Naval Academy Athletics

Career Honors
2023-24 Team Captain
2024 NCAA Qualifier
2023 NCAA Qualifier
2023 EIWA 285-Pound Champion
2024 EIWA All-Academic
2023 EIWA All-Academic
 
2023-24 // Senior Year
Navy’s starter at 285 pounds in 12 duals … Posted an overall record of 26-12 and went 8-4 in duals … Served as team captain for the 2023-24 campaign … Led the team in total victories (26) and wins by fall (nine) … Won a career-high nine matches over ranked wrestlers … Earned dual victories against VMI, Pitt, Ohio, American, South Dakota State, North Carolina, Lock Haven and Army … Clinched Navy’s, 21-12, victory against Pitt by defeating No. 9 Dayton Pitzer by a 4-2 decision … Crowned a champion at the Navy Classic … Also placed at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (fifth) and Franklin & Marshall Open (fourth) … Represented the Mids at 285 pounds at the EIWA Championship and placed seventh … Earned his second trip to the NCAA Championship for his placement at the EIWA tournament … Finished with a 2-2 record at nationals with victories against Binghamton’s No. 20 Cory Day (4-1) and Rider’s No. 24 David Szuba (Fall / 4:09).
 
2022-23 // Junior Year
Navy’s starter at 285 pounds in 10 duals … Recorded a 32-7 overall record and an 8-2 dual record during junior season … Led Navy in overall and dual wins … Earned a season-best national ranking of No. 18 by InterMat … Led the Mids with eight victories against nationally-ranked opponents, with a top victory against No. 19 Michael Wolfgram of West Virginia … Placed first at the Clarion Open (4-0), Bearcat Open (3-0) and Franklin & Marshall Open (6-0) … Also took second place at the Navy Classic (3-1) and competed in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (3-2) … Earned dual victories against Maryland, South Dakota State, Virginia, Lehigh, Hofstra, Binghamton, Lock Haven and Army … Defeated No. 21 nationally-ranked Cory Day by a 7-0 decision to help Navy complete a come-from-behind victory over Binghamton (19-18) … Claimed a 4-0 decision win against Army’s Austin Kohlhofer to help Navy claim the Star Match, 18-13 … Won the 109th individual EIWA title in program history after posting a 4-0 record in the tournament … Scored a takedown and two-point near fall with two seconds remaining in the championship bout to defeat Lehigh’s No. 27 Nathan Taylor by a 5-1 decision … Also claimed victories over No. 30 Travis Stefanik (Princeton) and No. 26 Cory Day (Binghamton) … Earned 50th win of his career in the championship match … Earned an automatic qualifying spot in the NCAA Championship for his placement at the EIWA Championship … Posted a 1-2 record at nationals with a 3-0 decision win against No. 20 Josh Heindselman of Oklahoma.
 
2021-22 // Sophomore Year
Competed at 285 pounds during sophomore campaign … Made appearances in the Clarion Open, Bearcat Open, Navy Classic, GMU Patriots Open, Franklin & Marshall Open and Mat-Town College Open II, finishing with a record of 19-6 … Earned first collegiate victory over Toby Cahill of Buffalo by an 8-2 decision at the Clarion Open … Went 2-1 at the Clarion Open to place fifth, and 4-1 at the Bearcast Open to place 5th / 6th … Took third place at the Navy Classic after finishing the tournament 4-1 and at the GMU Patriots Open with a 3-1 record … Took first place at the Mat-Town College Open II, defeating Keyonte Hamilton of Rutgers by a 6-4 decision in the finals match … Went 1-1 in dual matches, defeating John Kelbly of Cleveland State by a 7-3 decision for first collegiate dual win.
 
2020-21 // Freshman Year
Navy wrestled a COVID-shortened season that did not include tournaments outside of the EIWA and NCAA Championships … Did not see any varsity action after suffering an early injury.

High School
2020 graduate of Northwest High School in Grand Island, Neb. … Three-sport athlete who earned letters in football (3), track & field (1) and wrestling (4) … Two-time All-State (Neb.) selection in football (2018, ‘19) …Three-year wrestling team captain (2018, ‘19, ‘20) … 2020 Honorable Mention USA All-American … Three-time Nebraska state finalist, two-time champion (2019, ‘20) … Defeated two top-10 ranked opponents to place fifth at the 2019 Walsh Jesuit Ironman Wrestling Tournament … Led Northwest to Nebraska Class B Championships in 2019 and ‘20 and placed second in ’18 … School record holder in career takedowns, most wins in a career and season and most pins in a season and career … As a senior, 39 of his 41 victories were by pin … 2019 NSWCA Outstanding Wrestler of the Year … Member of the National Honor Society … Junior class president.

Personal
Son of Melvin and Julie Griess … Majoring in quantitative economics, he owns a 3.88 grade-point average … Has earned USNA academic honors in eight semesters … Also considered Nebraska … Brother, Jake, attended Nebraska where he was a thrower on the track & field team (2011-14).