August 27, 2009
Mike Allen retires
Wrestling official Mike Allen stopped by the office Thursday and told me he’s decided to hang up his officiating whistle.
He is the second highly-respected official from Waterloo to retire from officiating in recent years. Chuck Yagla retired two years ago.
Allen, who began officiating wrestling part-time in 1976 while still in college at Ellsworth College, officiated fulltime for 35 years. During that span, he officiated 23 NCAA Division I tournaments, 12 Division II, six Division III, four NAIA, three Junior College, 13 Big Ten and 11 Pac-10 championships.
“It was time,” Allen said. “I had a great run. I’m going to get to see what a Saturday is finally like. I’m still going to be involved, hopefully as a mentor to other officials.
“I’m going to San Antonio and Houston in December to give clinics to wrestling officials. I’m going to be the second head official, nothing on the mat, at the National Duals in January.”
Allen, 59, said he wanted to retire in 2007 when Yagla stepped away, but he was inducted into the National Hall of Fame that season and felt he still had some years left.
What finally convinced him to step aside was his 5-year old granddaughter Anishia, who started kindergarten at Price Lab this fall.
“I dropped her off at school one day and it was great,” Allen said. “When I went away for tournaments she was always asking me where I was going, if she could come with and when I’d be back. She didn’t like me leaving, so now, it’s time for me to live, be with my family.
“I’m looking forward to doing just that, spending time with my family.”
Filed under: Wrestling
1 Comment
August 31st, 2009 at 2:27 pm
I know most officials would say they work their best if they’re not noticed by the fans, but it was a real joy to watch Mike Allen officiate. What an honor to have him step on the mat when I was watching Independence High School wrestling! To think that the very best official the sport had to offer would work a Class 3A regular season dual speaks volumes about his commitment to the sport and joy in working with it.
Enjoy your retirement, Mike. You certainly deserve it, but you will be missed!