Mike Hagerty was presented with the Mal Mayse Distinguished Service Award during the MSHSAA Wrestling Championships, recognizing a lifetime of service and leadership in Missouri high school athletics and the sport of wrestling.
The Mal Mayse Distinguished Service Award honors individuals whose dedication and commitment have made a lasting impact on interscholastic activities throughout Missouri. Hagerty’s career reflects decades of influence as a coach, educator, official and leader at the state and national levels.
Hagerty spent 25 years as an educator and 24 years as a wrestling coach at Blue Springs High School, where he guided teams and individuals to multiple state championships while mentoring student-athletes in both academics and athletics. His commitment to education and character development extended well beyond the mat and into the classroom.
At the collegiate level, Hagerty served as head wrestling coach at the University of Central Missouri from 1986 to 1993, earning three MIAA Coach of the Year honors and leading the program to conference success and national recognition. He also played a key role in coaching education as Director of Coaches Education for USA Wrestling, where he helped design and implement national coaching programs.
Hagerty’s service to the sport continued through officiating, as he worked as an NCAA wrestling official for more than 25 years, officiating at over 30 NCAA Championships and serving as Director of Officials for both the Big Ten and Mid-American Conferences. His leadership also included time as Missouri USA Wrestling State Chairman and as founder and executive director of the International Collegiate Wrestling Officials Association.
In recognition of his contributions, Hagerty has been inducted into five hall of fames, including the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla. He remains active as a national speaker and mentor and is the founder of High Performance Living, where he continues to work with athletes, coaches and organizations on leadership and development.