Wrestler as classy as he is talented
Mickey Furfari
Daily Mail sports columnist
MORGANTOWN — Greg Jones has accomplished significantly more in his four years here than any other West Virginia University wrestler ever.
What’s more, the 6-foot-1, 184-pound senior from Slickville, Pa., is one of the most personable student-athletes I’ve seen in 58 years on the Mountaineer sports beat.
“I’m comfortable in saying that he’s the greatest wrestler I’ve ever had, “Coach Greg Turnbull said. “I’m even comfortable saying he’s one of the greatest athletes to come through WVU in any sport.”
He’ll get no argument from me. I couldn’t agree more.
“When you say greatest athlete, you’ll say Jerry West, and then one of the next three has to be Greg Jones.”
Jones certainly would rank right up there with WVU’s all-time greatest basketball player in athleticism and achievements.
With a 118-4 career record, he needs two more victories to move ahead of all-time leaders Jim Akerly (1985-88) and Scott Collins (1987-91), who each have 119 wins.
Percentage-wise, Jones is No. 1 by an almost unbelievable margin.
“No one is close to him, “Turnbull noted.
He has won 43 matches in a row and is 27-0 all-time in Eastern Wrestling League competition.
And he is the first Mountaineer ever to capture two NCAA wrestling championships.
Jones scored a technical fall over Cleveland State’s Ron Howard as WVU defeated Cleveland State 27-13 in its regular-season finale last week at the Coliseum.
The turnout of 820 fans cheered his every move during a 17-2 triumph in his last home appearance.
While he couldn’t be happier with Jones’ accomplishments, Turnbull is hesitant to talk about those as if he’s finished.
“There are so many important things still left that it seems a little premature for me to be talking about what he’s done, “the coach said.
Told that Jones always has been kind, humble and cooperative in talking to this writer, Turnbull replied:
“What he presented to you is what he presents to his friends and to everyone else. I think that’s where our program is really blessed.
“He’s turned out to be such an outstanding athlete and is such an exceptional person.
“Greg is soft-spoken. He’s just one of the guys on the team, laughing and talking, and he’s had a 3.0 grade-point average every semester he’s been here.”
Indeed, this young man seems to be someone you’d like your son to pattern his life after.
Let’s give Turnbull credit, too, for not only developing, but also maintaining one of the nation’s top wrestling programs.
Despite an unprecedented series of major injuries, he guided his team to a fifth EWL championship and national ranking.
He’s a four-time EWL coach of the year honoree and his 226-154-7 dual-meet record for 27 years makes him WVU’s winningest coach by a large margin.
And as Turnbull’s prized pupil, Jones owns class and character as well as numbers, which may never be matched by those who follow him.
“I don’t know if that will happen, “Turnbull said. “But it would be certainly amazing. A couple did come close.”
Perhaps son Kyle, a freshman on the team?
“Wouldn’t that be fun, “Turnbull exclaimed.
Contact Daily Mail contributor Mickey Furfari at [email protected]
Wrestling Gear
