Rick Rakevich
Inducted in 2008

Elma High School 1990-2003

Rick Rakevich wrestled at Elma High School and the University of Puget Sound. He returned to his alma mater to coach for 24 years, first as an assistant to Hall of Fame Coach Rich Graham for ten years. During his 14 years as head coach, Rakevich’s teams had a dual meet record of 108-32-1 and collected six top-ten finishes at state. This included the team championship in 1995. Rick coached 11 state champions along with 36 other state placers. His teams won the district title nine times and were regional champions six times. In 1994, he was selected as the 1A Coach of the Year.

While coaching, Rakevich always emphasized the “student” in his program. 15 Eagles won WSWCA Academic State Championships and four of his teams won the WIAA Academic State Championship for wrestling. In 1995, the Elma wrestlers became the first team in WIAA history to win the Wrestling team state title as well as the academic state title in the same season.

Rick has also been very active in helping wrestlers throughout the state during the freestyle season. He accompanied the state Junior and Cadet teams to the national tournament ten times. He has served as a freestyle official with USA Wrestling/USWF since 1977. Rakevich also ran one of the largest freestyle tournaments in the state, the Elma Freestyle Tournament, from 1979-2002. In 1981, he and his wife Shawnie took the Cultural Exchange team to Germany. Rick and Shawnie have been married since 1975 and have one son, Jamie, who wrestled at Oregon State University.

Nominated by Jamie Rakevich (Aberdeen HS) and Jeffrey Catterlin (Montesano HS).