Hamill will be presented with the Ohio chapter's Medal of Courage award. Others who will be honored that day include Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award recipients Tony DiGiovanni, Jamie Milkovich, Michael Papouras, Melvin Peters, Robin Rayfield, Dave Riggs, John Storey and Mary Terbay. In addition, Paul Palivoda will receive Outstanding American in the State of Ohio honors.
Hamill, a Loveland, Ohio native, was born deaf, yet found success in wrestling and in Ultimate Fighting Championships. At Loveland High School, he set school records in eight categories, including career victories. After one year at Purdue University, Hamill transferred to Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to take advantage of the strong support of deaf students. At RIT, Hamill won three NCAA Division III wrestling titles at three different weight classes, and earned Outstanding Wrestler honors in 1998 and 1999. Hamill launched his MMA career as a contestant on the third season of The Ultimate Fighter TV series in 2006. After three wins, Hamill made a successful debut at UFC 98 in March 2007, retiring from the Octagon in August 2011 with an overall MMA record of 10-4. He was welcomed into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in June 2013 as Medal of Courage recipient.
Tony DiGiovanni, a two-time NCAA Division I All-American at Cleveland State, is being recognized for his lifetime service to wrestling most notably as a head coach at Solon High School. While at Solon, DiGiovanni led his teams to well over 300 wins along with an Ohio state championship in 1990. He was named Ohio Division II Coach of the Year in 1991. He retired from coaching at the end of the 2014-15 season.
Jamie Milkovich is being honored for his lifetime service to wrestling as an athlete and as a coach. Milkovich attended Auburn University where he was a back-to-back NCAA Division I All-American at 167 pounds in 1980 and 1981. Launching his coaching career at Maple Heights High School in 1981, Milkovich's teams have recorded 434 wins, the most of any Division I coach in Ohio history. Milkovich also led Maple Heights to 18 conference championships including 13 sectional tournament championships. He coached nine individual state champions and 21 state finalists. He was inducted into the Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2003 and was named Ohio Coach of the Year in 2001.
Michael Papouras is being recognized for his lifetime service to wrestling most notably for his work with Richmond Heights High School at the program he founded. He led the suburban Cleveland school to a dual meet record of 211-78-3 along with four state titles in 1979, 1980, 1983, and 1984. Richmond Heights also won 13 East Suburban Conference titles during his 23-year span as head coach.
Melvin Peters is receiving this lifetime service award primarily for his coaching career at Claymont High School. Peters served as the head coach from 1983-1997 leading Claymont to a dual meet record of 115-45-3 during that span. Peters graduated from Ohio Northern University in 1965 where he was later inducted into the Hall of Fame for football and track. He was awarded the Wrestling State Media Award for Ohio in 2008.
Robin Rayfield is being recognized for his lifetime service to wrestling most notably for his career as head coach at Delta High School from 1985-2000, leading that school to four Division III Ohio state team titles in 1989, 1996, 1998, and 1999, with 11 of his wrestlers becoming state champions. Rayfield is currently a part of the Team Ohio junior and Cadet Freestyle/Greco coaching staff.
Dave Riggs is being honored primarily as a head coach at Massillon Perry High School where he has served for 28 years, garnering a 272-46-1 record in dual meets. Sixteen of his wrestlers went on to earn NCAA All-American honors. Prior to coaching at Massillon Perry, Riggs attended the University of Arizona where he was a PAC-10 runner up and a NCAA national qualifier.
John Storey is being recognized for his lifetime service to wrestling most notably as the head coach at Saint Joseph High School in Lake County. During his tenure from 1965-1991, he coached 11 individual state champions and led his teams to two state titles. Before coaching at St. Joseph, Storey attended the University of Dayton, graduating in 1963.
Mary Terbay is being recognized for her lifetime service to wrestling, having involved with USA Wrestling-Ohio for over 20 years. Terbay first became involved in the sport in 1987, serving in various capacities, including as a pairer and the secretary for USA Wrestling-Ohio since 1992. She has also been a part of Carroll High School wrestling, serving as the meal and travel co-coordinator from 1996 to 2002.
Receiving Outstanding American in the State of Ohio honors is Paul Palivoda, who wrestled at North Royalton High School, then at Cleveland State. He then served in the Air Force earning four commendation medals and three achievement medals. Palivoda served two terms in Desert Storm and one term on Southern Watch before earning a National Defense Service medal. After retiring from the military, Palivoda launched his high school wrestling coaching career which has included Marysville High School, Central Crossing, and Dublin Coffman.
The induction ceremony will take place at the Hall of Fame Day Celebration on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Dublin, Ohio. The social hour begins at 2 p.m. that day followed by the awards dinner at 3 p.m. Dinner reservations must be made by October 7, 2015 and tickets per person are $50. Tickets can be obtained by filling out a registration form or purchased here.
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