Pewaukee Wrestling Coach Of 30 Years, 'Beloved Mentor' Remembered

PEWAUKEE, WI — Area coach and community member Mike Brown died at the age of 64 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease on March 29, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Dubbed Coach Brown by family, friends and students, he was the wrestling coach for the Pewaukee Youth Wrestling Club for 30 years and helped kickstart the Pewaukee High School wrestling program.

"(Brown) was a beloved mentor to thousands of young men," wrestling coach Ed Kurth said in a fundraiser page. "Today, along with current high school wrestlers, men in their 40s, 30s and 20s reflect on their time with Coach Brown, remembering his laugh and his positive words, and continue to utilize the lessons he taught them about competition, effort and life."

Under Brown's program, Pewaukee wrestling students won dozens of championships, TMJ4 reported. He showed up to wrestling meets even when he was affected with Alzheimer's.

His sons, Jon and Matt, became the first brothers in village history to each win medals at a statewide high school tournament, Kurth said.

A fundraiser to buy new and improved floor mats for the Pewaukee High School wrestling gym is halfway through its $40,000 goal. The new mats would replace mats that are 20 years old and would prevent injuries and protect joints, Kurth added.