Hall of Fame

ROCKY WELTON

Legendary wrestling coach Rocky Welton has indeed been a true contributor and educator during his 39 years of devotion, leadership, and success as a coach in the sport of wrestling. Welton’s legacy is his ability to take seemingly inexperienced teams and produce winners out of them.

During his tenure as wrestling coach his teams won nine team state titles, three at Goodland High School and six at Garden City High School. His programs produced an amazing 30 state champions. Welton put together an incredible dual record of 200–50–4.

One of his most telling accomplishments, however, is in part the number of former wrestlers he coached, evidence of the positive influence he was on their lives. These wrestlers include Tom Scott of Liberal, Rod Spellman of Hiawatha, Kirk Baker of Hoxie, Doug Duell of Burlington, Colo., Dave Evert of Brewster, Stacy Graff of South Gray, Martin Segovia of Garden City, Ricky Rivera of Andale, Steve Mesa of Olathe South, and Myron Ellegood of Gering, Neb. Many of Welton’s wrestlers went on to accomplish wrestling success at the collegiate level as well.

One of the secrets to Welton’s success was his concern for not only his wrestlers, but any student he came into contact with. Many times, Welton and his wife Phyllis put a kid up for the night until a family problem could be quietly resolved and the child returned home. Many times he challenged a student to take his grades more seriously.

Rocky Welton was a coach’s coach. He taught a generation of coaches and wrestlers the right way to be successful and how to win with honor.

For the many contributions Welton provided for the sport of wrestling in Kansas and the impact he has had on numerous lives, the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association is honored to induct him into the prestigious Hall of Fame.