Greg Wojciechowski, ‘The Great Wojo,’ legendary wrestler from Toledo, dies

TOLEDO, Ohio — Greg Wojciechowski, a dominant collegiate wrestler from Toledo who came within grasp of an Olympics appearance and later took his talents to the world of professional wrestling under the name “The Great Wojo,” died Tuesday night from a heart attack, according to family. He was 73.

Wojciechowski was born in Toledo in 1951. He began wrestling for Whitmer High School in the late ’60s and his talents on the mat were immediately apparent, capturing two Ohio State Heavyweight championships in 1967 and 1968, according to his biography on the Toledo Public Schools website.

When he stepped onto the mat at the University of Toledo in 1970, Wojciechowski went on a legendary run that took him to the finals of the NCAA Division I Championships three years in a row. He won the championship in 1971, while the only losses in his 55-2 collegiate record came in the 1970 and 1972 finals, according to the university.

“Wojciechowski is generally regarded as the greatest wrestler ever at the University of Toledo,” the university says.

Wojciechowski was also an alternate for the U.S.’s Greco-Roman and freestyle wrestling teams at the Olympics multiple times over before qualifying for the team in 1980. However, the U.S. boycotted that year’s games when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, and Wojciechowski did not compete.

During his post-college years, Wojciechowski spent 12 years in the professional wrestling world as “The Great Wojo.” He won three heavyweight championship titles in the Indianapolis-based World Wrestling Association, the same promotion that saw a young Bobby Heenan and Scott Steiner learn the ropes. He retired from the promotion in his third championship reign in 1987.

He also had brief runs in the World Wrestling Federation and the Minneapolis-based American Wrestling Federation, and made appearances internationally.

Midwest-based promotion Championship International Wrestling released a statement on Wojciechowski’s death.

Wojciechowski was inducted into the University of Toledo Varsity T Hall of Fame in 1978. He was also inducted into the George Tragos and Lou Thesz Pro National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2015. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame also gave him a lifetime award for his service to the sport that same year, and inducted him as a distinguished member 10 years later in June 2025.

Following his graduation from UToledo, Wojciechowski became a teacher and wrestling coach at Archbold High School in 1972. He also spent time as a teacher with Toledo Public Schools and was the wrestling coach at Libbey High School and later at Bowsher High School.