The National Wrestling Hall of Fame held its 26th Honors Banquet at the Grand Ballroom at the Oklahoma State Univ. Student Union in Stillwater, Okla. Saturday, June 8.    It was one of the most impressive classes of individuals, a group of champions and leaders that the sport can be very proud of. The evening started with an inspiring march of award recipients, with each honored award winner entering the banquet hall to the cheers of those in attendance.    The three Distinguished Members inducted were two-time Olympic gold medalist Bruce Baumgartner, Olympic gold medalist Kendall Cross and Olympian and former USA Wrestling Executive Director Jim Scherr.    Baumgartner claimed his Olympic gold medals in 1984 (Los Angeles) and 1992 (Barcelona), as well as an Olympic silver in 1988 (Seoul) and an Olympic bronze in 1996 (Atlanta). His 13 World and Olympic medals are the most of any international wrestler, tied with the great Alexander Kareline of Russia. Baumgartner owns most of the records for achievement within USA Wrestling, after dominating the sport at the super heavyweight division for 15 years.    Baumgartner was presented his award by Greg Strobel, a close friend and one of his coaches during his freestyle career.    "This weekend, a lot of reporters asked me if I had ever dreamed I would be in the Hall of Fame," said Baumgartner. "The answer is no. I started late. I was never a high school state champion. I think the first time I thought about it was when Dave Schultz and I went through the Hall of Fame back in 1983. We were reading all the plaques. I asked Dave if he thought we might someday be in here. Neither one of us did. We were very close. It's interesting, here it is 20 years later and we are both in the Hall of Fame."    Baumgartner made special mention of all the coaches that helped him on every level of wrestling, the people who supported him and helped him to win. "I had a lot of great coaches. The athletes who listen to their coaches are going to be the ones who are successful." He also made special thanks of his many workout partners who pushed him to be his best.    "I need to thank USA Wrestling and its volunteers and coaches for providing the system and framework to develop champions," said Baumgartner. "I'm now the president of USA Wrestling. It is my way of giving back to the sport."    "I'm blessed in my life to receive a lot of awards, the Sullivan Award, carrying the flag at the Olympics," he said. "Going into the Hall of Fame is a great honor that I'll cherish the rest of my life. I'm proud and humbled."    Cross won the Olympic gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, and was a member of the 1992 Olympic Team. Cross and Baumgartner ended their storied careers with gold medals at the same event, the 1997 Freestyle World Cup, held, ironically, in Stillwater, Okla. It was a fitting finale for Cross, a native Oklahoman and NCAA champion at Oklahoma State.    Cross was presented his award by his father, Jerry Cross.    "I am a firm believer that you are a product of your environment," said Cross. "Your environment defines the person that you are. That's me; I was around success, the right environment. I walked in the heels of some really great people."    Cross took time to thank some special people who helped him, including high school coach Don Langham, college and Olympic coach Joe Seay, Coaches Bruce Burnett, Dave Schultz, Jim Humphrey and Chris Horpel, and others. He also noted his toughest opponent, two-time World Champion Terry Brands, for helping him to become a champion.    "If Terry Brands was not in my weight class and was not a World Champion, I may never have become who I am," said Cross. "If I didn't have Terry, perhaps I wouldn't be here. He made me be my best. I owe a ton to Terry Brands. I'm certain he wouldn't be very accepting of it."    Cross also recognized Dan Gable, who coached Brands, for motivating him. Among the others thanked were Art Martori of the Sunkist Kids, Oklahoma State stars John Smith and Kenny Monday, his father and mother, his wife Rona and his brother Kevin.    Scherr was recognized for his achievements as one of America's great wrestlers, as well as one of its most successful administrators. Scherr won three career World medals, and was a member of the 1988 Olympic team in Seoul. He stopped competing in 1990, when he was named as the Executive Director of USA Wrestling. He served 10 years as the top executive in the sport, before taking a senior management position at the U.S. Olympic Committee. He was just recently eligible for election because of a comeback attempt as an athlete at the 1996 Olympic Trials.     Scherr was presented his award by his twin brother, Bill Scherr. Jim becomes the second Scherr twin to be elected as a Distinguished Member, joining Bill, a World champion and Olympic medalist, who was inducted in 1998.    "I am being honored as an athlete and as an administrator," said Scherr. "I am being honored for so very little of what I have done, and so much for what so many people have done for me."    Scherr noted some key individuals who have made a difference, including his twin brother Bill. "He has been my hero in wrestling and my hero is life. I have always tried to live up to him, to my brother Bill," said Scherr. Among the others he thanked were the staff members of USA Wrestling, supporters John Vaughan, Scott Beck and Art Martori and his family.    "My first love is the sport of wrestling," he said. "It gave me self esteem and self confidence. Whatever I did from then on, I thought of myself as a wrestler. When I played football, I was a wrestler playing football. When I was in the classroom, I was a wrestler who studied. I also saw the 1972 Olympic team on television, with Dan Gable, the Petersons and all those great wrestlers. The Olympic Games caught my imagination. I then had a goal of being a wrestler in the Olympic Games."     Scherr talked about his dramatic loss in the semifinals of the 1988 Olympics, where he was caught and pinned by Ota of Japan. He talked about learning to get up and move on after disappointments, noting the life of Abraham Lincoln who overcame so much before reaching success. "One other thing I learned from the experience is that I enjoyed every minute that I wrestled. I cherished those memories. The sport enriched my life so much."    Receiving their Outstanding Americans presentations were past wrestlers who went on to success in other areas of life, Major General Ken Lauer of the U.S. Army and Jeff Levitetz of Purity Wholesale Grocers.    "In 1956, there was a defining event in my life. Close by here, over in Gallagher Hall, I completed a successful undefeated season and won a national title. It certainly changed my life," said Leuer. "Going through the Hall of Fame the last two days has also been a defining event. The word humility takes a new meaning when surrounded by such greatness. I'm glad to lock arms and walk in step with all those in the past and the future who are a part of this special place."    "It's an honor to be here. It's an honor of a lifetime and something I do not take lightly. I consider it a responsibility to give back to the sport that gave me so much," said Levitetz. "I needed to put my high school wrestling experience to good use. Once you are on the mat, you never get off it. My business was where I wrestled, and where I could outlast any opponent. This drive came to me from the drive I learned on the wrestling mats."    The Medal of Courage was given to a special set of American heroes with a wrestling background, who gave their lives during the September 11 attack on the United States while serving their fellow citizens. The award was presented to the families of  NY Fire Department Chief Raymond Downey and NY Fireman Mark Whitford. The third award winner was UA Flight 93 passenger Jeremy Glick, whose family was unable to attend.     The Medal of Courage awards were presented by Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating. In his comments, Keating talked about Teddy Roosevelt, the former wrestler and U.S. President, and how he used his toughness and character to change the nation. "These people w