John was a two time Idaho State Champion for Challis high school who, with his wife Kathy at his side, has coached at his Alma Mater for over 30 years. He is a leader that roams the halls at the high school to see if any kids need help, or are having a rough time in life. Regardless of their sport Coach Piva immediately recruits them as wrestlers, and makes them Champions for Life through hard work, belief in themselves and a purpose of winning for greater causes. He is vigilant to preserving and protecting the best interests of kids; and there can be no higher level of integrity or honor than that. Over the last 31 years Coach Piva has amassed not a trophy case full of awards, or even a winning record but rather an almost untouchable legacy and a "family" way of life where kids expect to earn what they've gotten, while inspiring an attitude that regardless of circumstances they can turn things around and they can now "Expect to win". Coach Piva's record of staggering statistics and successes with his Challis Viking Blackheart Wrestling Tradition is something John has built from the ground up. He motivates kids to give their all. Hi teams, with over 21 team trophies and 4 State Titles has inspired and has also won ten district championships since 1988. Coaches still talk about the record-breaking 326 points his team scored at the 2003 Idaho State Wrestling Tournament. However, successes and achievements were only secondary and a by-product of what John Piva has long been trying to do in a tiny town bordering Idaho's Wilderness area; to make champions for life and help kids reach their highest potentials. On or off the mat, his student-athletes are champions and wrestle with class. He has always had high expectations for kids, a firm hand when necessary but always caring about the individual. It was always evident that Challis wrestlers take pride and want to win for him, themselves, and their teammates. He still facilitates a family atmosphere among his teams. Coach Piva is a humble man of class who casts and extremely big shadow in the hearts and minds of men. He turns young boys into men and leaders for which we can all be proud for generations to come.