Lifetime Service Dr. John Swalec began him wrestling career at Blue Island High School (now Blue Island Eisenhower) under the tutelage of Illinois Hall of Fame Coach C. L. Blunk. John's collegiate days were spent at Illinois State University wrestling for yet another Illinois Hall of Fame Coach, Eugene Hill. While wrestling for Illinois State John placed in numerous Conference tournaments as well as the prestigious Wheaton College Invitational. While still an undergraduate at ISU, John coached the initial wrestling team at Normal U-High. Upon graduation from ISU, John took a position with the Niles school system where he coached the Frosh-Soph Team to a 17-0 record and a Suburban League Championship. In 1959 John was named as Head Coach at Oak Lawn High School. Although only at Oak Lawn for three seasons, John's 1960 squad finished sixth in the IHSA State Finals. Additionally, John produced three placewinners, two of which became the second and third State Champions in the school's history. His team also tied Reavis for the Southwest Suburban Championship in 1962. In 1963 John accepted the position of Department Chairman and Head Wrestling Coach at Joliet Junior College in Joliet, Illinois. John's teams were immediately successful, placing fifth in the National Junior College Tournament. The following year, 1964, John's squad was crowned National Champions "” including three individual National Champions. John was also responsible for Olympic Qualifying Status for all NJCAA athletic teams. Consequently he served as the coach for the aspiring college contingent in the 1964 Olympic Trials. After serving as an administrator at Triton and Moraine Valley Community College, John "” in 1977 "” assumed the position of Vice-President for Educational Affairs at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois. In 1981 John was appointed President of Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Illinois where he served for twenty years. At each stop along the way John was instrumental in promoting and maintaining the wrestling program at these institutions. Further, he served as Presidential representative to the NJCAA Athletic Rules Committee for twelve years. Additionally, from 1965 through2981 when he retired, John has worked as an accomplished licensed IHSA Wrestling Official. His assignments have included both high school and collegiate events, working at least five IHSA State Finals. At the collegiate level John has officiated the Big Ten Championships nine times, NCAA DIII and NCAA DII Championships each once, NCAA DI Championships five times and one time in the NJCAA Finals. He was the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association's Official-of-the-Year in 1978. In 1981 the IWCOA inducted John into its Hall of Fame. Two years later, in 1983, Illinois State University inducted John into its Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1987 the IWCOA honored John for his many years of service by naming him a Grand Marshal for the IHSA State Finals. In that same year John received the Distinguished Alumni Award from ISU. John was inducted into the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1988. In 1995 John was placed in the Illinois State Educational Department's Hall of Fame. Finally, when John Swalec retired from Waubonsee Community College in May of 2001, the Illinois House of Representatives issued a special resolution congratulating John Swalec on his outstanding career.