“I have known him to be the first hand to volunteer, the first solution to a problem and the first to make the necessary changes that add value to the youth athletic experience,” Tim Graham said of his longtime colleague and fellow athletic director, Shelly Thiel, who’s dedicated the better part of the past five decades to Washington state youth athletics.

Thiel made his mark at every rung of the WIAA administrative ladder. Before he was the athletic director at Enumclaw High School from 1988-2000, and WIAA West Central District (WCD) III Director from 2000-2016, Thiel led a Hall of Fame career as a wrestling coach at both the state and national level, earning Coach of the Year honors for his expertise and leadership.

From there, Thiel expanded his influence, moving from mats to policy-making. Since the late ‘80s, Thiel has served as League President among Pierce County, South Puget Sound, and Seamount Athletic Directors, adding duties as District Three Director along the way.

At Enumclaw, he coordinated the proposal for the construction of new community and school district stadiums. Thiel also spearheaded the formation of the WCD III Westside Classic Cross Country event, bringing together all the WCD classifications for one big community race. In the winters, he sponsored the WCD basketball tournament, encouraging further participation for hoopers around the region.

As a policymaker, Thiel’s impact has been a pillar of success for the rest of the state to emulate. “His work with the eligibility chair and the WCD Eligibility Committee,” in the words of fellow board members, “has served as a quasi-model for many of the other state districts in the organization, hearing management, and success of the eligibility committees across the state.”

Outside the school district, Thiel’s impact transcends activities and athletics. He spent time on the Business/Education Committee for the city’s chamber of commerce, also lending his services as a board member for the Enumclaw City Park and Community Hospital. In the summers, he directed the Enumclaw City Recreation Summer Program.

At the state level, Thiel has managed well over 30 League, District, and WIAA-orchestrated events, including the 3A and 4A brackets at Mat Classic. He also spent many years as a WSSAAA board member, acting as a pivotal “relationship builder who fought to always do the right thing for all WIAA districts,” according to fellow WIAA Hall of Famer Jim Piccolo.

Today, the WIAA holds the honor of adding yet another plaque to Shelly’s growing list of accolades. And we’re far from the first to the table. Locally, he earned the WCD’s Meritorious Award, and he’s long since been inducted into Enumclaw High School’s Hall of Fame. A former Gareth Giles and Athletic Director of the Year award-winner, Thiel’s name has its place firmly on the walls of the WSSAAA Hall of Fame.

But for Shelly, it’s never been about the awards or the trophies – it’s only ever been about his duty to the people he represents. As Tim Thomsen put it, “If it meant driving several hundred miles to drop off passes, or tournament supplies, Shelly never waivered, and always took the extra steps to serve our schools, kids and his beloved tournament directors.”