The National Wrestling Hall of Fame welcomed the Class of 2018 (Photo/Larry Slater)Abas. Allen. Cejudo. Davis. Couture. Schultz Vitageli. These names -- familiar to just about anyone who's been involved in the U.S. amateur wrestling community the past decade or so -- were among the individuals welcomed into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame during the 42nd annual Honors Banquet held at the Oklahoma State University's Student Union Ballroom in Stillwater Saturday night.
The Hall welcomed four Distinguished Members of the Class of 2018: Stephen Abas, Lee Allen, Henry Cejudo, and Kristie Davis ... along with Randy Couture as Outstanding American honoree ... Order of Merit recipient Nancy Schultz-Vitageli ... Michael Martinez, recipient of the Hall's Medal of Courage award ... and Gary Kessel, Meritorious Official.
In addition, David Carr was presented with the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, with Alleida Martinez receiving the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award.
Kristie Davis (Photo/Larry Slater)A couple elements make this class of Distinguished Members especially noteworthy. For starters, it includes Henry Cejudo, one of the youngest Distinguished Members ever to be inducted, along with Kristie Davis, only the second woman to receive that honor.
What's more, all four of year's Distinguished Members share impressive international wrestling credentials. Cejudo, who was just 21 years old when he won the gold medal in men's freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, at the time, the youngest U.S. Olympic wrestling champ. Davis is the most accomplished American women's wrestler in history, with nine World medals (including two gold), a feat equaled only by one U.S. men's wrestler: Bruce Baumgartner. Stephen Abas, one of all-time great U.S. lightweight mat stars, was a three-time NCAA champ for Fresno State and 2004 Olympic silver medalist. Also honored was the late Lee Allen, who not only wrestled in the Olympics in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, but also coached Olympic and World Greco teams ... and is considered a pioneer in creating opportunities for women in wrestling.
Nancy Schultz Vitangeli and Randy Couture (Photo/Larry Slater)One award recipient well-known within wrestling and beyond is Randy Couture. This year's Outstanding American honoree was described by the Hall of Fame as "a great wrestler, a legendary MMA fighter, a successful actor and businessman." He was a Washington State wrestling champ, a three-time NCAA All-American for Oklahoma State, a four-time Greco-Roman world team member, six-time UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championships) world champion, and a U.S. Army soldier.
The Order of Merit went to Nancy Schultz Vitangeli, the widow of Dave Schultz who, in the words of the Hall of Fame, "chose to give back to the sport that she loved and which helped her and her children to deal with an unspeakable tragedy by making a difference for others." Among her accomplishments: she founded the Dave Schultz Wrestling Club, helped launch the Dave Schultz Memorial Tournament and helped create the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award.
Michael Martinez (Photo/Larry Slater)Michael Martinez received the Medal of Courage for his amazing recovery from the severe burn injuries he received from a fire that gave him second- and third-degree burns over 80 percent of his body. A two-time Colorado state champion and four-time NCAA qualifier for University of Wyoming, Martinez was also an Olympic Trials qualifier in freestyle.
Also honored was Gary Kessel, who officiated 16 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, including 12 finals, 21 Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association championships and 18 Virginia Duals, as well as refereed 39 New Jersey state high school wrestling championships.
America's shrine to the sport of wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1976 in Stillwater, Okla. as a focal point for preserving the heritage of the sport, celebrating new achievements, and encouraging the youth of our land to aspire to lofty goals.
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