Inductees

hile wrestling at Philipsburg High School in Pennsylvania, George lost only three times as a junior and once as a senior, placing 1st in the PIAA District 6, and in the Central Northwest Regional, and runner-up in the 1952 State Championships. He compiled a record of 128-14 during high school, college, military and Open international wrestling competition. At the University of Pittsburg, Beresford was unbeaten in dual matches as a freshman and sophomore, losing only in a tournament double overtime decision to U.S. Olympian Joe Krufka who he beat 7-3 the following year.

In 1954, George was EIWA Champion and the No. 2 seed at 177 lbs. in the NCAA Championships. He placed 3rd in the AAU Western Regional, 3rd in the Western States Pan AM Trials, and 1st in the Western States Olympic Trials which earned him a spot in the U.S. Olympic Trials where he lost to Dan Hodge, a two-time NCAA Champion who was a 1956 Olympic silver medalist. George graduated from Long Beach State College in 1963. During military service, George was undefeated with two 7th Army Corps championships, 1st in the U.S. All-Army-Europe, 1st in Conference of International Military Sports Trials, and a member of the U.S. CISM Team. Beresford coached the 14th Armored Calvary Regiment in Fulda, Germany to a 10-0 record and the Army V Corps Championship before completing his service and becoming a teacher and coach.

After taking Kennedy HS of Buena Park to a 14-1 record, a Freeway League title, and a 2nd in CIF, George moved to Upland HS where he compiled a dual record of 100-4 with 7 undefeated San Antonio League championships. His teams won 23 varsity tournaments, adding 5 runners-up finishes and two 3rd place finishes. While there, he founded the Blackwatch Wrestling Club and coached them from 1968-1980. Beresford was co-coach of the Southern California High School cultural exchange tour to Japan in 1974. He helped organize and fund raise for 8 foreign cultural exchange teams.

George was on the FILA arbitration staff for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, and he was a FILA Official and Pairing Master from 1977-84. A member of the So Cal Wrestling Officials Association, he officiated all levels from Age Group to Regional Junior to Open Division and National Championships. George was a founder of California Age-Group Wrestling Association (CAGWA), served as chairman of the AAU Southern Pacific Association and as a member of the National AAU Wrestling Committee. He was an administrator in charge of more than 70 local or national AAU tournaments. He co-owns Legacy Productions LLC that produces the instructional wrestling video series, “The Defensive Edge.”