Warren Deprenger

Warren DePrenger was an exceptional high school and college wrester in the 1950s. Upon graduation from Cornell College, he moved to Spokane and started the wrestling program at Mead High in 1958. He started a program at Clover Park High School, in the 1959-60 school year continuing to lead the Warriors until 1970.

The Warriors placed 3rd at the state tournament in 1962 and seventh in 1964 and Warren produced three individual state champions along the way. The first state champ was Dick Sowell in the 103 lb. weight classification in 1962. In 1964, Dick Shildt at 115 lbs and Robert Beers at 103 lbs both won state crowns and Shildt repeated in 1965 at 120 lbs.

During the period from 1965 to 1969 Clover Park placed no worse than third in the SPSL, a very strong wrestling league at the time and developed a reputation as one of the best programs in the state. During this time, DePrenger was also initiated local junior high programs, summer camps and wrestling clinics.

DePrenger, who still resides in Lakewood, was born September 24, 1933 in Grinnell, Iowa. He was elected to the Washington State Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1991 and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005.

In 1970, he started Matman Wrestling Company. Matman has grown into a worldwide business. It was the supplier of uniforms for the U.S. Olympic wrestling team from 1988 through 2000.