Class of 2025

Michael Grimes,

Montini Catholic/Northern Illinois University

Wrestler

 

Michael Grimes is a native of Lombard and he began wrestling in 1993 for the Little Broncos Wrestling Club at Montini Catholic High School, led by head coach Mike Bukovsky, a 2020 IWCOA Lifetime Service Award Winner. By age 10, he learned the importance of good “ankle pick defense” from assistant coach Jeff Bukovsky.

The Bukovsky brothers helped forge the path for Michael’s rise from an IKWF state qualifier to an IHSA Class A state champion at 119 pounds in 2001 and at 130 pounds in 2002 and as a member of Montini Catholic's IHSA Class A state champion teams in 2000 and in 2002, when he was a captain.

Michael graduated from Northern Illinois University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy and a Master of Science degree in Management Information Systems. During his time at Northern Illinois, Michael was a three-time captain of the wrestling team, an NCAA Division I National Qualifier in 2005 and a Midlands Champion.

After Northern Illinois, Michael went on to work as a forensic Auditor at the U.S. Government and Accountability Office (GAO) in Washington, D.C., where he obtained his license as a Certified Public Accountant.

In 2009, Michael commissioned in the United States Navy. First assigned to the United States Naval Academy as a Physical Fitness Instructor and wrestling coach under head coach Bruce Burnett, Michael ultimately became the head wrestling coach at the United States Naval Academy Preparatory School.

There, he was charged with developing young student-athletes’ moral, mental, and physical strength and to prepare them for the rigors of the United States Naval Academy. Michael coached multiple National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) All-Americans and National Champions, including former Montini Catholic state champion, now Major Colton Rasche. Nine of Michael’s wrestlers are now Navy Seals.

Michael went on to obtain his Juris Doctorate at the Washington College of Law at American University where he served as the volunteer wrestling coach under head coach Teague Moore. Following Law School, Michael began working as an attorney in the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange, and he was affiliated with the Navy Reserve.

In 2016, Michael mobilized to support Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, where he supported the Commander’s Staff Judge Advocate’s office as the officer-in-charge for tracking, assessing and investigating civilian casualty allegations in Iraq and Syria.

Michael is currently serving on active duty as the Deputy Manager for the U.S. Navy Reserve Judge Advocate General Corps, and he is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at American University’s Washington College of Law.