After leaving the place he’d help establish as a national wrestling power, Gray Simons spent five seasons at Indiana State as the Sycamores’ head coach prior to taking over his first “big school” - the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. While sports-crazy, Tennessee was still new to the wrestling game. Gray Simons and a talented recruiter named Steve Gaydosh wouldn’t just change Tennessee’s fortunes - they would turn Tennessee into a waking giant in college wrestling.

As programs started to fall around them, Tennessee held strong, as did its athletes, overcoming some severe adversity on their way to stardom. Gray Simons and company were building something special on Rocky Top.

Episode 4: Building Up Rock Top

Listen & Follow Etched in Stone
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Deezer | Radio Public | RSS

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.

Gray Simons finished his college career by setting a new standard in college wrestling. Seven national championships, college wrestling’s first four-time title winner in any division to go along with two Olympic appearances. The Olympic disappointment didn’t last long as Gray Simons returned to Mat Town to take over its proud wrestling program.

Simons was primed to lead the program to new heights, taking over as the program’s head coach after his distinguished competitive career. But could Simons build the Bald Eagles into a winner against the nation’s heavyweights or would something else stand in his way?

Episode 3: Mat Town’s Championship Era looks at Gray Simons’ return to Lock Haven.

Listen & Follow Etched in Stone

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Deezer | Radio Public | RSS

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.

From 1961-1964, Gray Simons was one of the best wrestlers in the World. Heading into his junior season at Lock Haven, Simons had already won two NAIA national championships and an NCAA championship, beating Olympian Dick Wilson in the finals as a sophomore. 

After his trip to Rome saw him come away from the Olympics without a medal, Simons continued his tear through college wrestling. Would injuries or wrestlers from more dominant programs stop him from his place in wrestling history? Would old friends and teammates be the ones who would knock Simons from his path? 

Find out in the second installment of Seven. 

Seven is the story of one of America’s great wrestling minds - a stellar athlete with two Olympic appearances - and a dynamic technical mind - delivering next-level techniques learned at Granby and tweaked for the college wrestling world.

Episode 2: Masterful Mite looks at Simons' run into the record books, becoming the first collegiate wrestler to win four national college championships and the 20th to win three NCAA titles. The journey also runs through his second Olympic appearance.

Listen & Follow Etched in Stone
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Deezer | Radio Public | RSS

About Gray Simons (From NWHOF.com)

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 collegiate defeat in his 90 collegiate matches came in his freshman season. He then proceeded to win 84 in a row, a record at the time. 

From the legendary Granby High School in Norfolk, Virginia, the path to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for Elliot Gray Simons included some unbelievable feats of wrestling, but it didn’t start off with immediate accolades.

Simons would win a state championship for Hall of Fame coach Billy Martin before enrolling at tiny Lock Haven State Teachers College. There, Simons would dominate the college wrestling world, becoming the first wrestler in history to win four NAIA national titles and was the first to win four collegiate national championships across any division. He would also win three NCAA titles, battling with some of the titans of the sport, including future members of the Hall of Fame.

Seven is the story of one of America’s great wrestling minds - a stellar athlete with two Olympic appearances - and a dynamic technical mind - delivering next-level techniques learned at Granby and tweaked for the college wrestling world.

Episode 1: Unrolling Granby chronicles Simons’ start back in Virginia and his journey to Lock Haven, his first NCAA title and his first appearance at the Olympic Games in Rome.

Listen & Follow Etched in Stone
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Deezer | Radio Public | RSS

About Gray Simons (From NWHOF.com)

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 collegiate defeat in his 90 collegiate matches came in his freshman season. He then proceeded to win 84 in a row, a record at the time. 

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.

Show Credits:
Show written and produced by Jason Bryant, Mat Talk Online
Amateur Wrestling News, Volumes 4-5, 1959-1960
Wrestlers at the Trials, James V. Moffatt, 2007
The Granby Roll, J.W. "Johnny" Brown, 2008
Music Provided by Envato Elements. 

Trailer for the upcoming Etched in Stone series, Gray Simons: Seven. Gray Simons was college wrestling's first four-time collegiate national champion. He also holds the unique distinction of being the first - and only - seven-time college national champion. Simons was a four-time NAIA champion at Lock Haven and was also a three-time NCAA champion, winning the Outstanding Wrestler award six times in those seven tournaments. 

A two-time Olympian, Simons stands as one of the greatest American wrestlers to ever walk the earth. 

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and USA Wrestling are excited to announce that their Etched In Stone - Stories of Wrestling Legends podcast featuring Lee Kemp, a three-time World champion and a three-time NCAA champion for the University of Wisconsin has launched at etchedinstonepodcast.com.

Episode II will be released on March 7 followed by Episode III on March 14 and Episode IV on March 21.

The EIS series provides wrestling fans an opportunity to hear legendary wrestlers sharing the trials and tribulations they encountered on the way to becoming one of wrestling’s best. Podcasts also include interviews with coaches, competitors, teammates and others who were part of the journey, giving additional insight on the legend. EIS podcasts are produced by former wrestlers and wrestling insiders, utilizing their knowledge and unique perspective to extract the stories that fans want to hear.

The Kemp podcast is produced by 1976 NCAA wrestling champion and Hall of Fame board member Pat Christenson, who also created the EIS series, and Peter LoPinto of Pinto Media. It is narrated by Hall of Fame board member and former chairman of the board Terry Shockley, who was the first wrestler inducted into the Augustana College Athletic Hall of Honor.

Adopted at the age of five, Kemp did not begin wrestling until the ninth grade. But once started, he scaled the heights faster and farther than any American wrestler before him. He reached the NCAA finals as a true freshman, only to be turned back by a split decision in overtime. He would not lose another college bout. The next three years, Kemp posted 108 victories and one draw, and won three NCAA titles at 158 pounds, becoming the first black wrestler to win three national titles.

The four-episode series will break down the remarkable career of one of wrestling’s all-time greats. 

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and USA Wrestling are excited to announce that their Etched In Stone - Stories of Wrestling Legends podcast featuring Lee Kemp, a three-time World champion and a three-time NCAA champion for the University of Wisconsin has launched at etchedinstonepodcast.com.

Episode II will be released on March 8 followed by Episode III on March 15 and Episode IV on March 22.

The EIS series provides wrestling fans an opportunity to hear legendary wrestlers sharing the trials and tribulations they encountered on the way to becoming one of wrestling’s best. Podcasts also include interviews with coaches, competitors, teammates and others who were part of the journey, giving additional insight on the legend. EIS podcasts are produced by former wrestlers and wrestling insiders, utilizing their knowledge and unique perspective to extract the stories that fans want to hear.

The Kemp podcast is produced by 1976 NCAA wrestling champion and Hall of Fame board member Pat Christenson, who also created the EIS series, and Peter LoPinto of Pinto Media. It is narrated by Hall of Fame board member and former chairman of the board Terry Shockley, who was the first wrestler inducted into the Augustana College Athletic Hall of Honor.

Adopted at the age of five, Kemp did not begin wrestling until the ninth grade. But once started, he scaled the heights faster and farther than any American wrestler before him. He reached the NCAA finals as a true freshman, only to be turned back by a split decision in overtime. He would not lose another college bout. The next three years, Kemp posted 108 victories and one draw, and won three NCAA titles at 158 pounds, becoming the first black wrestler to win three national titles.

The four-episode series will break down the remarkable career of one of wrestling’s all-time greats. 

The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and USA Wrestling are excited to announce that their Etched In Stone - Stories of Wrestling Legends podcast featuring Lee Kemp, a three-time World champion and a three-time NCAA champion for the University of Wisconsin has launched at etchedinstonepodcast.com.

Episode II will be released on March 7 followed by Episode III on March 14 and Episode IV on March 21.

The EIS series provides wrestling fans an opportunity to hear legendary wrestlers sharing the trials and tribulations they encountered on the way to becoming one of wrestling’s best. Podcasts also include interviews with coaches, competitors, teammates and others who were part of the journey, giving additional insight on the legend. EIS podcasts are produced by former wrestlers and wrestling insiders, utilizing their knowledge and unique perspective to extract the stories that fans want to hear.

The Kemp podcast is produced by 1976 NCAA wrestling champion and Hall of Fame board member Pat Christenson, who also created the EIS series, and Peter LoPinto of Pinto Media. It is narrated by Hall of Fame board member and former chairman of the board Terry Shockley, who was the first wrestler inducted into the Augustana College Athletic Hall of Honor.

Adopted at the age of five, Kemp did not begin wrestling until the ninth grade. But once started, he scaled the heights faster and farther than any American wrestler before him. He reached the NCAA finals as a true freshman, only to be turned back by a split decision in overtime. He would not lose another college bout. The next three years, Kemp posted 108 victories and one draw, and won three NCAA titles at 158 pounds, becoming the first black wrestler to win three national titles.

The four-episode series will break down the remarkable career of one of wrestling’s all-time greats.