John Wood

Year Inducted: 2022

John Wood, a 1966 graduate, was an outstanding wrestler for Statesville High School. He was Western North Carolina Athletic Association Champion three years in a row, 1964-1966. With that success, Wood was honored as the first recipient of a full scholarship for a Citadel wrestler.

Wood, who battled at the 123-pound weight class, had a spectacular 78-4 career record that included qualifying for the NCAA Tournament as a sophomore and junior, Southern Conference Champion both years. He was named the Southern Conference’s Most Outstanding Wrestler in 1969, never having lost a home match. He qualified for the Olympic tryouts, twice won the Southern Open, won the Georgia Tech Open, the First Colonies Tournament and twice won AAU Tournaments. Wood served on the Regimental Staff as a Cadet Captain, was a Dean’s List student and a Distinguished Military Student.

After The Citadel, he had a successful 30-year teaching and coaching career at the NC School for the Blind. His wrestling team won 25 of 28 Eastern Athletic Association for the Blind Championships. He also officiated numerous amateur wrestling tournaments in NC for more than 25 years and in 2008 was inducted in the North Carolina Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.