MORGANTOWN — Greg Jones was just getting on an elevator when he was distracted by his cellphone, a welcome distraction to the final minutes of preparing to be part of his brother Donnie Jones’ wedding.

He had just a day earlier been ranked third on InterMat’s Top 10 College Wrestlers of the 2000s list, being one of only 20 wrestlers in NCAA history to win titles at two different weight class. He had won the title as a freshman at 174 pounds and as a junior and senior as he ran off 51 consecutive victories at 184.

But somehow this day was different, being part of a family event with his brother Vertus, Jr., who had preceded him as a three-time All-American at West Virginia University, and young brother Donnie, whose career ended this year. Marita, Greg’s older sister, was a standout volleyball player at Eastern Kentucky University. His younger sister Vannessa followed in her sister’s footsteps and played for EKU’s volleyball team.

Toss in mother and father, the people who had laid out the path and given all of the family something far more meaningful than even championship hardware — love.

“Obviously my parents are very thankful. They created a great opportunity for us,” Jones said. “Quite often brothers are just brothers, and they don’t get the chance to grow and know each other as men and friends. That’s really one of the greatest things that came out of all this.”

It all started as far back as Greg Jones can remember, right about when he was 3, when his father started the Jones Wrestling Club out of their basement.

“My dad gathered a group of kids in the area who had an interest in wrestling. The next night, they all showed up to my mom’s surprise,” Jones once told Tim Goodenow of the WVU sports information office.

He noted that while his father used sports as a vehicle for a scholarship, they saw that they were more well-rounded and well-grounded as they developed.

Big things were expected of Jones when he arrived at WVU and they certainly were achieved, but no matter how much success you have, there is always one or two moments that you bring with you through life.

“I remember my freshman year in Albany. I won my first title. As soon as the final bell went off my very first thought was, ‘How the hell do I get off this stage?’” Jones recalled.

It was almost too much, too soon, and he was feeling exactly that at the moment.

“I set my goal so high and I really wanted to achieve it, but I probably didn’t want to achieve it that quickly or that easily,” he said. “By achieving it so easily, it was probably less appreciated, and I don’t think I was ready for that moment then.”

That certainly may have cost him in some way as a sophomore when he went through the only trying time of his career. He had reached the NCAAs and was defending champion and favorite, being every bit as big a favorite as the 2007 WVU football team was over Pitt in the game that was supposed to send the Mountaineers on to a national championship game with an Ohio State team WVU felt it could beat.

But Jones was upset, and there was no title that year.

“For whatever reason, and to this day I could probably put my finger on four or five things that didn’t go my way that sophomore year, it was a shame, but it did make me a more complete wrestler,” he said. “I don’t think I would have developed as much as I did without that tournament, and I don’t think I would have been as good as I became without it. It was kind of unfortunate, but that’s just sports.”

Two years later. Jones found himself having regained his title and defending it, reaching the finals and winning them.

He thought back to that day in Albany when he won his first title.

“I contrast it with when I won my first national championship,” he said. “I can honestly say that final tournament was the most enjoyable wrestling experience I ever had in my life. People talk about being in the zone. I came there and got real satisfaction and enjoyment in challenging myself to see just how good I could be in that weekend.”

He was good enough that weekend that he has landed at No. 3 on the decade’s list of greatest NCAA wrestlers, right behind the legendary Cael Sanderson of Iowa State. who became the first four-time undefeated NCAA Division I champion. Listed second was three-time NCAA champion Stephen Abas of Fresno State.

“Jones is simply one of the greatest college wrestlers of all-time,” T.R. Foley, InterMat senior writer, wrote. “He won 97 percent of his matches and won an NCAA title in each of his three NCAA finals appearances.

“His style wasn’t always punishing, but by executing with perfect technique and explosive power he often turned what might have been contestable matches into blowouts.”

Email Bob Hertzel at bhertzel@hotmail.com. Follow on Twitter @bhertzel.