Princeton Mourns The Passing Of Wrestling, Football Great Bradley Glass '53
August 11, 2015 | Football, Wrestling
Bradley Glass '53 spent the fall of his sophomore year earning First-Team All-America honors for the last Princeton football team to ever win a national championship. A few months later, he accomplished a feat that would overshadow that accomplishment. Both programs join the Department of Athletics in mourning the passing of a Tiger legend.
Glass, a premier defensive guard for the football team, was best known at Princeton as being the only man to win an NCAA wrestling championship at the University. A two-time EIWA champion at heavyweight, Glass won the 1951 NCAA championship in Bethlehem, Pa., over Homer Barr of Penn State.
His status within the wrestling program is held in such esteem that his picture is the only one framed at the center of the wall in the practice room. Former All-Americans are pictured on the wall as well, but none stands with Glass.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Bradley Glass," said wrestling head coach Chris Ayres. "Brad represented everything our wrestlers should aspire for. He was an outstanding wrestler, winning NCAAs and two EIWA Championships, and he also became extremely successful in his personal life. Brad will not be forgotten and will always remain one of the best wrestlers to every wear a Princeton singlet."
A 2001 inductee into the EIWA Hall of Fame, Glass never lost a dual match for Princeton. He placed third at the 1952 NCAA Championships after losing a semifinal match by referee's decision. He was also a three-time letterwinner on the football team during one of its most historic eras, the 1950-52 stretch that included a national championship, Dick Kazmaier's Heisman Trophy and a record of 26-1.
You can read his complete bio in this article from Intermat.