Augsburg University Athletics

Despite blindness, Mastro earned most improved wrestler honors in 1972, finished third in MIAC as junior and won the MIAC title as a senior, beating Jerry Workman of St. John’s in the finals 15-3, becoming only the blind wrestler ever to win a MIAC title. Mastro was a member of the USA team for the World University Games in 1973, bronze medalist in the NAAU 1974, 1975, and fifth in 1976. Was the first blind athlete to be a member of a USA Olympic team (alternate Greco-Roman wrestling) in 1976. He was also a member of six USA Paralympics teams, winner of 10 medals in four different sports, and 18 international medals.  For the 1996 Paralympics in Atlanta, he was the USA flag-bearer. After graduating from Augsburg, Mastro went on to earn his master’s degree from St. Thomas, and received his doctorate from Texas Women’s University, the first blind person ever to receive a PhD in Physical Education. He was the founder and director of the Northern Plains Visions of Sport Camp, a sports camp for children and youth with visual impairment at Bemidji State University.  In 2008, Mastro was a recipient of the Medal of Courage and the Jay and Rose Phillips Award, inducted in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and was a finalist in the United States Olympic Hall of Fame Selection. In 1995, he was inducted into the Edison Sports Hall of Fame and inducted into the National Beep Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. He currently is a professor at Bemidji State University in the Professional and Physical Education Departments.