Tony Licocci forged a sterling high school career at Sterling Community Catholic High School and then continued his education at Illinois State University, where he played football for four years and wrestled for two. During the 1961-62 wrestling season, Tony also began an impressive career in wrestling officiating. He manned the mats for 28 years, officiating 25 regionals, 22 sectionals, eight individual state finals and three dual team state finals. He and his son Tom would be the first father and son to officiate a regional together. Tony also worked many years as a state tournament floor official. Along with Wayne Morss and Gary Newlon, Tony began a pre-season wrestling clinic for officials and coaches in the northwestern Illinois area -- covering rules, providing demonstrations and answering participants' questions. These clinics continued until the IHSA adopted its own statewide clinics, now sponsored by the IWCOA. Tony, who received the IWCOA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, served as a weigh-in official and assistant Grand March coordinator for the IHSA Individual State Championships from 2003 to 2008. He is also a member of the IWCOA Hall of Fame, the Illinois State University Hall of Fame and the Sterling- Newman Catholic High School Hall of Fame.