Greg Batt was one of the greatest athletes that attended Bennett High School. Most people that saw him play hockey have stated that he was the greatest player they have ever seen.
He attended Bennett for three years before transferring to Nichols School. At Bennett he was All-High in hockey in 1935 and 1 936. He was a halfback on the football team and played third base on the baseball team. At Nichols he was a star in hockey and baseball and is in their Sports Hall Of Fame.
He won a scholarship to Colgate University where he was also a star in hockey and baseball, and was captain of both teams. He played tennis for three years. During 1942 – 1943 as player-coach, he led Colgate to its only undefeated hockey season. He scored 52 of his teams1 16 goals that season, along with 36 assists to propel Colgate to an 1 1 – 0 record, including a 1 3 – 3 victory over Army. While at Colgate he became an All-American, and is in their Sports Hall Of Fame.
Greg had offers in hockey from the Chicago black Hawks when there were only 6 teams in the NHL. He also received an invitation to play on the American Olympic Hockey team, but decided not to accept because of school work. After graduation he joined the U. S. Marines and was in on the invasion of Okinawa during World War II. There he was injured and received the “Purple Heart”.
After the war he returned to Colgate and coached hockey, soccer and tennis, but commuted to Clinton, NY to play center for the Clinton Comets, a professional team in the New York – Ontario Hockey League. He was named All-Star center by the American Hockey Association. He had acquired a legendary reputation on the ice by the time Hamilton College invited him to coach at their school in 1 948. He coached hockey and was backfield coach in football. He coached hockey for 36 years and was elected to be chairman of the rules committee of the American Hockey Coaches association and was formerly Dean of hockey coaches. Hamilton College named their new hockey arena the Perryman-Batt Arena.
Greg had six brothers who attended Bennett H.S. All of them were on sports teams. They are as follows; Dr. Richard Batt ’31 – was on the cross country team and ran the mile in track. Paul Batt ’34 – was on the football and hockey teams. James Batt ’35 – was on the cross country, hockey and tennis teams. Theodore Batt ’37 – cross country team and ran the mile in track. Jerome Batt ’37 – was on the baseball team. He captained the hockey and baseball teams at Cornell University. Dr. David Batt ’43 played baseball and football, and was All-High in baseball in 1 943.