John Casebeer
Wrestling Coach

John Casebeer is a 1963 Edmonds High School graduate who was a 3-year varsity letter winner in cross country and wrestling. As a high school athlete, he was crowned the state wrestling champion in 1963 at 123 lbs. Casebeer then attended Everett Junior College for one year in 1964 and placed second in the community college conference championships state in wrestling. After his one-year at Everett CC, he transferred to Central Washington University and placed 3rd in the NAIA National Tournament in 1968. He earned all-American honors that year under the legendary coach, Eric Beardsley, who is an inductee in the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame (WSCWA HOF).  

Following his athletic career, John’s first teaching and coaching job was at Alderwood Junior High in the Edmonds School District where he taught and coached wrestling for 30 years. As a coach, he spent 10 years at Alderwood Junior High. There, the wrestling program won eight District Championships. He taught and coached at Mountlake Terrace High School from 1980 – 1985. He also spent 18 years at Brier Middle School where the wrestling program won 18 District Championships.  

John coached 25 state participants and one state champion. He coached many middle school students who continued wrestling in later years. Among those students are Randy Couture, a 2015 Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Gregg Ortegga, and Blaine Gilchrist. To many of these kids, Coach Casebeer was more than their wrestling coach. He inspired them and welcomed them with open arms as he helped develop these young men. Numerous of his students thank him to this day for all the support he provided them throughout their lives. 

A highly successful coaching career allowed Casebeer to be inducted into the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2015. The following year in 2016, he was inducted into the Edmonds Woodway Athletic Hall of Fame. 

In addition to coaching, John was a member of the Snohomish County Wrestling Officials Association and officiated for 27 years.  

John Casebeer grew up in Mullan, Idaho before he relocated to Lynnwood, WA. John and his wife currently live in Skagit County.

GALLERY