Tod Giles
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Sport:
Wrestling |
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Year
Graduated: 1994 |
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Year
Inducted: 1999 |
"He was an excellent athlete who was a tenacious competitor.
He was also a quick learner who could assimilate techniques
to his own style of wrestling," so Terrier head wrestling
coach Carl Adams said of Tod Giles.
It is appropriate then that Tod, who was the first B.U. All-American
coached by Adams, becomes Adams' first Hall of Fame inductee.
Tod actually concluded his eligibility in 1984. After winning
his first New England Championship as a freshman at the University
of Rhode Island, Tod transferred to Boston University. He
was a three time New England champion and compiled and overall
record of 86-5 while competing for the Terriers. He culminated
his career as a senior in 1983-84 when he posted a 39-2 record
to set a school mark for most wins in a season. He won his
third consecutive New England championship and went on to
finish eighth at 190 pounds and earn All-America honors at
the NCAA tournament.
As a team, the Terriers were 26-18 during Giles' career and
won the New England Conference Tournament each of his three
years.
In the spring of 1984, just credits shy of graduation, he
enlisted in the Marines where he continued to excel on the
mat. He was a four-time All-Marine wrestler, was a freestyle
champion at the World Military Games, and was a nine-time
place winner at the U.S. National Championships. In addition
he was an alternate on the United States' 1988 and 1996 Olympic
Greco-Roman Teams.
Finally, in 1991, Tod returned to B.U. to complete his credits
for his degree while serving as an assistant coach under Adams.
In 1994, he received his bachelor's degree and went on to
become the head coach at West Point.
"He was always driven to achieve high goals," said
Adams. "he always wanted to be the best at what he did."
