Bangor High School and Olivet College's Dennis Paquette selected for induction into Michigan Wrestling Association Hall of Fame

Press release written by Mark Holdren, MWA Hall of Fame Chair

Ann Arbor, Mich. — The Michigan Wrestling Association (MWA), the organization representing high school wrestling coaches, has selected Mr. Dennis Paquette for induction into the Michigan Wrestling Association Hall of Fame, Class of 2022. The induction ceremony will be held on November 5, 2022 at 6:00pm at the Wyndham Garden Ann Arbor Hotel, 2900 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 during the fall wrestling coaches clinic.

The Michigan Wrestling Association Hall of Fame's first induction ceremony occurred forty-four years ago in 1978 and in-ducted ten of Michigan's legends in the sport of wrestling. This year's Class of 2022 includes Joe McFarland, University of Michigan; Dave Mills, Forest Hills Central High School and Grand Valley State University; Dennis Paquette, Bangor High School; and Mike Vanderhyde, Tri County High School.

Dennis Paquette joins this year's class of MWA Hall of Fame inductees with thirty-two years of coaching experience and still counting! His remarkable coaching career began as the Head Coach of the varsity wrestling team at Munising High School, where he coached for two years (1987-1989). He then moved to the Head Wrestling Coach's position at Bangor High School in 1991 and remained there for the next twenty-seven years. Then, from 2017 to 2020, he was the Head Coach of the varsity wres-tling team at Bloomingdale High School. Dennis begins the 2022 season this fall at Olivet College, after taking a position as an Assistant Coach.

Under his leadership Coach Paquette's teams worked hard and accomplished great things. With an overall win/loss record of 557/242/5, his teams earned eleven Conference Championships, twenty District Championships, three Regional Championships and had one Final Four finish. He also had four teams receive Academic All-State Honors. In addition Coach Paquette had thirty -five All-State Medalists, three State Champions, one Southwest Michigan Wrestler of the Year, one USA Wrestling Jr. National Champion and multiple All-Americans. Thirty-seven of his wrestlers had 100+ victories. Seven of Coach Paquette's wrestlers have competed at the collegiate level - two as Division 1 wrestlers.

Dennis was named Southwest Michigan Coach of the Year two times, League Coach of the Year four times and Regional Coach of the Year four times. In 2013 he received the Van Buren County Hero in Education Award.

Dennis Paquette has promoted the sport of wrestling throughout his coaching career with his involvement in multiple organi-zations and committees. He served as the Coaches Education Director for the Michigan Wrestling Federation (7 years), was Co-Founder of the Southwest-10 Conference, served on the Michigan Wrestling Federation Executive Board (6 years), the MHSAA Rules Committee (7 times), the MHSAA Officials Selection Committee (4 times), served on the USA Wrestling Coaches Manu-al Committee and at the USA Wrestling Coaches College. For fifteen years Dennis coached on the Team Michigan Staff. While he was on staff Team Michigan was the Freestyle Champion at the Ocean State Sports Festival where they also placed second in Greco (1995), and placed fourth at the National Duals (1996). In 1997 Dennis was the Head Coach for the Team Michigan Cul-tural Exchange to Japan.

The Michigan Wrestling Association represents over 600 coaches throughout the state and is a member association of the Michigan High School Coaches Association, the National Wrestling Coaches Association and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.

The Michigan Wrestling Association is very proud to induct Dennis Paquette into the Hall of Fame Class of 2022. Dennis is a person who's work and values best mirror those of the MWA.

For further information, contact Mr. Mark F. Holdren, Hall of Fame Chair at mholdren.11@gmail.com or 517-526-4575.