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In this episode of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Etched in Stone series, Jason Bryant explores the Old Dominion University chapter of Olympian Gray Simons’ legendary career—college wrestling’s only seven-time national champion. The story follows Simons’ return to his Hampton Roads roots in the early late 1980s, his hire under ODU’s philosophy of “selective excellence,” and the difficult family move from Tennessee to Virginia. Through voices like Mikki Baile, Mary Simons, and former athletes, we see how Gray built a competitive Division I program on a shoestring budget at a largely commuter school, targeting raw talent from places like Pennsylvania, Long Island and Virginia’s powerhouse high school programs.
The episode then chronicles ODU’s rise on the national stage: the East Region title and breakthrough 1991 season with All-Americans Nick Garone and Peter Horst, Jody Staylor’s dramatic run to the 1994 NCAA finals, and heavyweight Nick Hall’s elite performances. Later stars like Mark Strickland and Jeff Rusak illustrate how Simons refined athletes’ unique styles with subtle technical tweaks and deep personal investment. While the closing years at ODU yielded fewer medals, teammates and champions testify that Gray’s true impact went far beyond results—he was a master technician, psychologist, and teacher whose humility, precision, and care shaped generations of wrestlers long after his own unmatched competitive career.
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About Gray Simons
During his four years of collegiate competition at Lock Haven University, Gray Simons entered seven national tournaments. He won all seven, and six times was voted outstanding wrestler of the event.
Four years he reigned supreme at 115 pounds in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, and all four years was chosen the NAIA's finest, an unparalleled achievement. Three times he won the University Division title in the NCAA and as a junior and senior was voted the outstanding competitor.
The only two defeats of his 93 collegiate matches came early in his freshman season. He then proceeded to win 84 in a row.
In the two years after his graduation, while stationed at the U.S. Military Academy, he continued to annex national championships in military, YMCA and AAU competition. He won the gold medal in the 1963 World Military Games.
Gray Simons twice represented his country in the Olympic Games, in 1960 and 1964.
On the mat, he was known as a superb technician, with quickness, skill and perfect execution of an infinite variety of moves. His abilities helped spread nationwide the “Granby Series” of moves developed by his Hall of Fame high school coach in Norfolk, Virginia, Billy Martin.
After the close of his competitive career, he served with distinction as a collegiate coach at Lock Haven, Indiana State, Tennessee and Old Dominion University, and never has suffered a losing season. Among his proteges were two NCAA champions and several All-Americans.
In both roles, as a wrestler and coach, this quiet man has set an outstanding example for young athletes everywhere.
As a wrestler of unchallenged achievement and a sportsman of the highest caliber, Elliot Gray Simons is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
