A local prep wrestler in the late 1980s, John Rivers returned to the South Puget Sound following his time in the United States Air Force and found his way right back to the mats. Following three years as an assistant coach at Mount Tahoma High School, he began his officiating career in 1994.
 
Nearly 30 years later, Rivers continues to work the mats for local youth league, middle school, junior high, and high school matches. He’s worked three state tournaments in the past five years – 2019, 2020, and 2022 – along with regionals in each of the past 14 years. As for districts, he’s worked more than 20.
 
Rivers is currently an Executive Board Member of the Western Washington Wrestling Officials Association (WWWOA). During his own wrestling career, he earned the 1984 Junior High All City Championship and was a state alternate in 1986 and a team captain and state participant for Washington High School in 1987.