Throughout an illustrious coaching career, John Perry developed a long list of outstanding wrestlers. After stints at Alamosa High School (1964-67), Kearney (Nebraska) High (1967-70), and McCook Community College (1970-72), he made Sterling High School into a perennial state power during a career there that spanned more than two decades.

Under Perry's direction, the Tigers produced more than a dozen state placers and were regular finishers in the state's top 10 team standings. Sterling became known as a wrestling powerhouse, finishing among the top teams regularly in some of the state's biggest tournaments, and he coached numerous athletes who went on to enjoy successful college careers, as well as many who followed in his footsteps in the coaching profession.

While the accolades were many, what has meant the most to Perry over the years are the relationships he built—relationships that have continued to this day. "It becomes a family," he said. "Your wrestlers, your teammates, your coaches—there's a rela­tionship there, a family connection that becomes a big part of your life. You work together, you go to battle together, and—win, lose or draw—you've gained something. There's a connection there that you just don't get in other sports. Even the competition is special, because there are very few sports where you know your competitor on that level."

Perry's last year as Sterling's head coach was 1989, although he did continue as the program's workout coach for several years after that. To this day, he is still in contact with his athletes from that era. "It's a special part of that family connection," he said. "You hear from guys years and years later and it's special. You see what kind of effect you had on their lives. You see them with their families and what kind of men they have turned out to be."

And those life lessons, Perry added, are as valuable as any championship guidance he was able to deliver in his career. It is what makes wrestling such a special sport, something that stays with participants for a lifetime. "It wasn't the wins and losses that was the most important thing that came out of my room," he said. "It was the character that developed in that room and carried on with those guys the rest of their lives. I'm more proud of that than anything else."

He sees those lessons today in athletes he coached decades ago. The discipline, work ethic, and accountability he helped instill are still part of those men's lives today. "It wasn't the people on the podium that I was always most proud of—it was the cham­pions that didn't make the podium who worked just as hard and dedicated themselves," he said. "The character they developed and the accountability they got from wrestling stayed with them. I was always proud of the way my wrestlers became fine young men long after they stopped wrestling. We always believed we produced champions in life, not just wrestling."

Perry grew up in Iowa and wrestled for the 1959 high school state champion team. He went on to enjoy a solid career at Ad­ams State, where he was the team's 1964 Outstanding Wrestler, before embarking on his coaching career.

Even now, while "retired," the competitive streak hasn't left. He has turned his attention to professional sled dog racing, and has won national and-international competitions in sprint categories, including gold and silver medals in the World Champion­ ships.

But wrestling was the foundational cornerstone for the Hall of Fame inductee. "It teaches you so much, things that stay with you for the rest of your life," he said. "The lessons you got in that room, the habits you developed, stick with you. That's what makes it such a great sport."