A gifted and graceful athlete, Tom Groves set records on the gridiron and track that Gettysburg athletes have been hard-pressed to match. A six-time letterwinner, Groves left a legacy as a Bullet that has easily withstood the test of time.
Possibly one of the most versatile athletes ever to grace the playing fields of Gettysburg, Groves was the top wide receiver on the football team from 1971 to 1973, accumulating 1,514 yards and a school-record 110 receptions. He also played key roles on special teams and defense, setting a school record with 63 career kickoff returns and playing defensive back when clutch situations came about.
All told, Groves finished his career with 3,121 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns. He tallied over 1,000 all-purpose yards in his final two seasons and led Gettysburg in scoring with 50 points as a senior. Additionally, Groves tied a school record with three touchdown receptions against Lehigh during his sophomore campaign.
Competing against some of the top competition in the East, Groves made a name for himself during track and field, winning over two dozen individual events in the triple jump and long jump over his career. His best leap in the triple jump of 46 feet, 3.5 inches still stands as the school record over three decades later.
A native of Middletown, Pa., Groves graduated from Gettysburg in 1974 with a degree in psychology.
