Wrestling

Eisenhower High School

Class of 1967

Inducted 9/29/23

Cook was H&R Wrestler of the Year in 1967 after finishing third at state at 133 pounds following district and sectional titles.

Cook was district champ as a freshman, then went 23-1 as a sophomore, earning all-area honors, As a junior, Cook was 20-2-1. He graduated as the record-holder in wins with 53 despite wrestling just three seasons. He was 19 as a senior and, by rule, too old to wrestle in IHSA competition. He’d started school late after suffering from polio as a child.

Cook went on to wrestle at Southern Illinois, where he was an All-American, and also competed in the Marines’ wrestling program, where he was a four-time inter-service champion.

Cook was a teacher and coach at Eisenhower, and also coached Millikin wrestling.