Boys Wrestling

Named Grand Marshal for 2017 is: Phil Esposito, Darien Eisenhower, Coach

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 2017 Grand Marshal:

For 20 years, Phil Esposito, led one of the great junior high wrestling programs in the state when he served as the head coach at Darien Eisenhower. Phil was the head coach from 1993-2013 and during that time he had 213 state qualifiers including the 4th most qualifiers all time by one school in a single year when he had 18 wrestlers qualify for the finals in 2006. Of those 213 state qualifiers, 65 went on to place in the finals---Fourteen wrestlers captured 1st place; 12 won 2nd place; 14 took home 3rd place honors; seven placed 4th; 14 finished in 5th place; and four wrestlers won 6th place. His teams won 2nd place in 2011, 3rd place in 2007, and 4th place in 2009, 2010, and 2012.His teams won 13 regional titles and 8 sectional championships. His dual meet record during his 20 years of coaching was 241-62. Phil served on the IESA Wrestling Advisory Committee from 1996-1999. After graduating from Hinsdale South, Phil attended Illinois State University where he finished his undergraduate work in 1993 and completed his M.S. degree in 2001 from St. Xavier. He is now in his 24th year of teaching physical education for Eisenhower. Since retiring as the wrestling coach at Eisenhower, Phil has remained active in the sport by becoming a licensed official for the last five years. His family includes daughter Abbigail who is 12, son Aiden who is 10, and girlfriend Tara Jo. Phil has served as a role model for all of his teams and wrestlers and has been a true ambassador for the sport of wrestling.

Former Grand Marshals