John has been deeply involved with the sport of wrestling for over 40 years. During his time at Newton South High School, he was a standout student-athlete known for his strength, character and leadership. He was a varsity level competitor in football, lacrosse, and basketball, eventually making his wrestling debut during senior year, thanks to the late Coach Art Kojoyian. John was the 1973 Sectional Champion and State runner up at heavyweight. After a 26-2 wrestling record that season, he was named Top Male Athlete at Newton South. Years later John would be honored as a 2012 Inductee into the Newton South High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Although John was recruited to play football at the University of Rhode Island, he was lured to the wrestling mat by Coach Alan Nero, as well as the club lacrosse field, competing in all three sports for four years. John was Tri-Captain of the Division I nationally ranked URI Wrestling team and was a two-time New England runner up at heavyweight. After graduating, John remained with the URI team and assisted Coach Gary Barton, followed by Coach Carl Adams, actively trained with the team's heavyweights, and wrestled in open tournaments throughout the country.

Upon returning to the Newton area, John served as an assistant football and lacrosse coach at Newton South throughout the 1980s. During wrestling season, he was on the mat each and every day, primarily training with heavyweights on Coach Adams' team at Boston University and occasionally with the late Jim Urquhart's team at the University of New Hampshire. John also trained with wrestlers at many area high schools. He was on the staff for several summers at both BU and UNH Wrestling camps. In March of 1986, John wrestled heavyweight for the Carl Adams-coached Boston Brawlers real professional wrestling team in their inaugural (and only) match versus the Metro Warriors on Long Island.

Next, John landed at Newton North High School, both on the school staff and as an assistant wrestling coach in the early 1990s, and eventually took over as head coach in 1996. John has now been at the helm of the Newton North High School Wrestling program for over two decades and is approaching 300 team wins as head coach. Notable achievements include receiving the 1998 Division I Team Sportsmanship Award, being honored as a 2014 Inductee of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and receiving several individual and team Mayoral awards for outstanding community service. John has coached numerous Sectional, State, All-State and New England tournament place winners, along with three All-Americans.

As a positive ambassador for the sport of wrestling, John has always led by example and continues to have a profound impact on the lives of many wrestlers. Despite the winning record, honors and accolades John has earned as both a competitor and as a coach, he is most humbled by the opportunity to develop leadership and citizenship in young athletes through the great sport of wrestling. Many of his former wrestlers have served in the military, actively serve their communities as first responders, and have returned to coach alongside him at Newton North and at several high schools and youth programs across the region. John's wife, Dolly, and two daughters, Theresa and Annie, have all played major roles in the success of the Newton North Wrestling family.