After unparalleled success at the high school level, former Great Bridge High School head coach Steve Martin took his talent for molding wrestlers into elite athletes to Old Dominion University. Martin won 12 Virginia Group AAA State Championships at Great Bridge and his team was nationally ranked every single year during those state championship runs. Martin’s 2008-09 ODU squad cracked the Top Twenty at the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. The 08-09 squad produced 3 Academic All-Americans and a National Finalist in Ryan Williams at 141 lbs. The dual meet year was a success as the Monarchs earned their highest ranking ever at #15. The 09-10 squad was again ranked in the Top Twenty in the Nation.Chris Brown achieved All-American status and became Steve martin’s 3rd All-American in 3 years. With a high school record of 305-15-1, Martin was a national finalist for the National High School Coach of the Year twice. Martin has produced 40 State Champions, 37 All-Americans and seven National Champions at the high school level and has also produced a 2000 NCAA Champion Carl Perry, who won his title at the University of Illinois. A Virginia native and three-time high school State Champion at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, Martin was a 1989 NCAA All-American at the University of Iowa under legendary wrestling coach Dan Gable. He was also a Midlands Champion and a 1988 Olympic Trials qualifier. Martin has instituted his Granby Style at Old Dominion and over the last 2 years his recruited classes have been ranked in the top ten. His father, Billy Martin, was named America’s #1 High School Wrestling Coach according to the book, “Americas Greatest Coaches.”

Mike Dixon enters his 6th year as the Head Assistant coach at Old Dominion University. Coach Dixon will provide a unique experience for heavyweight wrestlers at the Granby School of Wrestling. During the team camps there will be individual technique and drill sessions with Dixon for heavyweight wrestlers. Dixon was a four year starter at heavyweight for Indiana University and will be able to provide simple, easy to learn, and effective moves for heavyweights that they will be able to execute in competition. Dixon also has extensive international experience by winning the University National Championships and placing 4th at the Pan American Championships in the Dominican Republic.

Michael Strouse has been a staff member at the Granby School of Wrestling since 1970. His 37 years of instruction have been essential in the development of many individual campers. Strouse has coached at New Smyrna Beach H.S. for 21 years. Utilizing the Granby System he has produced8 state champions, and 22 place finishers. Mike Strouse was a state champion at Granby High School during his senior year in 1972. Strouse has witnessed the Granby Roll’s evolution into the contemporary wrestling atmosphere.

Jon Sioredas joined the Monarch wrestling staff in September of 2006 as a volunteer assistant coach. He has since become a full-time assistant for head coach Steve Martin. He joined the staff after a successful collegiate career at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. While wrestling under NCAA and World Champion Terry Brands, Sioredas earned All-American status by placing 5th at 165 pounds in the 2005 NCAA Division I tournament. This was in addition to being named Outstanding Wrestler and Wrestler of the Year in the Southern Conference, as well as being ranked as high as 2nd in the country. Prior to joining the Chattanooga squad, Sioredas wrestled for three seasons at the University of Missouri where he was an All Big XII athlete. In 2000, Jon was a VHSL AAA State Champion and All-American under Coach Steve Martin at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, VA. He was also an AAU National Champion in 1999. Sioredas has a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is currently pursuing his Master’s in Business Administration at Old Dominion University. Throughout the year, Jon runs and works numerous wrestling camps and clinics across the country.

Norman Luke Smith has spent 2 years on the Monarch coaching staff after a year as the lightweight coach at Central Michigan University, where he helped guide the Chippewas to a 14th place finish at the NCAA Tournament. In high school Luke was a 2x Wisconsin State Champion at Chippewa Falls High School and finished his career with a 117-2 record. He went on to compete at Central Michigan University where he was a 4x National Qualifier and was ranked as high as 4th in the country at 125 pounds. In 2004 Smith placed 4th at the Greco- Roman Olympic Trials. In 2006 he finished 4th at the 2006 Sr. Freestyle World Team Trials and was a University World Team Member. Luke is currently still competing and working towards the 2012 Olympic Trials.

A product of the Granby School of Wrestling, Mark Strickland took his knowledge of the Granby Series from Virginia and has helped take one of Louisiana’s top wrestling programs, Jesuit High School, to the next level. A Junior College National Champion at Garden City Community College, Strickland wrestled collegiately at Oklahoma State under two-time Olympic Gold Medalist John Smith and at Old Dominion under two-time Olympian Gray Simons, and he was also a product of Billy Martin’s Granby Series. Strickland led the Blue Jays to the 2005 Louisiana State Championship and was the 2004 National Wrestling Coach of the Year by Wrestling USA Magazine. Strickland teaches the Granby Series not only as a dominating way to beat opponents, but to pin them as well. Strickland held the Great Bridge High School record for pins until 1998. A two-time high school state champion at Great Bridge, Strickland is another success story to come from the Granby School of Wrestling and become a successful high school coach. Mark Strickland led Poquoson High,Va to a runner-up finish at the 2007 VA AA State Championships.He is now developing the top athletes in the state to National Titles.In 2010,he had athletes win National Titles at the Super 32 Challenge,NHSCA Junior Nationals and at the USAW Cadet Nationals.

Michael Martin is the grandson of the legendary Billy Martin Sr. Michael wrestled at Great Bridge High School for his uncle Steve Martin. He was a 4X Virginia High School League State Champion as well as a Senior High School National Champion. He competed in college at the University of Illinois and at Old Dominion University where he was a NCAA Qualifier. Michael is an excellent technician and has vast array of knowledge. He likes working with young kids to help them reach their goals. Michaels father David, was a 4X VHSL champion as well at Granby High School. They are only the second father son duo to achieve this according to the National High School Wrestling Association.

Ray was a VA State Champion at Indian River High School in Chesapeake, VA for former Granby State champion Bob Siman. He competed in college at Slippery Rock College for former Granby State Champion Freddy Powell. Ray was 2X NCAA East Region Champ, 2X NCAA Div. I qualifier, and a PSAC champ while at Slippery Rock College. Ray coached at Westminster High School in Atlanta, GA. From 1997-1999. He coached his team to 2 regional championships and 2 state runner-up finishes in 1998-99. Ray has a been a student of the Granby series his entire life. He is a top and bottom specialist and is a very conscientious and hard worker.

Matt Small competed at Great Bridge High School where he was a state Place winner for wrestling Coach Steve Martin. He continued his career at Old Dominion University for Granby legend Grey Simmons who was a 3X NCAA Champion and Olympian. Matt was a 2002 CAA Runner-up, a Co-captain of the wrestling team and graduated Cum Laud from ODU with a 3.45 GPA.

Matt was an Assistant Coach at Great Bridge High School until 2007. While at Great Bridge, he assisted in the development of 8 State Championship Teams and 21 Individual State Champions. Matt was voted the Virginia High School Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2006-07 season. He started the wrestling program at Grassfield High School from scratch in 2007-2008.

In 2008-2009 just the schools second year, Coach Small’s team won the Southeastern Regular and Tournament Titles, Placed 2nd in the Eastern Region, and 4th in the AAA Virginia State tournament while producing 2 state champions, 5 state place winners, and 2 High School All-Americans using the Granby School Techniques.
Matt in his first year as Head Coach at Cox High School, in 2009-2010 , won the Virginia AAA State Team Title. He produced 5 State Champions and won his first team title. His squad ended the season ranked 24th in the nation. His 2010-11 squad will start the season ranked 23rd in the nation.

Matt is a student of the sport and is a great teacher and coach of The Granby Series. He is in his 17th year of attendance at the Granby School of Wrestling.

Dalton Head is a 12 year veteran of the Granby School of wrestling. Dalton Head won a AAA Virginia state title in 2000 at 125 lbs. competing for Ocean Lakes High School, Virginia. He then went on to compete 1 year at James Madison University before transferring to Virginia Tech, where he competed for 2 years and later graduated with a teaching degree. Head spent last year as an assistant coach at Middletown Area High School in Pennsylvania, before taking the coaching job at Hermitage High School in Richmond, Virginia. Dalton will be coaching along side his brother Geoff Head after taking over the program for the 2006-07 season. Dalton is an outstanding and personable technician.

This will be Geoff’s 12th year with the Granby School of wrestling. He competed in high school at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, VA, where he was a two-time state place winner, placing 2nd and 3rd. He went on to compete for Virginia Tech. where he was a 3-year starter at 125 lbs. for the Hokies. He is now an assistant coach along with his brother Dalton at Hermitage High School in Richmond, VA.

Ryan Williams became the face of Old Dominion wrestling when he advanced to the NCAA Finals in 2009.Williams completed his senior year with a 39-4 record and ended his career second on the All Time ODU win mark with 137 wins.

He led Old Dominion to its highest national ranking in school history, at 16th in the country. He graduated with a degree in Business and finished his career as a 3x Academic All-American. Willy is a great instructor as he knows how to break down the techniques into steps.He is a specialist on top and has his own takedown series that helped him become a NCAA Finalist.

Chris Brown was a 2x State Champion at Great Bridge High School for Coach Martin .He was a rare double champion at the Ironman and Beat of the East Tournaments his Senior year.He was also a NHSCA All American as well.Chris was Coach Martins first verbal in his first recruiting class at Old Dominion University .Chris had a dynamic career at ODU which culimainated in being a All-American his senior year.He currently hold the most wins in ODU Wrestling history with 138 career wins bypassing Ryan Williams mark of 137 wins.He became Steve Martins 3rd All-American in the last 3 years.Chris is a excellent teacher that works well with people.He is a specialist on his feet and is a true master teacher of the sport of wrestling .

Nick was a state finalist and a NHSCA All-American at Great Bridge High School for Coach Steve Martin.Nick followed Coach Martin Old Dominion University .Nick was a NCAA Qualifier at Old Dominion University .He was a head coach at Massaponax High school before returning to his hometown to coach the Peninsula Wrestling Club.Nick is a top work expert as well as a specialist on the bottom with the Granby Series.