Boys Wrestling

Meet the 2024 Grand Marshals

The Grand Marshal will lead the annual Parade of Champions Saturday night (March 9) before the championship bouts of the 42nd annual Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) State Final Wrestling Tournament.

Named Grand Marshal for 2024: Dan Newkirk

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 76 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 2024 Grand Marshal:

The IESA is proud to have selected Dan Newkirk as the Grand Marshal for the 2024 IESA state wrestling competition. Dan Newkirk graduated from El Paso High School as a three-sport athlete in 1985, where he participated and excelled in football, wrestling, and track. Following high school, Dan competed as a decathlete in track and field and in wrestling at North Central College. He began his professional career as a teacher at Bolingbrook Humphrey Middle School. He served as the wrestling, football, and track and field coach at Bolingbrook High School.

Following his time in Bolingbrook, Coach Newkirk moved south to Litchfield, Illinois, where he spent the next 33 years as a coach and educator at both Litchfield Middle School and Litchfield High School. While at Litchfield, Dan coached and led many sports and activities including football, cross country, golf, wrestling, and track and field. He coached a total of 95 career sports seasons during his tenure. In 2002, Coach Newkirk helped start the IESA middle school wrestling team and sustained the program until his retirement last spring. His greatest coaching memory came in 2008 when he had the opportunity to coach his son Seth. Dan watched his son Seth Newkirk win the 75 lb. IESA State Championship with his wife Amy and daughter Betsy sitting mat-side.

Coach Newkirk has served many years on the IESA wrestling advisory committee and was a member of the AD committee that was responsible for creating the IESA wrestling two-class system.

Dan Newkirk received the Illinois Education Association Outstanding Teacher Award in 2023. He was also honored by the IHSA with a Country Financial Teacher Spotlight award.

Dan's colleagues praised his dedication to the sport and to his athletes. "Dan did tremendous work for IESA wrestling because not only is he passionate about wrestling, but he is an advocate for all students. Being selected as Grand Marshal is a wonderful honor for a great man."

Dan remains active in the IESA and IHSA communities serving as an official for wrestling and track and field. He is supported by his wonderful family. His wife: Amy, daughter: Betsy and Jake Szerletich, Son: Seth.