New NCAA Exhibit to be Unveiled This Weekend
STILLWATER, Okla. -- The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum will unveil its newest exhibit, Nine for Nine, in conjunction with Honors Weekend festivities on June 5.
Nine for Nine commemorates one of wrestling’s greatest family achievements in the 87-year NCAA history of the sport, the unprecedented nine national titles won by the Peery family.
Rex Peery started the family legacy, winning NCAA titles in 1933, 1934 and 1935 at 118 pounds for Oklahoma A&M University. As head wrestling coach at the University of Pittsburgh, he then guided his two sons to three individual titles each.
Hugh Peery won NCAA titles in 1952, 1953 and 1954 at 115 pounds. His brother Ed continued that tradition, winning the 123-pound championship in 1955, 1956 and 1957 for the Panthers. Because of NCAA regulations, none of the three, Rex, Hugh or Ed, were allowed to compete as collegiate freshmen, meaning that they won every NCAA tournament that they entered.
“There have been a lot of successful families in the sport of wrestling,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the Hall of Fame. “But what these three men accomplished has stood the test of time among the greatest achievements in collegiate wrestling ever.”
The plaques commemorating both Rex and Ed Peery’s championships have long been housed at the Hall of Fame. With the passing of Hugh Peery in January of this year, his family gifted his three individual NCAA plaques to the Hall of Fame where, united with the family’s six other plaques, they will form the Nine for Nine display.
“We are honored and excited that the family has entrusted us with all nine of these championship plaques so that they can inspire young wrestlers for generations to come,” Smith said.
The Nine for Nine exhibit will be unveiled during a public reception at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame that begins at 6 p.m. on Friday and kicks off Honors Weekend 2015. The weekend culminates with the annual induction reception and banquet on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom at Oklahoma State University.
For more information on Nine for Nine or the Honors Weekend activities, please call the Hall of Fame at 405-377-5243 or visit www.nwhof.org.
Nine for Nine commemorates one of wrestling’s greatest family achievements in the 87-year NCAA history of the sport, the unprecedented nine national titles won by the Peery family.
Rex Peery started the family legacy, winning NCAA titles in 1933, 1934 and 1935 at 118 pounds for Oklahoma A&M University. As head wrestling coach at the University of Pittsburgh, he then guided his two sons to three individual titles each.
Hugh Peery won NCAA titles in 1952, 1953 and 1954 at 115 pounds. His brother Ed continued that tradition, winning the 123-pound championship in 1955, 1956 and 1957 for the Panthers. Because of NCAA regulations, none of the three, Rex, Hugh or Ed, were allowed to compete as collegiate freshmen, meaning that they won every NCAA tournament that they entered.
“There have been a lot of successful families in the sport of wrestling,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the Hall of Fame. “But what these three men accomplished has stood the test of time among the greatest achievements in collegiate wrestling ever.”
The plaques commemorating both Rex and Ed Peery’s championships have long been housed at the Hall of Fame. With the passing of Hugh Peery in January of this year, his family gifted his three individual NCAA plaques to the Hall of Fame where, united with the family’s six other plaques, they will form the Nine for Nine display.
“We are honored and excited that the family has entrusted us with all nine of these championship plaques so that they can inspire young wrestlers for generations to come,” Smith said.
The Nine for Nine exhibit will be unveiled during a public reception at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame that begins at 6 p.m. on Friday and kicks off Honors Weekend 2015. The weekend culminates with the annual induction reception and banquet on Saturday evening at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom at Oklahoma State University.
For more information on Nine for Nine or the Honors Weekend activities, please call the Hall of Fame at 405-377-5243 or visit www.nwhof.org.
Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations