George "Doppy" Doherty wrestled for Hall of Fame coaches Lonnie Kittle and Joe Valla at Amityville High School from 1945 to 1949, where he amassed a winning record and captured two Long Island championships.

In addition, he earned a New York State AAU Freestyle wrestling championship.

Upon graduation from high school, Doppy took his wrestling prowess to the state of Pennsylvania, where he attended Millersville State Teachers College. While there, under the tutelage of legendary coach Ted Rupp, he posted a career record of 30 wins and only 2 losses, including 13 victories by pin.

Doppy would go on to win three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships as well as an AAU Mid-Atlantic freestyle championship in 1951. Following the completion of his varsity career in 1953, Doppy received the Theodore H. Rupp award for the most outstanding wrestler at Millersville.

In 2003, he was inducted into the Millersville University Hall of Fame. His nominating sponsor expressed admiration for Doppy by writing, "He was by any standard the first 'big time' wrestler that Millersville ever had. His record speaks for itself, but more than that he was a great leader and a fine example of sportsmanship throughout his career. In those four years (1949 to 1953), George was chiefly responsible for bringing Millersville into national prominence as a wrestling powerhouse."