Official call: Mekeel to be inducted into IWCOA Hall of Fame

Prior to starting his 37th season as a wrestling official, Don Mekeel received a nice surprise.

A Sterling resident and former coach of the Golden Warriors, Mekeel was included in the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association [IWCOA] Hall of Fame class for 2012. Formal induction ceremonies will be Saturday, April 14 in Countryside.

“I never really looked at myself as a Hall of Famer,” Mekeel said, “but I do feel I’ve made a contribution to the sport, both as a coach and an official.”

Mekeel was nominated for the honor by his officiating mentor, Tony Licocci, himself a Hall of Famer, class of 1989. Licocci, a Rock Falls resident, encouraged Mekeel to become an official and had him tag along to matches.

“Tony is one of those guys that kind of changed my life,” Mekeel said. “When I first started teaching and coaching, he’s the one that convinced me to give refereeing a try. I really didn’t want to do it. I was kind of scared to go out there.”

Mekeel, a 1971 Dixon High School graduate and an NCIC champion at 132 pounds, has made a name for himself in wrestling. He guided Sterling to a 140-59 record in nine seasons, highlighted by a Class 2A dual team state tournament berth in 2002. He coached 14 state qualifiers and three place-winners.

Officiating took a backseat to coaching during Mekeel’s time at Sterling [1993-2003], but he has since devoted his time to officiating, be it on or off the mat.

He’s worked the dual team state tournament six times, and will serve as the tourney’s head official in 2012. Mekeel has also worked the individual state tourney four times, the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation [IKWF] state tournament four times and the Midlands, a prestigious college event, three times.

Mekeel is also one of 10 wrestling clinicians for the Illinois High School Association. He travels throughout the state, working with officials and coaches on rules and regulations. He relishes the time spent with young officials, passing on knowledge to make the sport he loves better.

“I always tell the guys, ‘Just imagine, when you started wrestling, if you never had a coach and you just went out there and tried to figure it out on your own,’ “ Mekeel said. “You wouldn’t have achieved nearly what you did with a good coach. This is the same thing with officiating. Too many guys go out there and try to find their way without help from somebody who’s been there. That’s the point I try to get across to the younger guys.”