Gregg Koontz
Gregg Koontz is a 1976 graduate of Bedford High School where he lettered in football, wrestling, and track and field. Gregg had amazing flexibility. He could sit on the ground, spread his legs, and put his chest on the ground which added to his sports ability.
In football as a junior and senior he was a Bedford County First Team All-Star lineman. In track and field Gregg was the first shot-putter at Bedford to put the shot over 49 feet, a distance of 49-5 his senior year in 1976.
In wrestling, Gregg was 14-6 as a junior. In District 9-AAA, Gregg finished third, but when the second-place finisher was unable to go to regionals, Gregg took his place.
In the Northwest AAA Regional Tournament, Gregg finished third and advanced to the state meet. At states, he beat Kevin Telep of Canon-McMillan, 5-3. In the quarterfinals, Gregg lost to Council Rock’s John Colella with a fall in 3:31. There was no wrestlebacks in the state meet at that time..
As a senior, Gregg was undefeated in dual meets and won the Boiling Springs Tournament. Bedford was still in District 9-AAA, and Gregg won districts and was the Outstanding Wrestler. He advanced to the Northwest Regional Tournament at Altoona.
Gregg won his first bout to set up a match with undefeated Matt Suhey of State College. This was the match everyone was talking about. The coaches of both wrestlers went to a dual meet to scout the opponent. Bedford coach Bill Creps remembers walking into the Altoona Gym with people asking him “Can the big boy do it?”
Gregg was losing 6-3 going into the third period, but Suhey had been warned twice for stalling. Suhey was on top to start the third period. Suhey was called for stalling, riding back on the legs. He had to move up, and when he did, Gregg hit him with his patented Peterson roll and got the fall at 5:25. Koontz won in the finals with another fall and won the Outstanding Wrestler Award. Suhey later became Walter Payton’s blocking back for the Chicago Bears.
At states Gregg won his first match over Pittsburgh Central Catholic’s Nick Pacellio by fall in 57 seconds before wrestling Allentown Dieruff’s 6-4 George Atiyeh.
Atiyeh was leading 7-3 when Koontz got him in a Peterson roll. Koontz got the reversal for two points, but Atiyeh’s shoulders were off the mat. Time ran out before Gregg could
pull him back on the mat. Gregg lost 7-5 and finished the season with a 20-1 record with 14 falls. Atiyeh went to win the state championship and repeated the next year. Atiyeh
played football at LSU going to the NFL and USFL. He was also the SEC heavyweight wrestling champion and SEC Wrestler of the Year.
After graduating from Bedford, Gregg went on to wrestle at Lock Haven State College. As a freshman Gregg’s record was 19-10-1 with 17 falls, a Lock Haven freshman record for falls. Gregg was named the Outstanding Freshman Wrestler.
His sophomore year his record was 26-7 with 17 falls. He took first at the PSAC Tournament. He was elected co-captain his junior year. He injured his knee but still set the school record for falls with 38 and had a record of 14-9. Gregg was elected captain for his senior year, but reinjured his knee and missed the whole season.
Gregg and wife Lori have two children: Josiah and Kelsey, who are both in college. Gregg works for Aquaflow Pump and Supply Company, and the family lives in the Bedford area.
Gregg Koontz is a 1976 graduate of Bedford High School where he lettered in football, wrestling, and track and field. Gregg had amazing flexibility. He could sit on the ground, spread his legs, and put his chest on the ground which added to his sports ability.
In football as a junior and senior he was a Bedford County First Team All-Star lineman. In track and field Gregg was the first shot-putter at Bedford to put the shot over 49 feet, a distance of 49-5 his senior year in 1976.
In wrestling, Gregg was 14-6 as a junior. In District 9-AAA, Gregg finished third, but when the second-place finisher was unable to go to regionals, Gregg took his place.
In the Northwest AAA Regional Tournament, Gregg finished third and advanced to the state meet. At states, he beat Kevin Telep of Canon-McMillan, 5-3. In the quarterfinals, Gregg lost to Council Rock’s John Colella with a fall in 3:31. There was no wrestlebacks in the state meet at that time..
As a senior, Gregg was undefeated in dual meets and won the Boiling Springs Tournament. Bedford was still in District 9-AAA, and Gregg won districts and was the Outstanding Wrestler. He advanced to the Northwest Regional Tournament at Altoona.
Gregg won his first bout to set up a match with undefeated Matt Suhey of State College. This was the match everyone was talking about. The coaches of both wrestlers went to a dual meet to scout the opponent. Bedford coach Bill Creps remembers walking into the Altoona Gym with people asking him “Can the big boy do it?”
Gregg was losing 6-3 going into the third period, but Suhey had been warned twice for stalling. Suhey was on top to start the third period. Suhey was called for stalling, riding back on the legs. He had to move up, and when he did, Gregg hit him with his patented Peterson roll and got the fall at 5:25. Koontz won in the finals with another fall and won the Outstanding Wrestler Award. Suhey later became Walter Payton’s blocking back for the Chicago Bears.
At states Gregg won his first match over Pittsburgh Central Catholic’s Nick Pacellio by fall in 57 seconds before wrestling Allentown Dieruff’s 6-4 George Atiyeh.
Atiyeh was leading 7-3 when Koontz got him in a Peterson roll. Koontz got the reversal for two points, but Atiyeh’s shoulders were off the mat. Time ran out before Gregg could
pull him back on the mat. Gregg lost 7-5 and finished the season with a 20-1 record with 14 falls. Atiyeh went to win the state championship and repeated the next year. Atiyeh
played football at LSU going to the NFL and USFL. He was also the SEC heavyweight wrestling champion and SEC Wrestler of the Year.
After graduating from Bedford, Gregg went on to wrestle at Lock Haven State College. As a freshman Gregg’s record was 19-10-1 with 17 falls, a Lock Haven freshman record for falls. Gregg was named the Outstanding Freshman Wrestler.
His sophomore year his record was 26-7 with 17 falls. He took first at the PSAC Tournament. He was elected co-captain his junior year. He injured his knee but still set the school record for falls with 38 and had a record of 14-9. Gregg was elected captain for his senior year, but reinjured his knee and missed the whole season.
Gregg and wife Lori have two children: Josiah and Kelsey, who are both in college. Gregg works for Aquaflow Pump and Supply Company, and the family lives in the Bedford area.
Bedford County Sports Hall of Fame
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Bedford County, Pennsylvania
Class of 2017