IHSA Announcements

February 12, 1997

1997 Wrestling Grand Marshals Named

Four Grand Marshals, with more than a combined 100 years contributions to the sport, will lead the annual Grand March of Finalists Saturday night (Feb. 22) before the championship bouts of the 60th Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Final Individual Wrestling Tournament.

Named Grand Marshals for 1997 are:

George Dyche, veteran wrestling coach of Aurora (West).
Bert Kraus, retired wrestling coach of LaGrange (Lyons).
Henry Pillard, long-time Joliet Junior College wrestling coach.
Walter Sherman, retired wrestling coach at Northbrook (Glenbrook North).

Begun in 1975, the annual March of Finalists is conducted at the State Tournament by the IHSA in conjunction with the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) and the Assembly Hall. Each year the grand marshals are honored for their contributions to the sport and to the young men who participate in it.

The marshals play an important role in the color and pageantry of the event as they lead the 52 individual finalists and their coaches in a foot-stomping, strobe flash popping, breathtaking march around the Assembly Hall arena floor. With spotlights shining on Old Glory and students from Jacksonville (Illinois School for the Deaf), the playing, singing and signing of the National Anthem by the traditional crowd in excess of 10,000 is a spectacle of high school athletics seen nowhere else in America.

Here is a closer look at the 1997 Grand Marshals:

A product of the West Leyden wrestling program, George Dyche started his coaching career at Rochelle before taking over at Aurora West. Heading into this season, his teams had won 323 dual meets, and had produced 34 state qualifiers, including nine place winners. A member of the IWCOA Hall of Fame, and its president from 1976-77, George also was wrestling coordinator for the Prairie State Games.
Bert Kraus arrived at LaGrange (Lyons) to coach and was assigned wrestling. His teaching career spanned 40 years and in 15 years as wrestling coach at Lyons Township his teams won 159 dual meets and seven West Suburban team titles. He produced 26 state qualifiers, of which 11 placed and two were state champions. Bert also was a co-sponsor of the annual Midlands Wrestling Tournament and was host for its first six years. He is a member of the IWCOA Hall of Fame.
Many of the individual place winners in the annual state tournament went on to wrestle for Henry Pillard at Joliet Junior College. He began coaching at Blue Island High School, serving seven years as sophomore coach and one as varsity coach. For the next 19 years he produced 268 dual meet wins, 46 All-Americans and eight national champions at Joliet Junior College. He is a member of the IWCOA Hall of Fame and a founder of the Kids Wrestling Organization.
Walter Sherman excelled in football and wrestling in college and then did the same as a teacher and coach at Glenbrook North. He first coached wrestling at Hinsdale High School for three years and then moved to Glenbrook North, retiring after a total of 40 years of teaching and coaching. His wrestling teams won 208 dual meets, and they produced 17 state meet place winners, including a pair of champions. He is a member of the IWCOA Hall of Fame.