Boys Wrestling

Meet the 2008 Grand Marshals

One Grand Marshal will lead the annual Parade of Champions Saturday night (March 8) before the championship bouts of the 29th annual Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) State Final Wrestling Tournament.

Named Grand Marshal for 2008: Scott Kody, Official, Inverness

The IESA started having Grand Marshals in 1996. The Grand Marshals are honored for their contributions to interscholastic wrestling and the young men who participate in the sport. They are nominated by the IESA Wrestling Advisory Committee and approved by the IESA Board of Directors. The marshals will play an integral role of the Parade of Champions as they will lead the 38 individual finalists and their coaches into the Convocation Center, amidst music, applause and cheers from teammates, parents, family, and fans.

Here is a closer look at the 2008 Grand Marshal:

Wrestling has been a part of Scott Kody's life for the past 43 years. Scott graduated from Oak Park-River Forest High School in 1967. He was a member of the Huskies' wrestling team participating at the 112 lb. weight class. He then attended the University of South Dakota on a scholarship where in 1968 he became the first freshman in the history of the university to participate in a varsity sport. After college, Scott has continued his interest in the sport of wrestling by dedicating himself to the officiating profession. He has been a licensed official for 37 years, first receiving his license in 1971. During his years as an official, Scott has been a model of consistency, has willingly served as a mentor to younger officials, and has always given his time to help others. He has presented at numerous IESA and IHSA officials' clinics, he has devoted countless hours to the discussion of wrestling rules, and has officiated over 1000 dual team matches throughout his career. Scott first worked the IESA state finals in 1997 when the finals were held in Barrington and continued to work each year though 2005. During that time, Scott served the IESA by being a member of the wrestling advisory committee from 2002-2005. He worked the IHSA state individual and dual team finals 18 times in his distinguished career and was inducted into the IWCOA Hall of Fame in 2004. He still is a licensed official and continues to officiate when needed by local schools. Scott is public education officer and a firefighter/paramedic for the Schaumburg Fire Department. He and his wife Carol have two children, a son Garrett and a daughter Amber, and one grandson, Ryan. A true gentleman, wrestling is lucky to have had Scott Kody involved in the sport.