Witness Post: Don York
Don York, who was inducted into the Oregon Chapter of the USA Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009, is remembered as the long-time coach at Cleveland High School. He served as the wrestling coach from 1957-1983.
High School Honors:
Although he coached at Lincoln High School and Cleveland, York actually attended Franklin High School, graduating in 1949.
Post High School Wrestling Career highlights:
- Portland State College, Varsity Wrestling Letter winner.
- Cleveland High School Wrestling Coach for 24 years (1957-76 and 1978-83), with 114 wins and 60 losses
- Cleveland had 37 individual Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) Champions and 4 individual State Champions
- 1961 and 1962 Cleveland teams were undefeated PIL Champions
- The annual Don York Invitational Wrestling Tournament is held at Cleveland High School
- York was inducted into the Cleveland Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994
- He was inducted into the Oregon Chapter of National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009
- York was inducted into the PIL Coaching Hall of Fame in 2013
Commentary and Reflection by Don York:
Henry E. Hooper 
I attended Franklin High School from 1946-49, then went on to Vanport, the forerunner of Portland State College. PSC couldn’t give diplomas when my course work was completed, so I want to University of Oregon for a quarter and received my degree. While there, I roomed with two PIL Hall of Fame members: Jack Dunn and Cliff York.
I was offered a job in 1956, after earning my BA degree, to coach at Lincoln High School. When I told the Lincoln football coach that I had wrestled in college, he was delighted to give me the job, since he had just been appointed wrestling coach and knew absolutely nothing about the sport.
The next year I transferred to Cleveland High School and the rest is history. Starting in 1957, I taught English and coached wrestling there almost continuously for the next quarter century, until I retired in 1983.
My main reflection is about how many of the athletes I worked with have become life-long friends, probably because we always have something to talk about. I spend much of my summers sailing my Hobi 16 and racing when competition shows up.(1)
(1) http://pilhalloffame.org/cybermuseum/product_info.php?products_id=672
Don York, Cleveland Wrestling Coach