Born in Granite City, Mark Mestemacher wrestled for years for Collinsville High School, where he was named team captain his senior year. He wrestled for Illinois State University Redbirds for two years before transferring to the University of Illinois, where he earned a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics. Since 1993, Mark has been involved with the Edwardsville Wrestling Club as a coach or administrator. During that time, the club has grown from 0 competitors to the IKWF's largest organization with 240 wrestlers and 40 coaches. Mark has also served as the IKWF South Section Alternate Director since 1995 and has actively organized and promoted Freestyle and Greco-Roman competition in southern Illinois. In 2006, the NWCA honored Mark with the "Dan Gable, America Needs Wrestling" award. Also that year the IWCOA named him a Gold Level Special Recognition recipient for his involvement in keeping the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville wrestling program alive. In 2008, the NWCA once again honored Mark, this time with the Meritorious Service Award for helping fund and develop the organization's Leadership Academy, held annually in Edwardsville. That year, Mark and his wife Carol also funded the construction of the Jon Davis Wrestling Center in Edwardsville, - a 24,000 square foot facility and one of the premier wrestling centers in the nation - that they, in turn, donated to the Edwardsville School District. Since 2009, Mark helped fund and start six new high school wrestling programs, 11 middle school programs and four new youth programs in the southern Illinois region. A partner in Ceres Consulting LLC, a barge transportation company in Fairmont City, Mark serves on the board of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes - Metro East and the FCA Midwest Region and as board chairman of the FCA Wrestling. He also is on the boards of the Jackie Joyner Kersee Foundation, the Edwardsville Wrestling Club, the East St. Louis Wrestling Club and the Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Hamel, Moro Foundation and participates in many church committees as well.