STILLWATER, OKLA. -Five-time World medalist and two-time Olympian Larry Kristoff, who now resides in Anna, Ill., has been elected as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. 

Kristoff will be among four wrestling greats who will be inducted as Distinguished Members at its annual Honors Weekend Banquet and Induction Ceremony June 2, 2007 in Stillwater, Okla.

Kristoff was one of the greatest heavyweight wrestlers in American history, with dominant performances on the national and international levels in freestyle wrestling during the 1960's and 1970's. He won five World medals for the United States, capturing silver medals in 1966, 1969 and 1979 and bronze medals in 1965 and 1967. 

Kristoff competed on two U.S. Olympic teams, placed seventh at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan and fifth at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. He represented the U.S. at the Olympic Games or World Championships for eight straight years (1964-1971).

He won a total of 12 Senior-level national titles, winning the AAU Nationals in freestyle six times, the AAU Nationals in Greco-Roman three times and U.S. Wrestling Federation Nationals in freestyle three times.  Among his other achievements was a gold medal at the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada 

As a college wrestler, Kristoff was a two-time NCAA Div. II national champion, and placed second in the NCAA Div. I National Championships, competing for SIU-Carbondale. 

For 30 years (1969-1999), Kristoff served as the head coach for Div. II powerhouse SIU-Edwardsville. He led the Cougars to three consecutive NCAA Div. II national titles (1984-86), and coached the team to a top 10 finish at the NCAA Div. II Nationals 18 times. 

Kristoff coached 12 wrestlers to a total of 18 NCAA Div. II national titles. During the time when Div. II athletes could compete at the Div. I National Championships, his athletes moved up to become Div. I All-Americans 11 times during his career. 

Tim Wright won four NCAA Div. II national titles competing for Kristoff from 1984-1987. Eight wrestlers were four-time All-Americans for Kristoff. In total, SIU-Edwardsville wrestlers were Div. II All-Americans 111 times during Kristoff's term as coach. Both of his sons Mark and Kip were four-time All-Americans and national champions competing for their father.

He began his coaching career at Carbondale Community College, serving there from 1966-67. 

Kristoff also coached U.S. teams on the international level many times, including serving as head coach of the 1975 and 1976 World Cup teams. He was a member of the U.S. World Team coaching staff a number of times. He also coached top Illinois high school wrestlers who competed at USA Wrestling's Junior Nationals for many years.

He was a finalist for the AAU James E. Sullivan Award two times (1966, 1967). Kristoff was also named NCAA Div. II Coach of the Year in 1974 and 1984.

Among the Halls of Fame which Kristoff has been honored include the NCAA Div. II Wrestling Hall of Fame, the SIU-Carbondale Hall of Fame, the Illinois Coaches and Officials Association Hall of Fame and the Midlands Championships Hall of Fame. In the Div. II Wrestling Hall of Fame, he is recognized both as an athlete and a coach. 

Profiles of the new Distinguished Members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum will be posted this week from Thursday through Sunday on TheMat.com.