E. Gray Simons
August 13, 1939 - Present
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.
Awards:
Year
2021
|
Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
|
Chapter/Region
Tennessee
|
Year
1978
|
Award
Distinguished Member
|
Chapter/Region
National
|
All American Awards:
Season
1962
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Tournament
Division I
|
Weight
115
|
Place
1
|
Season
1961
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Tournament
Division I
|
Weight
115
|
Place
1
|
Season
1960
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Tournament
Division I
|
Weight
115
|
Place
1
|
College Season Records:
Season
1962
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Class
Senior
|
Bouts
20
|
Wins
20
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Falls
8
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Place
1st
|
Season
1961
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Class
Junior
|
Bouts
28
|
Wins
28
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Falls
12
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Place
1st
|
Season
1960
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Class
Sophomore
|
Bouts
22
|
Wins
22
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Falls
10
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Place
1st
|
Season
1959
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Class
Freshman
|
Bouts
20
|
Wins
19
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Falls
0
|
Win PCT.
95
|
Place
DNW
|
Season
Career
|
Bouts
90
|
Wins
89
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Falls
30
|
Win PCT.
98.89
|
All Coaching Dual Records:
Season
2004
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
19
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
12
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
36.84
|
Season
2003
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
16
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
10
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
37.5
|
Season
2002
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
15
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
9
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
40
|
Season
2001
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
13
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
53.85
|
Season
2000
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
11
|
Wins
5
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
45.45
|
Season
1999
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
18
|
Wins
8
|
Losses
10
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
44.44
|
Season
1998
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
14
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
8
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
42.86
|
Season
1997
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
14
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
64.29
|
Season
1996
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
17
|
Wins
12
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
70.59
|
Season
1995
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
13
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
53.85
|
Season
1994
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
12
|
Wins
8
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
66.67
|
Season
1993
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
13
|
Wins
4
|
Losses
9
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
30.77
|
Season
1992
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
13
|
Wins
8
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
61.54
|
Season
1991
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
17
|
Wins
14
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
82.35
|
Season
1990
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
15
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
60
|
Season
1989
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
21
|
Wins
11
|
Losses
9
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
52.38
|
Season
1988
|
School
Old Dominion
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
13
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
69.23
|
Season
1986
|
School
Tennessee
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
13
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
53.85
|
Season
1985
|
School
Tennessee
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
12
|
Wins
9
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
75
|
Season
1984
|
School
Tennessee
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
10
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
60
|
Season
1983
|
School
Tennessee
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
15
|
Wins
10
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
66.67
|
Season
1982
|
School
Tennessee
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
15
|
Wins
10
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
66.67
|
Season
1981
|
School
Tennessee
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
14
|
Wins
8
|
Losses
6
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
57.14
|
Season
1980
|
School
Tennessee
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
17
|
Wins
10
|
Losses
7
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
58.82
|
Season
1979
|
School
Tennessee
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
12
|
Wins
4
|
Losses
8
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
33.33
|
Season
1978
|
School
Tennessee
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
12
|
Wins
6
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
50
|
Season
1977
|
School
Tennessee
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
15
|
Wins
12
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
80
|
Season
1976
|
School
Tennessee
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
15
|
Wins
10
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
66.67
|
Season
1975
|
School
Indiana State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
14
|
Wins
10
|
Losses
4
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
71.43
|
Season
1974
|
School
Indiana State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
15
|
Wins
10
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
66.67
|
Season
1973
|
School
Indiana State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
13
|
Wins
10
|
Losses
3
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
76.92
|
Season
1972
|
School
Indiana State
|
Division
Division I
|
Duals
9
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
77.78
|
Season
1971
|
School
Indiana State
|
Division |
Duals
12
|
Wins
5
|
Losses
7
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
41.67
|
Season
1970
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Division
NAIA
|
Duals
13
|
Wins
7
|
Losses
5
|
Ties
1
|
Win PCT.
53.85
|
Season
1969
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Division
NAIA
|
Duals
10
|
Wins
10
|
Losses
0
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
100
|
Season
1968
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Division
NAIA
|
Duals
12
|
Wins
11
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
91.67
|
Season
1967
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Division
NAIA
|
Duals
12
|
Wins
11
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
91.67
|
Season
1966
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Division
NAIA
|
Duals
11
|
Wins
10
|
Losses
1
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
90.91
|
Season
1965
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Division
NAIA
|
Duals
12
|
Wins
10
|
Losses
2
|
Ties
0
|
Win PCT.
83.33
|
Season
Career
|
Duals
537
|
Wins
329
|
Losses
203
|
Ties
5
|
Win PCT.
61.27
|
All Rankings:
Season
1962
|
Rank Date
02/15/1962
|
Weight
115
|
Rank
1
|
School
Lock Haven
|
Season
1961
|
Rank Date
02/15/1961
|
Weight
115
|
Rank
1
|
School
Lock Haven
|