Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors Weekend ceremonies set for Stillwater, Okla., June 1-2

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
05/31/2007


The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum will be hosting its 31st annual Honors Weekend in Stillwater, Okla., June 1-2.

Four new Distinguished Members, who are among the greatest athletes and coaches in the sport's history, will be inducted this weekend. 

2007 WRESTLING HALL OF FAME DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS
Distinguished Member - Barry Davis of Madison, Wis.
Distinguished Member - Greg Gibson of Fontana, Calif.
Distinguished Member -  Larry Kristoff of Anna, Ill.
Distinguished Member - Bill Weick of Chicago Ridge, Ill.

Davis won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in freestyle wrestling and competed on the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team. Gibson won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Greco-Roman wrestling. Kristoff was a member of two U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling teams. 

Kristoff won five medals at the World Championships representing the United States, while Davis was a two-time World medalist during his career.  Gibson won three World medals in freestyle wrestling, and was also a World champion in the sport of Sombo. Weick served on the coaching staff of a number of U.S. World and Olympic teams. 

Three had successful careers in coaching, as well. Weick made his impact on the high school level in Illinois, earning more than 700 dual meet victories for three programs over the last four decades, including five state champion teams. Kristoff was a champion coach at the NCAA Div. II level, leading SIU-Edwardsville to three consecutive NCAA titles. Davis currently serves as the head coach on the Div. I level at the Univ. of Wisconsin.

All four were outstanding college wrestlers. Davis won three NCAA Div. I national titles for Iowa and Weick claimed a pair of NCAA titles for the Univ. of Northern Iowa.  Kristoff won two NCAA Div. II national crowns for SIU-Carbondale and was a Div. I runner-up. Gibson was a two-time NCAA All-American for Oregon, including a runner-up finish.

Biography of Distinguished Member - Barry Davis of Madison, Wis.

Biography of Distinguished Member - Greg Gibson of Fontana, Calif.

Biography of  Distinguished Member -  Larry Kristoff of Anna, Ill.

Biography of Distinguished Member - Bill Weick of Chicago Ridge, Ill.

In addition, there will be a number of special annual awards presented to successful and inspirational leaders within the sport.

Outstanding American - General Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF retired of Durango, Colo.
Outstanding American - Michael E. Novogratz of New York, N.Y.
Order of Merit - Mike Chapman of Newton, Iowa
Medal of Courage - Joe Russell of Vandais Heights, Minn.
Lifetime Service Award for Officials - Mike Allen of Waterloo, Iowa
Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award - Zachary Sanders of Wabasha, Minn.

Fogleman was a major military leader, the first U.S. Air Force Academy graduate to become Air Force Chief of Staff.  Novogratz made his name in the financial services industry. He is co-President of Fortress Investment Group, a $29 billion global asset management firm and spent 11 years with Goldman Sachs. 

Chapman is recognized for a long and successful career as a wrestling journalist, author and promoter. Russell, who was a champion wrestler as a youth, survived a motorcycle accident to become a successful wrestling coach and law school graduate. Allen is considered one of the top high school and college wrestling referees in the nation.

Biography of Outstanding American - General Ronald R. Fogleman, USAF retired of Durango, Colo.

Biography of Outstanding American - Michael E. Novogratz of New York, N.Y.

Biography of Order of Merit winner - Mike Chapman of Newton, Iowa

Medal of Courage winner- Joe Russell of Vadnais Heights, Minn.

Lifetime Service Award for Officials winner - Mike Allen of Waterloo, Iowa

Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award - Zachary Sanders of Wabasha, Minn.

As part of the weekend there will be a celebration the state of Oklahoma Centennial, with a focus on its traditional of wrestling excellence. There have been 33 native Oklahomans who have been inducted as Distinguished Members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. 

The Oklahoma natives in the Hall of Fame are listed below, with their year of induction: 
Stan Abel (1990), David "Buddy" Arndt (1981), Wayne Baughman (1982), Doug Blubaugh (1979), Conrad Caldwell (1981), Tommy Chesbro (1995), Fendley Collins (1976), Kendall Cross (2002), Tommy Evans (1976), Ross Flood (1978), Art Griffith (1976), Josiah Henson (2006), Stanley Henson (1978), Danny Hodge (1976), Jess Hoke, (1977), Dick Hutton (1995), Dr. Melvin Jones (1996), Clifford Keen (1976), Paul Keen (1977), Frank Lewis (1979), Guy Lookabaugh (1983), Joe McDaniel (1979), Kenny Monday (2001), Bobby Pearce (1981), Rex Peery (1976), Grady Peninger (1987), Port Robertson (1977), John Smith (1997), Pat Smith (2006), Ray Swartz (1990), Jack Van Bebber (1976),  Wayne Wells (1982), Shelby Wilson (1982). Some of the native Oklahomans who have been inducted may attend the Honors Weekend.

There will also be a reunion of the 1947 NCAA Championships team from Cornell College of Iowa going on during the weekend. 

2007 HALL OF FAME HONORS WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Friday, June 1
6:00 PM - Reception at the Hall of Fame
7:00 PM - Program and Presentation of Honoree's Plaques at the Hall of Fame

Saturday, June 2
8:30 AM - Golf at the Stillwater Country Club
10:30 AM - "Country Club Faire" at the Stillwater Country Club
12:30 PM - Luncheon at the Stillwater Country Club
7:00 PM - 31st Honors Banquet at the Ball Room at the OSU Student Union