John Friesz attended Coeur d'Alene High School and was a starter for the football team as early as his sophomore year.
Friesz spent two seasons as a back-up; as a sophomore, he was third-string behind senior Steve Halliday and junior Scott Wellman as the Vikings won their first state title in 1982. The next year, CDA was state runner-up behind Wellman; Friesz became the starter in his senior season in 1984. 
