WPI Wrestling coach Grebinar reaches 400-win milestone

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Steve Raczynski (WPI)
01/29/2004


Worcester, MA - Phil Grebinar, now in his 32nd year as Worcester Polytechnic Institute's head wrestling coach, notched his 400th career victory this past Sunday (Jan. 25) while at the NECCWA Dual Team Tourney at Bridgewater State.     The significance is that relatively few wrestling coaches, whatever the NCAA level (Division I, II, or III) ever attain the 400-victory plateau.     When WPI opened the tourney with a 31-15 win over Roger Williams, Phil had recorded #399. Later in the day, when WPI defeated archrival Coast Guard, 28-14, the #400-milestone was attained. With a 21-21 victory (on criteria) over Trinity even later in the day, Phil then recorded #401, which is where he stands now.     As of today, Grebinar's dual-meet record is 401-149-6, good for an outstanding .727 winning percentage. He has guided his WPI teams to four NECCWA championships - in 1985, 1987, 1994, and 1995.     Over the years, Grebinar has been inducted into four Halls of Fame. Last year, he was inducted into the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, along with Frank Ball (former coach at Melrose High School), Norm Collier (former AAU Wrestling official), Stan Holmes (coach at Bridgewater-Raynham High School), and Alex Steinberg (wrestling philanthroper).     Each of the above individuals had his name inscribed on a plaque at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. They joined Carl Adams, Louis Andrews, George Bossi, Arthur Crozier, Mike DeFazio, Rich Griffin, John Harkness, Colin Kilrain, John Lee, Ken Mallory, Rick Moyer, George Myerson, Doug Parker, Jim Peckham, and Bill White.     In 1994, Grebinar was inducted into the WPI Hall of Fame. In 1996, he was inducted into the Massachusetts Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and in 2002, he was inducted into the inaugural class of the New England College Conference Wrestling Association's Hall of Fame.     Phil has also been named NECCWA Coach of the Year three times and has had a grand total of 183 All-New England wrestlers, including four in the 2002-2003 season. Joe Moskowitz, a 157-pounder from Amherst, NH, and Peter Krzyzewski, a 174-pounder from Kingston, MA, were the 45th and 46th wrestlers from WPI to compete in the NCAA National Championship Tournament in 2003. Thus far eight WPI individuals have earned All-America status a total of 11 different times.     Grebinar is also a faculty member in the Department of Physical Education with the rank of associate professor. A native of Long Island, Grebinar received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Cortland State, where he was a football player and wrestler.