Courtesy of John Harrison
Greg was Penn State’s first four-time All-American, finishing seventh, third, and second twice in the NCAA tournament. He was selected to wrestle in the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic twice (1986 and 1987). He was the first Penn Stater to win a title at the Midlands tournament and was also a three-time EWL champion and was named EWL Freshman of the Year in 1984. He was a team captain and is tied for first (with Jim Martin and Sanshiro Abe) for most NCAA career wins (18) by a Penn Stater. He is third on the all-time victory list with 142 and fourth on the dual-meet victory list with 55. Greg was also a National Espoir Freestyle champion (1985), a Pan-American Freestyle champion (1990), a U.S. National Open Freestyle champion (1992) and was the 1992 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team alternate.
Greg was one of our top recruits when we got him out of St. Edwards (OH) and he was never a disappointment. He was one of the finest young men that we’ve ever had come to Penn State. He was a great competitor–he would always rise to the occasion. The better the opponent–the tougher Greg was. In his freshman year he barely lost in the Nationals to Iowa’s Jim Zalesky, who was going for his third national title.
Greg had the total package when it came to wrestling. He had a very competitive nature; he had very good quickness and strength and was well rounded in all areas of wrestling. He wasn’t afraid to challenge anybody; he’d go up a weight or even two for you and wrestle there. As can be seen from his record and accomplishments, he has been with the best in the U.S. and the world. He lost a close match to Kenny Monday (who was an Olympic gold medalist) in his Olympic tryout final.
Greg has been a tremendous credit to Penn State throughout his wrestling career and after. He also helped a couple years as a coach and he did an outstanding job helping shape other people. He continues to help with the program today in any way he can. I think he could still walk on the mat now and handle 90% of the people out there–even with very little training.
-former Penn State head coach, Rich Lorenzo
Greg, what have you been doing since you graduated from Penn State?
Since graduation I received my MBA and started my career at Goldman Sachs. I have been at Goldman since August of 1990 and am now a vice president of Private Client Services in Philadelphia. I took some time off in 1992 for the my Olympic chase–but I came up short and was the Olympic alternate in 1992. I now manage assets for wealthy family groups and am the CFO for the families I work with.
How did you get started in wrestling? It was a family thing: my brothers Joe (Cal Poly), Mike (All-American at UNC), Tony (College of the Sequoia) and my father and other coaches who had an interest in kids got me started. I really developed when Howard Ferguson (St. Edwards, Ohio coach) got me focused on success.
What are your best memories from the years you were a Penn State wrestler?
Some of the great memories that occur to me: Sam Lestz (PSU professor of Mechanical Engineering and chief scorekeeper) taking us on mini-trips at places where we were wrestling to see museums and other local attractions; Bill Buckley, the head trainer who started off not really knowing much about the sport, flashing the takedown sign to me when I would look over at him during my fifth year; the relationships with the cast of guys from Matter, Lubert, Puleo, Becker and Fritz to my peers.
How has the Penn State wrestling experience impacted your life/career?
Rich Lorenzo had everything to do with the impact that the PSU wrestling experience had on my career. He taught through his example, which is the most powerful way to teach.
Do you still stay in touch with your teammates?
Yes, our group gets together every year for the NCAA tournament and the Dewey Open (golf tournament).
Greg, you are one of a very small number of wrestlers who have attained All-American status four times. When you look back on your collegiate wrestling career now, how do you view this accomplishment?
Accomplishments are all relative; I came way short of my goal of being a four-time NCAA champion.
What advice do you have for collegiate wrestlers today?
My advice is to have fun yet take advantage of every day to train hard. Do not believe anyone who says you can’t be a NCAA champion when you are a freshman. Put a sign in your locker or in your room that says “NCAA champion” and put your name next to it. Say this out loud every day.
