John Pegues was fortunate to grow up in Norfolk during the 1960s and he began wrestling for Billy Martin Sr. at Granby High School in his sophomore year. Competition in the wrestling room at Granby was fierce. Pegues didn't made the starting lineup until the second half of his senior year, but when he did he won the Eastern District championship and finished third at the Virginia state tournament in 1967.

Pegues went on to wrestle at the University of Virginia and was co-captain of the team as a junior and senior. He was a three-time Atlantic Coast Conference champion and was voted ACC Outstanding Wrestler in 1971. He qualified and competed in the NCAA Championships three times.

After graduating from UVA with an economics degree in 1971, Pegues elected to become a teacher and coach and is completing his 38th year working in public schools. He coached four wrestlers to state championships during his career at Orange Co. High School from 1971-73 and at Fauquier High School from 1981-94.

Pegues returned to UVA as a graduate assistant for his college coach, George Edwards, and helped the Cavaliers win their first-ever ACC team title in 1974. He then served as athletic director at Culpeper Co. High School from 1975-81, serving as director of the 1981 AA state wrestling tournament. After 19 years as assistant principal at Fauquier High School from 1981-2000, Pegues returned to counseling at the middle school level where he serves now.

Pegues has been a registered Virginia High School League official for 39 years and has officiated 21 district tournaments, 21 region tournaments and eight VHSL state tournaments. He also has served as the rules interpreter and trainer for new officials in the Northern Virginia Wrestling Officials Association since 1999.

John resides in Orlean, Virginia, with his wife, Kathy, an English teacher. They have two grown children, Emily and Adam, and a one-year-old granddaughter, Siena.