ASHLAND – The broad influence of Mike Ritchey, a two-time NAIA Coach of the Year and nine-time regional winner for the Southern Oregon University men's wrestling team, is soon to be formalized.

On Saturday in Tigard, Ritchey will be inducted to the Oregon Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2022 for his lifetime service to wrestling.

Ritchey, a native of Salem, is two years removed from his retirement at SOU. Over 25 seasons as the Raiders' head coach, he led the team to an NAIA National Championship and an NWCA dual championship, posted a 235-107 dual record, and oversaw 22 individual national titles.

"I didn't do it alone, and I want to thank all the people who were a part of it," he said. "And if you felt part of it, you were."

Ritchey was central to SOU's powerhouse status for decades, his time with the program spanning 36 years. As a student-athlete from 1984-88, he became the team's first four-time All-American; there wouldn't be another for 14 years. He spent the next six seasons as an assistant under Bob Riehm and then Bob Bergen, a run that included another team title in 1994.

As the head coach, he guided the Raiders to 23 consecutive winning seasons. During that period they compiled 14 conference and regional championships and finished second in the NAIA team standings on five occasions.

After departing SOU, he stepped in for one final season as the head coach at Sprague High in 2021-22 – leading the Olympians to a 17-2-1 dual record, a Mountain Valley Conference championship and a runner-up showing at the OSAA Class 5A Championships with five state and eight conference individual champs.

Ritchey captained the 1987-88 undefeated Raider wrestling team that was inducted to the SOU Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. His NAIA champion 2000-01 squad was part of the Class of 2021.