MSU’s wrestling squad landed its third recruit from the area, when Mason’s Tony Greathouse verbally committed to the Spartans on Monday.
Greathouse - No. 23 in the Wrestling USA national poll - kept his speech short, thanking his teammates and coaches. Then, standing in the cafeteria of Mason High School, he declared his intentions to play for the team he has been watching his whole life.
“I’ve always idolized college wrestlers,” he said. “I’ve watched State since I was a kid.”
Greathouse has been wrestling since childhood and has always kept a solid work ethic, Mason wrestling co-captain Jesse Fuentes said.
“We’ve been at it since we were 10 or 11,” Fuentes said. “We both started early, I’ve had lots of experience wrestling him. Except for this year, I’ve always been bigger than him. He’d get discouraged, but he’d just keep coming at me.”
Greathouse began his wrestling career as Mason’s team manager when he was in second grade. He held that job until he became a player for the Bulldogs, head coach Jeff Pitman said.
“He’s ran more laps in the hallways than any kid I know,” Pitman said.
His competitive spirit on the mat causes problems for his opponents, Pitman said.
“If you’re not in shape to go six minutes with him, he’s going to beat you,” he said. “He gets better as the game goes on.”
And two years ago the rewards starting coming back to Greathouse - an eighth-place finish at the state championship meet, and a first-place finish last year in the 103-pound weight class. He amassed a 116-24 record along the way.
Greathouse is the third prominent wrestler in the area to announce his intentions to play for MSU in the last two years.
Williamston’s Andy Simmons, now a freshman, committed to play for MSU last year and his brother Nick Simmons announced his intent earlier this year. Both wrestlers were undefeated at the times of committing.
And the Simmons brothers’ presence on the team played a role in Greathouse’s decision, he said.
“Andy and Nick have been my friends for years,” Greathouse said. “I won’t be going in with new people.”
The talent of the Simmons didn’t hurt MSU either.
With a healthy recruiting class, the Spartan program should become a nationally-contending team, and Greathouse said he just hopes he can live up to his reputation.
“I work out at (MSU’s) winter training camp,” he said. “Sometimes, I see their guys. Hopefully, I can match up with them.”
