 The eldest of five children, he graduated from Lisle High School in 1970, then attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.While at the University of Illinois, Grochowski joined the staff of the student newspaper, the "Daily Illini", and served one year as its sports editor.He then pursued a newspaper career, first working as a sportswriter for the "Suburban Trib" in Hinsdale, Illinois.