I knew Harold Grundy was a champion even before we were formally introduced.
As my husband’s high school wrestling coach and mentor at Arlington High School, “Coach Grundy” was always a part of the discussion whenever Andre reminisced about transitioning from a boy to a man and his high school athletic accomplishments.
In 1999, Grundy coached my husband to a 119-18 record, and also under his tutelage, Andre was a state placer in the Indiana High School Athletic Association Wrestling State Finals that year.
There are many people whose instruction can yield favorable results, but that list is condensed when you talk about coaches who have championships listed on their athletic resume. Grundy is on that list.
I recall visiting Grundy’s home one Christmas holiday. I was impressed by his collection of trophies, medals, certificates and black-and-white photographs of him from his high school days.
He and the other members of the 1967 Shortridge High School wrestling team won fame in 1967 when they brought home a state title back to their school at 3401 N. Meridian St.
Now, the legendary team has been inducted as an honorary member of the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association (IHSWCA) Hall of Fame.
The honor is just beginning to sink in.
“An all African-American wrestling team winning a state championship, prior to 1967, that had never happened before. It just began to hit me,” said Grundy. “It’s been almost 50 years. I’m so happy this team has finally been recognized.”
Surviving team members and family members of deceased team members were honored at a recent banquet.
“The IHSWCA promotes and honors wrestlers and their accomplishments. The Hall of Fame committee deemed their accomplishments worthy of this honorary membership,” said Scott Schwarz, chairman for the IHSWCA Hall of Fame.
Grundy was pleased by the honor and said back in 1967, he knew deep down they were going to do great things that year.
The team was a part of Shortridge High School’s tradition of academic and athletic excellence and they had great coaches in Paul Dill (now deceased), Don Benbow, and head coach George Bohlin.
He said losing was not an option. They were taught how to win and were groomed to be champions. With wrestling wins in the record books and a winning attitude, he believed a state championship was inevitable.
“We wanted to be champions,” said Grundy. “Every guy on that team had won a championship on some level, whether it was a city championship or sectional championship. Winning was all we knew.”
In 1967, Grundy said the team had an undefeated regular season; finished third in sectionals; won regionals; and with the talents of team members Charles Blackwell, James Garner and William Coleman, won state.
“I would love to say we were all that. We were just some kids who had great coaches, we were good athletes and we had great chemistry. We just came together and accomplished this unbelievable feat,” said Grundy.
Winning the match was the easy part for those 1968 athletes, he said. Grundy recalled that off the mat, the team faced racism and recalls a time when the Shortridge team participated at a meet held at Arlington High School, then an all-white high school. They entered their locker room to find the floor strewn with glass.
Grundy said he knew what he and his teammates faced, but couldn’t imagine what his all-white coaches went through coaching all Black boys.
The record books prove that despite obstacles, the Shortridge team rose to the occasion. After high school, Grundy went on to become a teacher and a wrestling coach. He instilled that winning attitude in his students based on his Shortridge High School experience.
In 1979 Grundy coached wrestling at the historic Crispus Attucks High School. In 1982, he went to Arlington High School, where he remained for 26 years. There, he had 31 wrestling seasons; coached in 27 state finals, 20 in track and field and seven in wrestling.
In addition to being a 1967 state champ and being inducted into the IHSWCA Hall of Fame, Grundy said in 2009 he became the first African-American coach inducted into the Indiana Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Grundy’s wrestling career has come full circle. Today he serves as Shortridge High School’s wrestling coach.
This past season, Grundy said he had the hardest season of his career due to dropping participation. Despite the changing dynamics in youth, the popularity of wrestling and the dedication needed for sports, Grundy thinks back to 1967 and passes on the legacy of excellence.
“Wrestling is not a sport for dumb people. It takes a lot of mentality. It teaches you to make split-second problem solving decisions. And you have to make the right decision,” said Grundy. “This is so important for our young men. If you can wrestle, you can accomplish anything. I also teach these young men that it goes deeper than wresting. It’s about you becoming a good man. I’m preparing you for the game of life that is constantly going into overtime.”
