Moss Grays ’90
Career Record: 131-17, 3x D11 Champ, 2x NE Regional Champ, 3x Medalist, State Champ
Tournament Championships: 2x Manheim Champ, Crestwood Champ
College: Clarion (NCAA Qualifier)
1990 – 145 lbs.: District Champ, Regional Champ, State Champ (36-1)
1989 – 138 lbs.: District Champ, Regional Champ, State Third (35-2)
1988 – 138 lbs.: District Champ, Regional Runner-Up, State Third (34-5)
1987 – 126 lbs.: District Third, Regional Fourth (26-9)
Grays was a state champion and the lynch-pin of the late ‘80s Easton lineups who overcame a stunning upset as a junior to climb the mountain and win a state title as a senior.
As a freshman, Grays became the first Easton ninth grader above 119 pounds to earn a starting post in the lineup when he earned the spot at 132 for the Crestwood Mountaintop Tournament to start the season. He was pinned by rival Mike Miller (Nazareth) in his second career dual, but established himself as a force to be reckoned with by finishing third at the Manheim. After an up and down dual season, Grays avenged a regular season loss to Brett Schantz (Emmaus) by hammering him 9-4 in the D11 quarterfinals before dropping a 4-4, 1-0 overtime match to state bronze medalist Mike Bartholomew (Northampton) in the D11 semis. The following week, Grays met Bartholomew again in semifinals, this time falling 5-2 at Northeast Regionals. Grays earned a quick fall to make it to the consolation final with a state tournament berth on the line, but dropped a 5-2 decision to Chris Hoover (Selinsgrove).
As a sophomore, Grays opened the season with a third place finish at Crestwood and a title at Manheim. He bonuses his way through duals in December and January before dropping a bout to Chris Derr (Shikellamy). His highlight win of the season came in December, when he knocked off New Jersey state finalist Jason Hawk (Phillipsburg), 6-1 in a loss to the Stateliners. Grays ran roughshod over the D11 field, with a pair of falls, an injury default and a 10-2 major decision in the finals over Jeff Kocher (Northampton). Grays continued his bonus streak at Northeast Regionals, where he went pin/major to make a trip to the regional final and punch a ticket to Hersehy. He dropped his first regional finals appearance to state-runner up and future state champ Tom Best (Williamsport), 7-5. In his first state tournament appearance, Grays knocked off Marc Kaufman (Warwick) and Jim Herriott (Canon McMillan) to earn a shot at title favorite Jason Shea (Huntingdon) in the semifinals. Shea topped Grays 5-2 on his way to a state championship, but Grays wrestled back for a state bronze medal.
Grays returned for his junior season as one of the favorites to win a state title. However, he was upended in the finals of the Crestwood Mountaintop Invitational by Tom Stallings (Lancaster) in the opening weekend of the season. He’d come back from that loss with a 33 match win streak. He hammered future state finalist Dan Madson (Nazareth), 11-4 in a dual with the Blue Eagles, then won Manheim for the first time to close December. Grays nearly bonuses his way through the D11 tournament a second time, with two falls, a 10-4 decision, and a tech of Preston Moritz (Nazareth) in the finals. He’d win his first regional title the following weekend in similarly dominant fashion, going fall, 5-1 win and 11-5 decision over Brian Cuddy (Liberty). He was the favorite in Hershey and looked it with a major in his opening match and a tech in quarters. That set up a semifinal match against Dave Thomas (Waynesburg) where Grays looked fabulous early on and built a 8-4 lead. However, while seconds away from a trip to the state final, Grays was headlocked to his back for five points and lost a stunning 9-8 decision to Thomas, who would go on to win the state title later that evening. That was part of a nightmare session for the Rovers, who saw Grays, Dave DiSora, and Tony Rizolino all drop consecutive semifinal matches. Grays was forced to settle for third, after a 10-3 decision over Cuddy and a 10-2 major of Bart DeRemer (Quakertown), one of four state bronze medals for their Rovers as part of a runner-up finish.
As a senior, Grays opened by bonusing his way through Crestwood, capped by a 18-9 win over future NCAA qualifier and 2A medalist Mike Geurin (Lake Lehman). Grays and Mike Miller, the returning state champ at 145 pounds, met at 160 in a “super match” in their early season dual with Nazareth. Grays looked sharp early, building a 5-3 lead, but two third period takedowns for Miller turned the tides and won the match 7-6 for the Blue Eagle state champion. Grays would bounce back to win Manheim, capped by a 3-2 win over future state champ Romy O’Daniel (Canon McMillan). Grays dominated the rest of the dual schedule, highlighted by a 29 second fall over Jarrod Spencer (Phillipsburg) for the deciding bonus points in a 32-29 win over the Stateliners. Grays pinned his way through the D11 tournament, giving him 15 bonus point wins out of 16 matches in his three championship runs. He was similarly not tested at regionals with a pin, a 12-5 win and an 8-5 triumph over Dave Robatin (Shikellamy) for his second regional title. He came into Hershey a big favorite at 145 and would leave no doubt, with one of the most dominant state tournament performances by an Easton wrestler. He pinned Bill Adams (Downingtown) in the first period of their opening bout, then majored Steve Hess (Penn Manor) to make his third straight trip to semifinals. This time, however, there would be no stunning heartbreak, as Grays hammered Tony DeMeno (Methacton) 17-8 to punch a ticket to state finals. In the finals, Grays racked up a lead on Brian Cipollone (Plum) before pinning the future state champ in a cradle at the 3:00 minute mark to earn the state championship that had eluded him in 1989. After Easton, Grays was a two-time PSAC champion and NCAA qualifier at Clarion.
History of Easton Wrestling 