James Mastro, a graduate of Augsburg and currently a professor at Bemidji State, will receive the Medal of Courage award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in ceremonies May 30-31.
Bemidji professor to get medal
December 21, 2007 at 4:50AM
Mastro, who has been totally blind since age 18, was a member of the Augsburg wrestling team from 1968 to '73, earning All-Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors twice and winning the conference title at 177 pounds as a senior in 1973. Despite his visual impairment, he competed as a member of the U.S. team at the World University Games in 1973, while earning bronze medals at international competitions three times. In 1976, he became the first blind athlete to be a member of an Olympic team, when he was an alternate on the U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling team at the Montreal Olympics.
Mastro was the first student with a visual impairment to earn a Ph.D. in physical education in the United States.
Mike Houck of Victoria will be added to the hall as a Distinguished Member in 2008.
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