NW Grad: Griess Earns Second-Straight Trip to Nationals For Navy

Photo Credit: Navy

LEWISBURG, Pa (3/8/2024) - Eighteenth-ranked Grady Griess, senior (2020 Northwest Graduate) posted a 2-1 record during the opening day of the tournament, which earned him an automatic qualifying spot for the NCAA Championship. The EIWA was given eight pre-allocated spots at heavyweight and Griess can't place lower than eighth in his bracket. 

Griess won his first match of the day by a 15-1 major decision against Santino Morina of Drexel. 

Navy's team captain then went into overtime in his quarterfinal match against Army's No. 27 Lucas Stoddard. Stoddard won the match in TB2 for accumulating more riding time. 

Penn's John Stout held an early edge over Griess by scoring a takedown with 25 seconds to go in the first period. Griess quickly countered with a reversal to make the score, 3-2. Stout recorded an escape early in the second period and then scored a takedown with 19 seconds remaining on the clock. Griess scored a huge escape with only seven seconds to go in the period to make the score, 7-3. Following an escape five seconds into the third period, Griess tied the match with 1:18 remaining by scoring a takedown. Griess ended the match at the 6:23 mark by pinning Stout to win by fall. He matched his career high for the most wins by fall in a season (eight) with the victory. 

285 - (3) #18 Grady Griess (2-1)
• Rd of 16: defeated (14) Santino Morina, Drexel / Major / 15-1
• Quarterfinals: lost to (6) #27 Lucas Stoddard, Army / Dec / 2-2 TB2 *
• Cons. of 8 #2: defeated (9) John Stout, Penn / Fall / 6:23
*Stoddard was awarded the win for accumulating more riding time in TB2

Griess (24-10) will wrestle his opening match of the NCAA tournament on Thursday morning, March 21st in Kansas City. He will open up with Cory Day (27-7) from Binghamton. 

NCAA Tournament Brackets