Kentucky USA Wrestling Association: KY USA Events/News: Historic firsts for Wrestling Hall of Fame
A YEAR OF FIRSTS AT WRESTLING HALL OF FAME INDUCTIONS All four of the Distinguished Members who will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame this weekend in Stillwater, Okla. have achieved some incredible firsts during their careers in wrestling. The Hall of Fame Honors Weekend will be held June 2-3. THE FIRST WOMAN INDUCTED Tricia Saunders of Phoenix, Ariz., a four-time World champion wrestler and coach of the historic 2004 U.S. Olympic women’s wrestling team, will be the first woman inducted as a distinguished member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. THE FIRST FOUR-TIME NCAA DIV. I CHAMPION Pat Smith of Stillwater, Okla. was the first to win four NCAA Div. I wrestling titles, competing for Oklahoma State Univ. He won his historic fourth NCAA title at the 1994 NCAA Championships held in Chapel Hill, N.C. THE FIRST U.S. REFEREE AT AN OLYMPIC GAMES Josiah Henson of Tulsa, Okla. was the first U.S. wrestling referee to work at an Olympic Games, when he officiated at the Olympics in the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia. THE FIRST TWIN WORLD CHAMPIONS INDUCTED Tom and Terry Brands became the first twin brothers to win World gold medals the same year when they captured World titles at the World Freestyle Championships in Toronto, Canada. Terry Brands of Colorado Springs, Colo. is being inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame this year. His twin brother Tom was inducted in 2001. They now become the first twin brother world champions to be in ducted into the Hall of Fame. SPECIAL AWARD WINNERS In addition to the induction of Distinguished Members, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame has a number of other special awards given each year during Honors Weekend. OUTSTANDING AMERICAN TO CHAMPION JOCKEY Pat Day of Louisville, Ky., a Kentucky Derby winner as a jockey and one of the greatest riders in racing history, is being inducted as an Outstanding American. LONGTIME LEADER TO RECEIVE ORDER OF MERIT Larry Sciacchetano of Baton Rouge, La., who has served on the FILA Bureau, the governing council of the international federation, and as USA Wrestling’s president, will receive the Order of Merit. BLIND MAYOR TO RECEIVE MEDAL OF COURAGE Randy Meyer of Sheboygan Falls, Wis., who was an All-American wrestler in college, will receive the Medal of Courage. Blind since the age of two, Meyers became a success in school and in business and is now the mayor of Sheboygan Falls, Wis. LIFETIME OFFICIALS AWARD TO LONGTIME REFEREE Sam Williams of Fall Creek. Pa., a top referee in international, high school and college wrestling for almost 40 years, will receive the Lifetime Achievement for Officials award. He was one of the founders of the U.S. Wrestling Officials Association. FLORIDA PREP STAR TO RECEIVE HIGH SCHOOL AWARD David Craig of Brandon, Fla., a four-time high school state champion, Junior National double champion and 3.58 GPA student will receive the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award. There are media opportunities on both Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3, where the working press can interview the honorees. Telephone interviews are also possible. Media should contact the National Wrestling Hall of Fame with any additional media requests. Contact the Hall of Fame office at (405)377-5243, or call Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling on his cell phone at (719)659-9637.
