Phillip Simpson, Army, Class of 2005

In 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001, Phillip Simpson was a Tennessee state wrestling champion competing for his secondary school, Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville. He was the first wrestler in Tennessee history to win the state wrestling championship four times.

Simpson enrolled at Army West Point in the fall of 2001 where he immediately set an Academy freshmen record by winning 37 bouts. He was runnerup at 141 pounds in the Easterns. As a sophomore Simpson went 37-3, won the EIWAs with a major decision in the finals and compiled a 6-1 mark at the NCAA Championships, finishing 3rd in the tournament at 141 pounds. Simpson authored a 31-6 record at 157 pounds during his junior season, winning his second EIWA title and second All-American honors at the NCAAs. before putting together his senior year's 29-2 campaign. At the Easterns that season, he edged Cornell's top-seeded Dustin Minotti 8-7 to capture his third EIWA crown. Simpson reached the finals of the 2005 NCAAs in St. Louis where he lost to Zack Esposito of Oklahoma State 5-2 in the 149 pound finals bout. He finished his career at Army West Point with a record of 134-19 and became the school's first-ever three time NCAA All-American. He was awarded the Army Athletic Association Trophy, the highest athletic honor given by the Military Academy.

After graduation Simpson spent eight years as an infantry officer in the US Army. He represented the USA in the 2012 Pan-American Games where he won his weight class in the international Freestyle event. His military roles in the following years included: the Aide de Camp for the United States Forces-Afghanistan Deputy Commander of Support, and serving as a Company Commander.

Simpson currently resides back in his hometown of Nashville, TN where he is Director of Field Operations for a local residential development and construction company. He also operates and serves a coach at the Big Red Wrestling Club.in Nashville. He is married to Tricia (Zuniga) Simpson. They have eight children -  four boys and four girls - between the ages of ten and one.