College of Lake County

Anthony "Tony" Clarke began his wrestling career at Neal Junior High in North Chicago. After wrestling three years for North Chicago High School under Hall of Fame Coach Amos Jones, Tony graduated from Waukegan West High School in 1982, where he was a sectional qualifier. Tony is employed as a civil servant for the Department of the Navy, a job he began in 1984. He has coached wrestling 10 years at the IKWF Club level, three years at the middle school level and 8 years at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein. Tony's expertise as a wrestling official, however, sets him apart. Since he started refereeing in 1984, he has worked 19 IHSA Individual State Finals and 7 IHSA Dual team State Finals, including the first IHSA girls state final championship tournament in 2022. He has also served as Head Official at both Individual and Dual Team State Finals 11 times; and worked 13 IESA State Finals and multiple IKWF State Finals. Tony was named an IHSA wrestling clinician in 1999 and wrestling rules interpreter in 2005, Tony also has been serving as the IHSA Head Clinician since 2017. He presently serves on the National Federation of State High School Associations' wrestling rules committee as the NFHS Committee Chairperson. He has served on the NFHS wresting committee as the Official’s Rep (2015-2019) and as the section 4 rep (2019-2022). Tony has also served as a member of the IHSA Officials Advisory Committee, IHSA Wrestling Advisory Committee and IESA Wrestling Advisory Committee, Tony currently serves as Wrestling Assignment Chairperson for the Chicago Public League (CPL), Mid-Suburban League (MSL), North Suburban Conference (NSC), Northern Lake County Conference (NLCC) and West Suburban Conference (WSC). Tony has received the following wrestling honors: 1996 IWCOA Official of the Year; 2001 IHSA Official of the Year (wrestling); 2005 IHSA Hall of Fame Member; 2009 IHSA Distinguished Service Award; 2013 Wrestling USA Magazine Official of the Year, 2014 Bid K’S Hall of Fame, 2014 IHSA Wrestling Individual State Finals Grand Marshal; 2015 national Wrestling Hall of Fame (IL Chapter) Lifetime Service Award, 2015 IESA Wrestling Individual State Finals Grand Marshal and 2016 IWCOA Lifetime Service Award