Greg Gardner began his wrestling career as a 10-year-old in Springfield, Illinois. With no elementary or middle school wrestling programs in town, Gardner learned the sport from his father and uncle, Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame coaches Jack Gardner and Jim Gardner.

As an eighth grader, Greg placed third in the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation state tournament. Competing for Springfield Southeast High School, his accomplishments included MVP and captain of the high school football team. But it was wrestling where Gardner really stood out. Under the tutelage of his father, Jack, Greg qualified for the Illinois state wrestling tournament three times and was a two-time state place-winner, earning All-State honors as a junior and senior. Gardner became the city's first state champion when he went undefeated with a 43-0 record as a senior.

Gardner represented Team Illinois at the Junior Nationals freestyle tournament and placed third to earn All-America honors.

He earned a scholarship to Illinois State University, joining his brother, Mark, and later, his cousin, Andy, and brother, Brad, wrestling for IWCOA Hall of Fame coach George Girardi. Greg qualified for the NCAA Division I Championships and had a career record of 83-32 for the Redbirds. He was voted team MVP while serving as team captain as a junior and senior.

Gardner earned his bachelor's degree in special education from ISU, and later completed his master's degree in educational administration at the University of Illinois-Springfield.

He enjoyed a 14-year career as a teacher, administrator and football and wrestling coach at Southeast High School. As a wrestling coach, Gardner coached many state qualifiers and multiple state place-winners. He also spent six years as a freestyle coach for the Illinois National Freestyle Team.

Gardner was appointed the assistant regional superintendent of schools for Sangamon County in 1986.

In January of 2005, he was struck by a car while jogging, and complications after the accident left Greg paralyzed.

A quadriplegic, Greg worked tirelessly to help others in his situation to succeed. At his own expense, he outfitted a building with rehabilitation equipment, welcoming area quadriplegics and paraplegics to continue their rehabilitation free of charge.

Gardner has traveled across Illinois, volunteering to speak to wrestling teams about mental preparation and self-motivation.

He founded Individual Differences, Inc., a 503(c) non-profit charity, developed to provide equipment and other resources to the handicapped and other individuals in need.

Gardner still resides in Springfield, Illinois, and has been married to his wife, Roxanne, for over 17 years. He is the father of three wonderful daughters; Bre (15), Brooke (12) and Katie (8).

"I wake up every morning and say that there's gonna be things I'm limited to. I'm still going to have a good life, but its just going to be a different kind of life," says Greg.

Perhaps Greg's friend Joe Maddox best describes Greg's situation, "Greg happens to be one of the best teachers that I've ever been around. If the lesson is attitude, Greg is the Ph.D. of the Ph.D. of that. He is such an example."