Guy Melby
Montana
For the past thirty-nine years, Guy Melby has been a cornerstone of Sidney High School, serving as both a respected educator and an elite wrestling coach. But to define Melby by just those years would be to only scratch the surface of a legacy decades in the making.
Described by his nominator as “a first-class educator and quite literally one of the greatest coaches in the country,” Melby’s resume reads like a hall-of-fame career, because it is. With an astonishing overall coaching record of 540-149, his Sidney wrestling program has become a model of consistency, grit, and excellence. Under his leadership, Sidney has produced 66 State Champions, 260 State Place Winners, and 20 High School All-Americans.
A Western Montana College Hall of Fame linebacker and a Master of Education graduate, Melby has combined athletic excellence with academic commitment, earning him accolades including Montana Coach of the Year (10 times), AAU National Man of the Year (2002), and induction into the AAU National Coaches Hall of Fame (2017). In 2003, the Sidney Kiwanis Club even declared a “Guy Melby Day,” a testament to his profound impact on the community.
Despite the long list of honors, Melby remains grounded. What matters most to him? “Being a good father and husband,” he says, “and coaching my own boys, along with every kid who stuck out this sport.” His greatest joy comes from “watching and developing kids to reach what they thought they could never do.”
The mind-set he shares with his wrestlers: “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of an attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, education, money, circumstances, failures, successes, than what other people say or do. It is more important than appearances, giftedness, or skill. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is only 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.”
For Melby, those words aren’t just motivational—they’re a challenge to his athletes. Wrestling, he teaches, is more than strength or speed. It’s about resilience, responsibility, and the choice to face adversity with the right mindset.
Melby’s contributions go beyond the mat and classroom. A stalwart member of the Sidney community, he’s involved in numerous youth activities and serves as a leader and motivator for generations of athletes. Whether coaching on the national stage or mentoring at home, he brings the same passion, discipline, and heart to every endeavor.
Asked why he coaches, Melby’s answer is simple: “I’ve always been a competitive person. Coaching gave me a way to stay in the game and give back.” He is already looking forward to the next season, and he is gearing up for his wrestling camp and taking Team Montana to Florida this summer. Respected by students, peers, and community members alike, Guy Melby is not only a coach and educator; he’s a builder of champions and a shaper of lives.
Ron Peterson
Iowa
AAU Service and Involvement
Ron has been active in Iowa AAU Wrestling and National AAU Wrestling since 1993. His first duty was as a table worker at the Iowa AAU Kids State Tournament in Cedar Rapids. His involvement in the event continues today. He is a member of the tournament committee that oversees the event series that involves over 4000 wrestlers (boys and girls).
Ron currently serves on the Iowa AAU Wrestling Executive Committee and as the Iowa AAU Wrestling Treasurer. He also serves as the Iowa AAU State Committee Treasurer and is an Iowa Executive Committee member.
He became involved in AAU national events when approached about hosting the AAU Middle School National Duals at Simpson College in 2001. The first tournament had 12 teams. Iowa AAU Wrestling continues to host the event that currently includes a freshman-sophomore division, junior-senior division, and two girl divisions. In 2019, Iowa AAU Wrestling hosted 62 teams in Des Moines from around the country.
Ron serves on the National AAU Wrestling Executive Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee. In 2017, he was inducted into the AAU National Wrestling Hall of Fame. In 2018, he was named the Iowa District Volunteer of the Year by the AAU National Wrestling Committee. In 2018, he was honored for his outstanding commitment and dedication to the AAU Junior Olympic Games hosted in Des Moines, Iowa.
Coaching Career
His coaching career started at Clarksville High School in Clarksville, Iowa in the fall of 1980. His teams compiled a dual meet record of 126-22-2 and three state championships (Class 1A State Dual Meet Champions in 1989 and 1990 and Class 1A Traditional State Champions in 1991). Ron was named Class 1A State Coach of the Year in 1988.
At Cedar Rapids Prairie High School, his team won the 1994 3A State Dual Meet Championship and won the Class 3A Traditional State Championship in 1995. His teams compiled a 51-3 dual meet record and he was named Class 3A State Coach of the Year in 1994.
Ron’s teams at Simpson College won 196 duals from 1995-2008. His teams finished in the top ten at the Division III National Championships four times (5th in 1998, 5th in 2005, 6th in 2006, and 9th in 2007). His 2005 team finished 3rd in the NWCA National Dual Meet Championships. One of his wrestlers, Nick Ackerman, shared (with Cael Sanderson) the 2001 Dan Hodge Trophy. The Hodge Trophy is presented to the country’s top college wrestler.
Ron was inducted into the National Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2011 for lifetime service to the sport of wrestling.
Personal Information
Ron graduated from Webster City High School in Webster City, Iowa. Ron placed in the Iowa High School State Championships in 1975. He wrestled at Iowa Central Community College and Buena Vista College. At Buena Vista College, Ron was team captain, team MVP and qualified for the Division III National Championships.
Ron is retired after 35 years in the education field and resides in Indianola, Iowa. He has been married to his wife Martha for 41 years, and they have two daughters, Traci Brewer and Kris Birkland. They are blessed with five grandchildren (Anderson, Tate, Laikyn, Adeline, and Amelia).
Jon Reader
Kyle Snyder
