Stanley G. Gress
Wrestling (1988-1990)
All-American Wrestler at Waubonsee in 1989-1990
Finished sophomore season with a Waubonsee record 48 wins
Waubonsee Male Athlete of the Year for 1989-1990
Went to Eastern Illinois University on full wrestling scholarship
Qualified twice for the NCAA National Tournament
In athletics, as in many facets of life, two sayings hold true. Fame is always fleeting, and records are made to be broken. Athletes are remembered by their accomplishments, but often only until the next star comes along. But when an athlete also demonstrates integrity and character, those qualities are ones people remember. Former Chiefs’ wrestler Stan Gress qualifies on all accounts. “I nominated Stan not only for his wrestling accolades, but for the type of person he was off the mat,” states former head coach Dave Hejtmanek.
Gress graduated in 1988 from South Ridge High School in Huntingburg, Indiana, where he was the 189-pound state champion his senior year. Gress later came to Waubonsee from Grand Rapids Junior College, where he was an NJCAA All-American his freshman season at 190 pounds. He followed that up with an even better sophomore campaign for the Chiefs. “Stan did the extra things during the season to make himself a more complete wrestler, and represented Waubonsee with the highest degree of character and integrity,” declares Hejtmanek. That season Gress won the St. Louis Open, was Skyway Conference Champion, the Skyway Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player, Region IV Champion and placed third in the nation at the NJCAA Wrestling Championships. He finished his sophomore year with a 48-9 record overall, still a Waubonsee record for most wins in a single season. Subsequently, Gress was named Waubonsee’s Male Athlete of the Year for 1989-1990.
Later that summer he wrestled in Spain with the Junior College National Wrestling Team. Gress earned his Associate’s degree from Waubonsee and then received a wrestling scholarship to Eastern Illinois University (EIU). For the Panthers, he placed second at the West Regional in both 1991 and 1993 to qualify for the NCAA National Tournament. Gress was ranked in the top 12 of the NCAA’s 190-pound weight class his entire senior year. He graduated from EIU in 1993 with a B.S. in Education. Gress went on to win two AAU National Championships in Folk Style wrestling, a style of amateur wrestling practiced at the collegiate and university level in the United States.
Gress taught Physical Education and Health, and coached track at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Terre Haute, Indiana for four years. He also volunteered as one of the wrestling coaches at Terra Haute North High School. Gress started his own businesses in 1999, Air & Aqua Clean, and Aqua Proof Roofing, which operate in the Terre Haute area. He resides in Terre Haute and has two daughters, Gracie and Kylee.