New London’s Chiri to be inducted into Hall Of Fame

DES MOINES — Mark Chiri came to New London in 1986 looking for a head coaching job. Over 37 years later, he’ll be one of the few high school wrestling coaches inducted into the state Hall of Fame.

Chiri will be honored next weekend at the state wrestling meet at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines. Chiri will be inducted during the state finals.

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“Lewie Curtis called me and he said he's on the committee, and they were going to induct me into the hall of fame,” Chiri said. “It was funny because there was silence for a long time. I said, 'Yeah I'm speechless, and that's usually not me.'”

Chiri retired from his 40-year coaching career after last season. In his 37 years at New London, he has had 56 total placewinners, including 10 state championships. The Tigers were state runners up as a team in 2008, and Chiri finished his career with 23 Top-25 and seven Top-10 team finishes.

He also coached 25 years of junior high track and field, 14 years of softball and nine years of both baseball and football.

Chiri coached Marcel Lopez, the 30th four-time state champion in Iowa history. Marcel’s brother Dominic, who graduated last season, holds the state record for wins, with 231.

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“I never thought I would get inducted into one with all of these guys,” Chiri said.

Chiri will join a few friends and former conference rivals in the Hall of Fame. Currently in the Hall are former Mediapolis coach Dan Cummings, former Highland coach Gary Curtis, former Columbus coach Bill Plein, former Morning Sun coach John Siegel and former Wapello coach Willard Howell. All of those coaches were in the conference when Chiri started his campaign.

Chiri gives credit to his assistant coaches, as well as his family that has stuck by his side during his lengthy run, and of course, the countless wrestlers that have come through Tiger wrestling in the last 37 years.

“When you're young, you dream of those things, having a state champ or winning a state title,” said Chiri. “As you get older, those awards don't seem as important to you anymore as the athletes that you coached and the memories that you made.”

In Chiri’s 37 years of coaching New London, the Tigers had state qualifiers in an astounding 35 years.

Chiri, along with long time assistant coach Brian Swafford were inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame over the fall, making this the second Hall that Chiri will be joining in just the year after retirement.

“It's just an honor that somebody noticed and recognized you and thinks you did a good job,” Chiri said.

The state championships will be on the night of Feb. 17.