Beachwood's Sammy Gross Honored As Sid Luckman Jewish Scholar Athlete of the Year

Beachwood junior wrestler Sammy Gross has already racked up some impressive accolades in his career.

He is a 3-time state placer and the 2011 Division III 113-pound state champion.

With a 137-12 career record at Beachwood, he is on pace to break the Bison record for most wins in a wrestling career.

And, now, he's been honored by the hall of fame.

The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum named Gross its Sid Luckman Jewish Male Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Gross was recognized during the induction ceremony on April 21 at the Hall of Fame in Commack, New York.

People can watch Gross's acceptance speech because the entire ceremony has been posted on YouTube. (His segment begins at 1:34:33.)

Gross told BeachwoodBison.org that he was honored by the recognition.

"I got to the ceremony and saw all the big names in the museum as well as the people getting inducted and it was incredible," he said "It’s one of highest honors I’ve gotten."

Beachwood district athletic director Ryan Peters and his brother, Scott Peters, nominated Gross for the award.

Gross carries a 3.5 GPA. He also plays baseball at Beachwood and volunteers with the Beachwood Elite Wrestling Program and North Coast Community Homes, a group home provider for the developmentally disabled, and Park Synagogue.

Gross is not the only local wrestler who was honored at the induction ceremony.

David Berger -- a Northeast Ohio native and member of Israel's weightlifting team at the 1972 Olympics in Munich -- was entered posthumously into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

Berger was one of the 11 athletes and coaches taken hostage and killed by members of Black September, a Palestinian terrorist organization, during the Olympic games.