Wrestling biographies are typically filled with statistics, percentages and awards. Make no mistake; George Bossi has earned his share of victories and championships. These metrics, however, do not tell Bossi's full story and his contributions to Massachusetts Wrestling. Simply put, George has had a life-long love affair with wrestling.

For more than fifty years, Bossi has shaped the sport of wrestling and influenced virtually everyone involved in our great sport. George has done this as a coach, official, athletic director, commissioner of officials, founder of the Lowell Holiday Tournament, and founding member of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Bossi, who has coached wrestling at Lowell High School since 1965, changed the lives of generations of Lowell wrestlers. George coached brothers, cousins, fathers, and sons as he built Lowell into one of the most respected wrestling programs in Massachusetts history. Bossi is the beloved patriarch of the Lowell wrestling family, where many of his wrestlers think of "Coach" as a second father.

For the record, there are coaches who have accumulated more dual meet wins and longer winning streaks than Bossi. But George didn't measure success by won-loss records or undefeated seasons; he set loftier goals for his teams. Bossi measured success with championships - individual and, more importantly, team titles.

To Coach Bossi, the dual meet season was just a tune up for the post-season. As the post-season drew near, Bossi's legendary afternoon practices were supplemented with early morning running sessions. He trained his teams to peak in February and March and scheduled the toughest opponents that he could find. As George puts it, "if you want to be the best, you have to wrestle the best."

Throughout George's 50-year tenure, Lowell frequently was the best. With Bossi as head coach or while he was assisting Tim O'Keefe or Mike Keunzler, Lowell teams have earned a remarkable sixteen state championships and five New England titles. Along the way, Lowell has produced an amazing 29 individual New England champions and an astounding 80 individual state champions. The number of state and sectional place finishers trained by Bossi is almost too numerous to count.

George's greatest satisfaction wasn't in the number of victories or championships. It was his impact on his wrestlers. His most enduring memories will always be of the young athletes that he molded into men. These youngsters came from different backgrounds, with different abilities and different challenges. Bossi inspired them all to achieve beyond their wildest dreams. George made a lasting impression by teaching his wrestlers the value of hard work and the importance of preparation. He instilled in his wrestlers a self-confidence that would serve them throughout their entire lives.

However, Bossi was not just concerned with his Lowell wrestling teams. He was equally focused on promoting and growing the sport of wrestling. Over the years, George became a role model, a resource, and an inspiration for his fellow coaches. Bossi raised the bar in Massachusetts high school wrestling in terms of knowledge and sheer hard work. Coaches came to realize that if they were going to beat Lowell, they had better expand their understanding of the sport and work just as hard as George.

Opposing coaches would often bring their teams to Lowell for a joint practice and a chance to learn from Bossi. Many coaches began to emulate George's practice plans and his motivational methods. He welcomed all comers, never afraid to teach his competition new techniques and share his strategies. George viewed their improvement as a good thing - an ongoing challenge that would make his own Lowell teams better.

In addition to his coaching prowess, George was an outstanding referee who mentored hundreds of officials throughout his career. In 1973, Bossi organized the Massachusetts Wrestling Officials Association, ultimately serving as commissioner of officials - a position that he continues to hold to this day. For more than fifty years, George has performed the thankless job of scheduling referees, handling the constant stream of cancellations and rescheduling, changing venues and starting times, and unending complaints from coaches and officials.

When Jim Peckham began planning for the future Massachusetts Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, he immediately contacted Bossi to ask for his help. For the past 16 years, George has contributed to the hall of fame organization as it has grown to become an integral part of the Massachusetts wrestling community and the national wrestling landscape.

No one has done more for our great sport than Bossi, or done it with George's flair. Early on, Bossi recognized the unique opportunity that wrestling presents to build character in young people. Over the last half-century, Bossi has touched the lives of thousands of wrestlers, coaches, officials, parents, and fans. George set in motion the growth of wrestling in Massachusetts. His contributions have touched every aspect of our sport. That is the legacy of this exceptional man.