A Minneapolis native, John attended the University of Minnesota where he placed fourth in the Big Ten Tournament in 1951 at 167 pounds. In the fall of 1951, he took over the head wrestling coaching position at Robbinsdale High School and coached the Robbins for the next 21 years (1951-1972). His high school teams totaled a 248-38 record in that span and produced 14 individual state champions and 90 state place winners (still a state record today). In 1961 team won the Minnesota State title and he was named Minnesota "Coach of the Year". In 1972, he took over the head wrestling coaching reigns at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. In eight years, his Auggies teams went 92-12-1, winning six straight Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and placed as high as second in the NAIA National Tournament in1975. John's Auggie teams produced two individual national champions and 16 national place winners in that 8 year span. Several of his former wrestlers have gone on to be successful coaches. John was named 1975 NAIA "National Coach of the Year". John had great rapport with other coaches and worked with a group to make changes to improve wrestling in Minnesota. Obviously, John was a great motivator. His inspirational leadership made his wrestlers want to win for him. Former wrestler and two-time state champion for Grygelko, Julian Hook said, "He (Grygelko) was a great leader of people". What Hook said really was personified in Grygelko's goal as a coach. His model for success was always "The Pursuit of Excellence, While Building Men"!