Carthage College Athletics

A Chicago native, John Gavurnik was a star for Carthage College.  A four-year letter winner in football on the offensive line and at defensive tackle, Gavurnik also was a two-year letter winner at catcher for baseball and one-time letter winner in track and field .  He played on the 1962 & '63 CCI championship teams and was a member of the Redmen squad with a 19-game win streak spanning from the '61-'63 seasons.  In 1962, Gavurnik was named a all-conference first team at defensive tackle, and in '63 was the only player named first team on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, while also being named first string offensive tackle on the NAIA District 20 Team and on the Peoria Journal Star's All-State Collegiate Team.  

Following his time at Carthage, Gavurnik pursued professional football, earning tryouts with the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions in 1964 and 1965.  From 1965-72, he played semi-pro football with the Lake County Rifles of the Central States League, again playing on both the offensive and defensive lines.  He was named All-Pro at both positions during his semi-pro career, before retiring in 1972.