Michael Zbacnik
Class of 2002
Plainfield
Mike Zbacnik was born in Joliet and attended Plainfield High School. While at Plainfield, he was president of the National Honor Society and was Most Valuable Wrestler his senior year. He was a two-year letter winner while at Augustana College and later transferred to Lewis University. Mike was most valuable his junior and senior year at Lewis, and was a national qualifier his senior year. He continued his wrestling after college with both the Mayor Daley Youth Foundation and the US Army.
Coach Zbacnik began coaching at Gardner-South Wilmington and had one place winner. He went to Plainfield in 1974 and served as an assistant under his high school coach Tom Baker. In 1984, Mike was named the head wrestling coach at Plainfield High School.
Mike’s career coaching record through the 2002 season in 310-107-4. He has coached his teams to eight conference championships and three regional titles. He has had eleven place winners, two state finalists, and one State Champion.
Mike has also helped organize and coach two cultural exchange matches against the Canadians and the Japanese.