Dr. Ray Epperson

Yorkville

Official

Dr. Ray Epperson began his wrestling career in junior high and in high school he wrestled for IWCOA Hall of

Fame coach George Dyche at West Aurora High School. He continued wrestling at Aurora College (now Aurora

University) and in his junior year, he finished one place away from qualifying for the national tournament. During

his senior year at Aurora, he student taught at Waubonsie Valley High School, so he did not wrestle that season.

In 1982, he began his math teaching career and coached wrestling at Waubonsie Valley High School with head

coach Fred Johnson. One of those seven years, in 1987-88, Ray was the head coach and had his first state

champion in Armando Sanders, who beat TC Dantzler in the finals. In 1990 he became the head coach at Kaneland High School, where he had 13 state qualifiers, 4 state place winners, and one state champion. Scott Brewer was the 145-pound state champion in 1993, finishing the year with a 41-1 record. Kaneland qualified for the Dual Meet State Tournament that season as well, finishing the season with a 21-3 team record.

During the 1997-98 school year, the district superintendent told Ray that as a school administrator, he did not

have time to also be the head wrestling coach. Ray did not want to step away from the sport that was so important to him so in the 1997-1998 school, year Ray became an official.

He is currently in his 29th year as an official. Up to the start of this season, he has officiated at 22 IHSA regional

tournaments, 13 individual sectionals, 12 dual team sectionals, and has worked either the dual team or individual

state tournament 9 times. In addition, he has worked numerous IESA regional, sectional, and state tournaments

as well as the IWCOA Frosh/Soph state tournament. Ray continues to be an IHSA clinician, a position he has

held for several years.

He received his master’s and doctoral degrees in Educational Leadership from Northern Illinois University. He is

currently in his 44th year as an educator. He and his wife Valarie have been married for 43 years and have three

adult children. His son Victor wrestled at Yorkville High School. Ray is thankful for what wrestling has meant to

him and what he has been able to give back to the sport.