Grillo receives sectional and state honors

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – John Grillo

For his four decades of contributions to the sport retired Holley wrestling Coach John Grillo recently received both Section V and state honors.

Grillo, who guided the Holley wrestling program for the majority of his 44 years of coaching, has been inducted into the Section V Wrestling Hall of Fame.

He becomes the third Orleans County coach to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as he joins Jim Sauberan from Kendall and the late Fred Large from Lyndonville.

In addition, Grillo has also received the New York State Coaches Achievement Award.

During his tenure at Holley, Grillo  guided the Hawks to no less than 22 Genesee Region League and 12 Section V titles. During one memorable stretch his Hawk teams captured both league and sectional titles for a decade long stretch from 1998 to 2008. In all his teams earned over 780 wins.

Previously, Grillo has also received the G-R League Lifetime Achievement Award, the Charles Wagner Award  from the Rochester Press Club for his contributions to local sports and he was inducted into the Holley High Wall of Fame. The latter honor was most special as he was inducted along with his sone Andrew who earned a state wrestling championship his senior year at Holley.

He was also named G-R League Coach of the Year 15 times and Section V Coach of the Year six times.