TJ, Pam, Pete, Isaac and Stephanie Grieder

Friends, family members and former student athletes of Pete Grieder gathered Friday night in the wrestling wing of Lake Highlands High School to honor him. The legendary wrestling coach taught at LHHS for 32 years and a few more at Bishop Lynch.

Current Wildcat wrestling coach Ty Williams, who excelled as one of Grieder’s student athletes, unveiled a plaque at the door of the wrestling room which noted Grieder’s impact on countless young men.

“No matter how much time goes by, we’ll always appreciate Coach Grieder,” Williams told the assembled crowd. “When I think about Coach Grieder, I think about the father figure that we all got to have when we were on the Lake Highlands wrestling team. He taught us things like working hard, being disciplined, being relentless even when we’re absolutely exhausted. It’s a mindset that we all still have to this day. If you guys walk in the wrestling room right now, you’ll see boards and plaques from different eras and different years. If you look at the Coach Grieder era, those names represent something much more than just names on a board. They represent Coach Grieder’s legacy to help kids accomplish their goals and believe in themselves.”

Surprise!

Grieder knew something was up when he was called to the school on a Friday night, but he was surprised when he opened the door and found dozens of people clapping and cheering and hollering his name. Some former wrestlers brought their wives and young children to meet the man they adore and admire.

Beside a photo of Grieder receiving the 2025 LHHS Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award, the plaque reads:

PETE GRIEDER

HEAD WRESTLING COACH

GEOMETRY TEACHER

32 YEARS OF SERVICE

1983 – 2016

CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

TEXAS WRESTLING HALL OF FAME

NATIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME

650 VARSITY DUAL MEET WINS

24 DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS

6 REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

179 STATE QUALIFIERS

48 STATE PLACERS

3 INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS

For 32 years, Coach Grieder dedicated his career to educating, mentoring and positively impacting generations of Lake Highlands students and wrestlers.

“It’s pretty cool, because it tells me that I had a legacy, which was my goal when I started,” Grieder told me when the assemblage adjourned to Jake’s Hamburgers after the ceremony. “I wanted to make my own history, and this kind of completes it. I can remember every match. I can remember every kid.”

As he shook hands and received hugs from attendees, many young men told him about the impact he had made — not just while they competed on the mat, but well after graduation.

“They were just saying, Coach, you made a big difference in my life,” Grieder said. “For a lot of them, I think I was their dad, and that makes me feel good, and they let me know that.”

Some wrestling alums brought their children to meet Coach Grieder.

Grieder stayed for a while to hear old friends laugh (and cry) and tell stories of wrestling matches and lessons learned. Many said those lessons have served them well.

“I just wanted to be a good coach and a good dad and a good father figure to them,” Grieder said. “I wanted to treat them all like I would my own sons. I would discipline them like I do my own kids and talk to them and always give them an opportunity to recover after making a mistake. I wanted to make them feel like they can do anything if they just keep working hard and put their mind to it. I wanted to be that person who was there for all of them.”

Grieder received hugs all around.

Grieder was delighted to see wrestlers from his years as head coach.

Pete Grieder (center in light blue) with supporters