Wrestling Hall of Fame

A three-sport athlete at Richwoods High School, Jeff Simons made his biggest impact in wrestling, earning all-America honors in college and a fourth-place finish in the World Championships. As a senior at Richwoods, Simons posted a 42-2 record with 30 pins en route to winning the IHSA state championship at 185 pounds. He was accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy, where he competed in the 190-pound and heavyweight classes, qualifying for the NCAA Championships three times and earning all-America honors with a fifth-place finish in 1974. Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marines Corps, Simons continued to wrestle and won nine gold medals in the Interservice Championships. Wrestling at 220 pounds in the Greco-Roman style, he took the silver medal at the 1978 World Military Games and followed by winning the gold in 1979. He competed for two U.S. national teams at the World Championships, where in 1977 he took fourth place in Greco-Roman, the highest finish for a U.S. wrestler that year. Simons also coached All-Marine wrestling teams to Interservice titles in 1978 and 1979 and mentored two future Olympians. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for his accomplishments as a wrestler and coach during his service in the Marines.