Years ago I moved my family to VA Beach (while I stayed in DC) so our older son, Kurt, could learn the Granby System skills from Keith Lowrance, who was still activly coaching at Kempsville High School at the time. The progress Kurt made, especially with his bottom work but also in maximizing his already on-feet skills, was amazing, and stood Kurt in good stead at Kempsville, at Blair Academy and in College.
Keith Lowrance was the best workout partner in the room from 62 to 65 at Granby. You could always depend on him not only to wrestle you and make you work, but also to teach you. I would seek him out as a partner b/c I knew he had been on Marty's farm over the summer learning more moves, and I knew he liked to teach.
It really is pretty cool how all of these great coaches are interlaced. The great Bill Martin started as a college wrestler at Elon College in NC then moved to MSU under Coach Fendley Collins. Martin then spawned numerous other great coaches including Keith Lowrance at Granby High School, VA. Under Martin's guidance, Lowrance went to MSU also and wrestled under coach Grady Peninger. Lowrance went on to coach both Wayne and Steve Martin and many other great current coaches. Steve went on to Iowa and Gable. Now at ODU in Norfolk, VA, I'm sure he'll inspire more to coach in his footsteps just as his dad, Lowrance, Gable, Peninger and Collins (directly or indirectly) must have done for him. The history speaks for itself - but I wish I knew what it was like in just one of those coach's mat rooms.
Actually, Lowrance wrestled for Billy Martin at Granby High School in Norfolk, Virginia. Martin was inducted into the wrestling hall of fame for producing twenty something state titles in a row, numerous high school/college All-Americans, and for inventing such holds as the "granby roll". His youngest son Steve, who wrestled for Iowa under Gable, is currently the head wrestling coach at ODU.
I agree Grady Peninger, is a Hall of Fame Coach who at Michigan State University won 7 consective Big Ten Team Titles starting in 1966. When they won the NCAA Title in 1967. Another Big Ten school the University of Michigan, was runner-up.
Martin's College Coach Grady Peninger was one of the greatest college coaches of his time. He took the Spartans to great heights. Becoming the first team in the Big Ten to win the NCAA and one of only two teams to ever win the title east of the Mississippi.
After college Lowrance followed in the foot steps of Martin and became the head coach at Granby High and today is still active in camps and coaching.
After college Lowrance followed in the foot steps of Martin and became the head coach at Granby High and today is still active in camps and coaching.