Forty years ago, John Lawless was a young physical education teacher at Nonnewaug in Woodbury and one of his assignments was to start a wrestling program. He did, beginning many years of service to Nonnewaug athletes. 

Lawless was a wrestler at Hall High in West Hartford where he won a State Open title in 1969. He wrestled for two years at Southern Connecticut State. At Nonnewaug, he coached wrestling for 25 years, earning 301 wins and leading the Chiefs to 11 Berkshire League championships and four Class S state titles. He resigned following the 1999 season and joined the CIAC wrestling committee, helping to coordinate and run the state tournaments and State Open.

He continued to help students at Nonnewaug, serving as athletic director for 29 years. He began the girls volleyball program in 1979 and coached through 2006. He was an assistant coach from 2007-11 before coaching another two seasons. He coached track and field from 1975-79.

After stepping away from wrestling, he was an assistant coach for girls gymnastics for 15 years. Three years ago, he took over the girls tennis program which was in danger of disbanding.

This winter (2016), the 40th anniversary of his first team at Nonnewaug, he rejoined the squad as an assistant coach under David Green. They won another BL title.

Posted by the Connecticut Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, April 2016
Profile photo taken April 2016