The sport of wrestling in Wisconsin is richer because John Stockowitz is a part of it. John Stockowitz has left his mark on wrestling, not only in East Troy, where he spent 15 years as head coach, but throughout the state of Wisconsin. It all began in Merrill in 1968 where Bob Opsahl got John started as a wrestling official, something he has continued to do and enjoy. Following graduation from Merrill High School (1969) John attended the University of Wisconsin-LaCross, graduating in 1973. In 1974 he accepted a teaching in coaching position at East Troy that would soon lead to bigger and better things. John became the head coach of the East Troy High School wrestling program in 1977, and wrestling in East Troy has never been the same. To say that he took a program that was at rock bottom and built it into a dynasty would only be touching the tip of the iceberg. John Stockowitz is one of the finest wrestling innovators in the state of Wisconsin. He's an organizer, tireless leader, consummate coach and best friend that comes along only once in most lifetimes. He took all that he learned from the great wrestling people who have influenced his life, added to it his personal philosophies and made excellence on the wrestling mat the norm, rather than the exception in East Troy. His teams won three consecutive state championships (1986, 1987 & 1988) and were runner-ups 2 times (1984 & 1985). His dual meet record stands at 143-24 and includes 9 conference championships, 8 regional championships and 4 sectional championships. JOhn coached 40 state qualifiers, 26 individual place winners and 6 state champions, among them NCAA champion Ted Price. When asked to highlight his coaching career, John said, "Seeing our kids pull together and win state championships when no one expected us to, and seeing the kids experience success both on and off the wrestling mat once they have left our program. "John retired from active coaching in 1988 to devote full attention to his athletic director and assistant principal duties at East Troy High School, but he has not retired from wrestling. He officiates on a regular basis throughout Southeastern Wisconsin, directs the Granby Camp and has worked tirelessly for the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Association for the past 3 years. With the same enthusiasm and creativity that he used in his coaching career, John has built the Fall Coaches Clinic into one of the best wrestling clinics in the country. Yes, wrestling in Wisconsin is truly richer because of John Stockowitz.