Ray Guzak

Blue Island/Northern Illinois University

Ray Guzak graduated from Blue Island High School, now known as Eisenhower H.S., in 1956.  He wrestled and lettered all four years at Eisenhower.  His freshman and sophomore years he was coached by Clarence Blunk and his junior and senior years he was coached by Pete Willson, both IWCOA Hall of Fame Coaches.

After high school, Ray attended Cornell College in Iowa and then went to Northern Illinois University in 1958.  He became the third NIU wrestler to win a national title.  He won the 167 pound National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics championship as a senior in 1961.  Ray also captured the IIAC crown as a junior and finished as a runner-up in 1959 and 1961.  He won the Central AAU championship in 1959 and posted a 41-8-3 career won-loss-tie record at Northern Illinois.

Ray became a biology teacher at Lindbloom High School in Chicago and taught from 1962-1965.  He coached for the Crestwood IKWF program from 1985 through 1991.  While at Crestwood, he coached 20 state qualifiers and three state placewinners, including one Champion.

In 1992, Northern Illinois University inducted Ray into its Hall of Fame.