Get to Know – Rex Gray

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Osceola, Iowa.

Schools attended?

I graduated from Central College in Pella. 

Who is in your family?

Wife- Analee

Sons- Taitn (jr), Bryan (5th grade)

Daughter- Jenah (Fr)

Dog- Black Lab Cooper

Favorite hobby outside of teaching/coaching?

I love helping people. My career is a fitness coach and personal trainer, so I spend a lot of my days at the gym training people and training myself. If I am not coaching in some capacity, I enjoy watching sports and spending time with the family in anyway I can.

How did you get into the sport? When did you start playing?

I started wrestling when I was 6. My older brothers wrestled so I was around it and they were wrestling me at home a lot. I continued throughout high school and into college. 

Favorite thing about coaching?

The best part about being a coach is helping people accomplish their goals and seeing them reach limits that they didn’t know they could. 

Favorite memory from coaching at DCG?

I am in a little different situation with girls wrestling only being a few years old. There are so many great memories already though and hard to pick just one favorite. The first week of practice when were unsanctioned was definitely an interesting week with 20-plus girls, a majority had never wrestled. Last year hosting the 1st ever sanctioned girls wrestling dual in Iowa and beating two teams who beat us pretty easily the year before. The 2023-24 state tournament was memorable especially when Maya went into overtime and gutted out a win place. Then this year I was able to coach my daughter. Every single day is a memory builder honestly. I should be writing a book of all the great times each year. 

Most rewarding part of being a teacher/coach at DCG?

Seeing the girls accomplish things they didn’t think was possible. Also seeing girls grow in the sport. Taking girls who have little to no experience and day after day, year after year seeing improvement. 


Advice to a young wrestlers?

Try it! Get experience now in any way you can, even if it’s just practice. And have fun.