Lloyd Keaser won a silver medal in the 1976 Olympics and was a two-time All-American at the Naval Academy, but he's not sure he could have done it without legendary Midshipmen wrestling coach Ed Peery.
"I remember the way he could get under your skin in a funny way, to push you to further limits," Keaser said Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Peery died at the age of 75.
During his 27 seasons as Navy's coach, Peery compiled a 311-90-14 record, with the Midshipmen capturing eight Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championships.
His record against rival Army was 22-2-3.
"Each year, with the Army-Navy match, when you beat them so many years in a row, you think it's going to be hard to keep beating them, but we had good success against them," said Reg Wicks, an assistant under Peery from 1974 to 1987 and his successor as head coach.
In Peery's time coaching at Navy, 48 wrestlers won EIWA individual championships and 28 were named All-Americans. He was honored as the NCAA's Coach of the Year for wrestling in 1968, when the Mids finished fifth at the national championships.
"With every person it's different, but the consistency is that everybody felt he was there for them, and not for himself," Keaser said.
Peery retired from coaching in 1987 but remained at the Naval Academy as a professor in the physical education department. In 1999, Peery retired after 40 years of service to the academy.
"He was a great motivator, leader and mentor," Wicks said. "He loved coaching wrestling, and he also loved teaching physical education classes."
After retiring, Peery was still involved in wrestling. He joined Annapolis High as an assistant wrestling coach.
"He came to Annapolis, and it was an honor to have him," said then-Panthers coach Tom Sfakiyanudis. "He was still getting on the mat and showing kids moves."
Before beginning his coaching career, Peery was one of the best wrestlers in University of Pittsburgh history. Wrestling for his father, Rex, Peery finished with a 51-1 record, two EIWA championships and three NCAA individual titles. f
An alternate on the 1956 U.S. Olympic team, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1980.
Peery is survived by his wife, Gretchen; daughter, Martie; and son, Greg. He was preceded in death by a son, Neil, and daughter, Laurie. Funeral arrangements for Peery will be held at the Naval Academy Chapel at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday family visitation will be held at Grace EP Church in Davidsonville.