Other achievement and awards
Summer of 1969 First place Junior Olympics in Greco Roman and third place in Freestlye
South Dakota independent Athlete of the year in 1969
College: Bachelor and Master of Science degrees at South Dakota State University
Soph year 2nd place NCAA Div 2 Junior year 5th place NCAA Div 2 Senior year 2nd place NCAA Div 2
Overall college record: 94-19-1
National AAU Greco Roman Champion 1970
United State Wrestling Federation National Freestyle Champion 1970
South Dakota Amateur Athletic Union outstanding wrestler in 1970
5th place in World University Games, Moscow, Russia in 1973
Member of USA wrestling teams to Russia, Poland, Yugoslavia, and Romania 1970-76
Outstanding Athletes of America 1973 NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship 1973-74
Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities 1973-74
Assistant Professor and Head Wrestling Coach at Eastern Washington University 1977-82
During that time the team placed 2nd and 3rd place in the NAIA Nationals Named by “Amateur Wrestling News” as Rookie Coach of the Year in 1978
Head wrestling coach for 21 years at Wenatchee High School, Wenatchee, Washington
Coached 4 State Champions and 40 state place winners
Team finished 2nd ,3rd,and 4th in State 4A State Wrestling Tournaments
9 straight years in the top 8 at the State Wrestling Tournament
Named “Coach of the Decade” in the 1990’s in North Central Washington”Washington State 4A coach of the year in 1999
1999 was the recipient of the Ralph Ginn Award for Coaching Excellence awarded by South Dakota State University
South Dakota Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2000
Retired from coaching wrestling at Wenatchee in 2003-04. Taught mathematics at Wenatchee High School and Coached the boy’s golf team until he retired from teaching.