Greg Evans has been a staple at Bridgewater-Raritan High School for 31 years.
He was renowned for coaching the Bridgewater-Raritan High School wrestling team for 21 years, including 17 as the head coach.
Mr. Evans was respected outside the wrestling room and in the classroom, where he taught Special Education and Mathematics.
Among the many courses he instructed at Bridgewater-Raritan High School were Math for the 21st Century, Practical Math, Geometry and Algebra 1 and 2.
On the eve of Thanksgiving, Wednesday, November 26, Mr. Evans will make his final walk out the doors at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
A Thanksgiving Day feast in the Evans household in Hunterdon County’s Lebanon will also feature a toast to the retirement of Greg Evans.
“I plan to spend time with my family,” said Mr. Evans, who will be a staple now in his home with his wife, Kelly, son, Russell, a freshman at North Hunterdon Regional High School, and daughter, Tess, a 6th Grader in the Woodglen School in Lebanon.
And now he can sit back and enjoy watching his two children wrestle—a sport in which he thrived in during his career at Voorhees High School, where he placed twice in the state tournament, and then in college at Central Connecticut State University.
Russell, who plays lacrosse and soccer, is trying out for the wrestling team for the first time. Meanwhile, Tess has been a wrestler for the North Hunterdon Girls’ Wrestling Club. Evans will also be free now to watch more of Tess ride horses, another activity in which she is involved in.
After he served as an assistant wrestling coach under George Reid from 1996 to 2000, Mr. Evans was promoted to head coach at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
During his tenure, he guided Bridgewater-Raritan High School to district, state sectional, and Somerset County team championships, and coached numerous individual wrestlers to county, district, and regional championships. He also coached 12 state tournament place winners, including the high school’s current head coach, Kyle Murphy.
“One of my biggest joys in my career is to see the impact of my former wrestlers have on current student-athletes,” Evans revealed. “A multitude have gone on to become tremendous coaches throughout the state area and beyond, including our very own Coach Murphy.”
Coach Murphy, whose father, Mike, wrestled with Evans at Voorhees, absorbed the education he gained under Mr. Evans.
This past season, Coach Murphy, in his fourth year, led Bridgewater-Raritan High School to its finest season in the program's history.
Bridgewater-Raritan won the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 5 state sectional title and advanced to its first-ever group championship match. Bridgewater-Raritan fell to Southern Regional High School in the Group 5 state final last February at Rutgers University to finish with a 21-8 record, the most victories in school history.
“Coach Evans has created and changed the lives of countless wrestlers throughout his time at Bridgewater-Raritan, including mine. “ Coach Murphy said. “He was part of the inspiration to come back and be a Special Education Teacher and coach at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.”
Mike Poe, the high school’s Supervisor for Mathematics, also reflected on the influence Mr. Evans will leave.
“Greg is one of the longest-tenured members of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Math and Special Education Department. Known for consistently portraying a calm and patient demeanor, qualities that have guided countless students through their high school mathematics courses,” Mr. Poe said. “ Coupled with a witty sense of humor delivered with impeccable timing, Greg had a unique ability to lighten even the most challenging situations. His sharp one-liners, quiet observations, and perfectly timed quips in the workroom and classroom were reminders that teaching and learning can be a fun and joyful experience.”
Mr.Poe added:.
“We will miss Greg not only as a colleague and friend, but also as the unofficial historian of the math department. His deep well of stories, traditions, and memories from his years has helped preserve and pass along the spirit of Bridgewater-Raritan High School.”
Mr. Evans will depart with his fond memories.
“After nearly 31 years at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, there is a great deal that I will miss, but the people are what I will miss the most. The students, staff and faculty at BRHS are truly the best. I hope that I have had close to the lasting impact on them that they have had on me. And as far as the Math Department, good luck finding a better group of people and teachers
anywhere on the planet.”
Gone but never forgotten, according to Coach Murphy.
“His life lessons and memorable inspirational stories will be passed down for seasons to come. I have no doubt he will continue to make a difference in the future for many other young lives.”