Lifetime Service Rick is a product of Morton East where he wrestled for Chuck Rasmussen from 1960-64. Rick's scholastic career included two IHSA District (now Regional) titles. His senior year was particularly rewarding as Rick was selected as Team Captain for both his football and his wrestling squads. Rick topped off an outstanding senior season by qualifying for the IHSA State Finals. Rick continued his wrestling career at Illinois State where he was coached by the legendary Dr. Robert Koehler "” himself a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Rick continued to excel in the wrestling realm winning an IIAC Championship and qualifying for the Division I National Championships in 1968, his junior year. Selected as the wrestling Team Captain during his senior year, Rick duplicated his junior-year accomplishments by once-again winning an IIAC Championship and qualifying for the NCAAs. Upon graduating from ISU in 1969 Rick accepted a position at Hersey High School in Arlington Heights where he assisted the head coach and IWCOA Hall of Famer Tom Porter. Under their guidance Hersey High School went on to win back-to-back State Titles in 1971 and 1972. Rick assumed the reins of the Hersey wrestling program in 1973 and remained at its helm until his retirement in 2002. The wrestling program continued to excel as Hersey, under Rick's tutelage, went on to win seven Mid-Suburban League Championships, six IHSA Regional Championships and four IHSA Sectional Championships. Additionally, on three separate occasions the Hersey wrestling squad qualified for the IHSA State Dual Meet Championships. Along the way Rick Mann-led teams won over 300 dual meets and qualified over 40 individuals to the IHSA State Finals; eighteen of those qualifiers became place winners "” including one State Champion and three silver medalists. However, Rick's service to the sport extends way beyond matside. Throughout his career Rick willingly served host to numerous freestyle and Greco-Roman developmental tournaments. He also hosted the International Clubs Cup that saw teams from Russia, Japan, Cuba and Canada along with numerous clubs from the United States participating. Additionally, Rick served host to the National Junior and Open Greco-Roman Championships. Besides his willingness to host various and numerous wrestling events, Rick also served as both an assistant and Head Coach on a number of occasions for the Illinois Junior National Teams. In addition in 1984 Rick traveled to Los Angeles to serve as the Technology Director of the Olympic wrestling venue. For his significant effort during the 1984 Olympics Rick received special recognition from the Commissioner for his Outstanding Contribution to the Sport of Wrestling. Rick's unselfish dedication to the sport has not gone unnoticed by his peers or his community. For almost two decades Rick has served as a contributing member of the IWCOA Hall of Fame Selection Committee. From 1987 through 1990 Rick was selected to represent the coaching community as a member of the IHSA Wrestling Advisory Board. For his many contributions to the sport the IWCOA selected Rick Mann as its Man-of-the-Year in 1987. The IWCOA's recognition of Rick's outstanding service to wrestling extended into the 90s when they inducted Rick into its Hall of Fame ('93); and selected Rick as a Grand Marshall for the IHSA State Wrestling Finals ('99). The new millennium saw the IWCOA bestow upon Rick perhaps its highest honor "” its Lifetime Achievement Award ('05).