Rockey Isley
Inducted in 2009

Olympia HS 1976-present

Rockey Isley attended Columbia Basin Junior College where he competed in football and wrestling on a full scholarship, and transferred to the University of Nevada-Reno to play football and wrestle. He then enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed at McChord Air Force Base for four years. After being assigned to run the base gymnasium, he wresteld for the Air Force under Wayne Baughman. Isley was Air Force Champion in 1971 and 1972. In the All-Inner Service Games he placed second in greco and third in freestyle. Isley then enrolled at Central Washington University where he wrestled for Eric Beardsley. While at CWU he was twice the Evergreen Conference Champion, finished second in the national tournament on Central’s National Championship team in 1974, and was a team captain his senior year. Isley finished his degree as a CWU assistant coach.

He was hired as a teacher and coach at Olympia High School and has been there since 1976. Isley has been selected as the Coach of the Year in the Black Hills League and was honored as the 4A State Coach of the Year. He is a national freestyle and greco coach and coached both styles in the Goodwill Games. Isley coached national teams traveling to Poland, Germany, New Zealand, and Czechoslovakia. He has helped coach some of our nation’s top wrestlers such as Rulon Gardner, Pat Smith and Alan Fried. Isley is also active running regional and district tournaments at Olympia HS.

Nominated by Chris Holterman, Rainier HS, WSWCA Board Member