Hall of Fame will have “Sport For All – Any BODY Can Wrestle” exhibit, roundtable at NCAAs
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame will bring its “Sport For All - Any BODY Can Wrestle” mural to the NCAA Fan Fest in St. Louis Union Station on March 16-18. Held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis, Missouri, the Fan Fest is free to the public.
The Hall of Fame will also host a roundtable discussion, moderated by Sandy Stevens, with three-time World champion Adeline Gray, George Mason head wrestling coach and Medal of Courage recipient Joe Russell, and Hall of Fame Distinguished Members and NCAA Champions Stephen Neal and Gray Simons on Thursday, March 16, from 4:15-5 p.m. on the Fan Fest Main Stage in St. Louis Union Station. Gray, Neal and Simons will sign autographs immediately following the discussion.
The “Sport For All - Any BODY Can Wrestle” mural provides fans an opportunity to measure and take photographs of themselves next to life-size images of Bobby Weaver, Neal, Gray, Anthony Robles and Clarissa Chun.
“We created this exhibit for our museum in Stillwater to show that there is a place in our sport for everyone, no matter your size, your gender, your ethnicity or physical limitations,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “We want those who look at this mural to see themselves in one of the wrestlers featured, who are not only outstanding athletes but also tremendous role models.”
Weaver won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics; Neal was a World champion, a two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American at Cal State-Bakersfield, and won three Super Bowl rings as an offensive lineman for the New England Patriots; Gray was USA Wrestling’s Women’s Wrestler of the Year in 2014 and 2015 and was a finalist for the USOC Female Olympic Athlete of the Year in 2015; Robles was a three-time All-American and an NCAA champion at Arizona State; and Chun was a World champion and an Olympic bronze medalist.
It also has a growth chart on the side allowing fans to see how they compare in height with some of the greatest names in wrestling - Bruce Baumgartner, Cael Sanderson, Kenny Monday, Dave Schultz, Pat Smith, John Smith, Lee Kemp, Sara McMann and Henry Cejudo.
“Visitors to our museum have really enjoyed taking pictures with the mural and measuring themselves to see where they match up against some of our sports legends,” said Smith. “Because of the great response we felt it would be great to bring it to the NCAAs so that those who have not had the opportunity to visit our newly renovated museum could experience this totally unique exhibit.”
Schedule of Events
Thursday, March 16
2-6 p.m. NCAA Fan Festival and Win Magazine Memorabilia Show at St. Louis Union Station
The Hall of Fame will also host a roundtable discussion, moderated by Sandy Stevens, with three-time World champion Adeline Gray, George Mason head wrestling coach and Medal of Courage recipient Joe Russell, and Hall of Fame Distinguished Members and NCAA Champions Stephen Neal and Gray Simons on Thursday, March 16, from 4:15-5 p.m. on the Fan Fest Main Stage in St. Louis Union Station. Gray, Neal and Simons will sign autographs immediately following the discussion.
The “Sport For All - Any BODY Can Wrestle” mural provides fans an opportunity to measure and take photographs of themselves next to life-size images of Bobby Weaver, Neal, Gray, Anthony Robles and Clarissa Chun.
“We created this exhibit for our museum in Stillwater to show that there is a place in our sport for everyone, no matter your size, your gender, your ethnicity or physical limitations,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “We want those who look at this mural to see themselves in one of the wrestlers featured, who are not only outstanding athletes but also tremendous role models.”
Weaver won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics; Neal was a World champion, a two-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American at Cal State-Bakersfield, and won three Super Bowl rings as an offensive lineman for the New England Patriots; Gray was USA Wrestling’s Women’s Wrestler of the Year in 2014 and 2015 and was a finalist for the USOC Female Olympic Athlete of the Year in 2015; Robles was a three-time All-American and an NCAA champion at Arizona State; and Chun was a World champion and an Olympic bronze medalist.
It also has a growth chart on the side allowing fans to see how they compare in height with some of the greatest names in wrestling - Bruce Baumgartner, Cael Sanderson, Kenny Monday, Dave Schultz, Pat Smith, John Smith, Lee Kemp, Sara McMann and Henry Cejudo.
“Visitors to our museum have really enjoyed taking pictures with the mural and measuring themselves to see where they match up against some of our sports legends,” said Smith. “Because of the great response we felt it would be great to bring it to the NCAAs so that those who have not had the opportunity to visit our newly renovated museum could experience this totally unique exhibit.”
Schedule of Events
Thursday, March 16
2-6 p.m. NCAA Fan Festival and Win Magazine Memorabilia Show at St. Louis Union Station
4:15-5 p.m. "Sport For All - Any BODY Can Wrestle" Roundtable Discussion on main stage at St. Louis Union Station
5-5:30 p.m. Autograph session with Adeline Gray, Stephen Neal and Gray Simons
Friday, March 17
1-6:30 p.m. NCAA Fan Festival and Win Magazine Memorabilia Show
St. Louis Union Station
Saturday, March 18
12-6:30 p.m.NCAA Fan Festival and Win Magazine Memorabilia Show
St. Louis Union Station
Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations