April 17, 2002

COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Missouri senior John Kopnisky was introduced Tuesday as the new head wrestling coach at Rock Bridge High School in Columbia.

Kopnisky will graduate from MU in May after becoming the eighth Tiger wrestler to record 100-career wins. He finished his career at Missouri with a 106-37 record, fourth on the school's all-time wins list.

He was a three-time qualifier for the NCAA Championships, including a trip to this year's national tournament in Albany, N.Y. where he advanced to the quarterfinals. He was 26-7 as a senior and was ranked as high as No. 7 in the 174-pound weight class.

Kopnisky has been working with the Rock Bridge wrestling club, a group of about 80 children from kindergarten to eighth grade.

"This is great for the Columbia community," Missouri Head Coach Brian Smith said. "John is already respected and loved by the Pee-Wee kids at Rock Bridge and now that will carry over to his team and into the classroom. He is a quality individual and he'll do a great job there."

Kopnisky's father, Bob, was the wrestling coach at Missouri from 1974-86 and is MU's all-time winningest coach, compiling a 125-72-3 record.