By Gary Abbott
USA Wrestling
An inspiring weekend of amazing stories and impressive individuals were on display this weekend during Honors Weekend at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, which concluded with a moving evening during the 48th Honors Induction at the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts.

WATCH the ceremony at rokfin.com/nwhof.

Title sponsors for Honors Weekend are Tom Graddy, the Hyman Family, Ed and Amy Gallegos, Resilite Sports Products Inc., and the Richison Family Foundation.

Moderated by the legendary Sandy Stevens, each inductee was the subject of an impressive short film created by Scooter Schultz. When the video concluded, the honoree was presented with their special award by important people in their life of their choice. Their presentation concluded with a short speech by each of those from this special class.

Distinguished Members who were inducted this year are Darryl Burley, Matt Lindland, Terry Steiner and Greg Wojciechowski.

Burley was the brilliant two-time NCAA champion and four-time NCAA finalist for Lehigh, who didn’t start wrestling until well into middle school. He won his first NCAA title as an 18-year-old freshman, then as a fifth-year senior. Burley added a Senior freestyle national title to his resume after college.

After thanking his Lord and Savior, Burley asked his entire Lehigh family to stand up. He identified some other important people in his life and asked them to also stand up, giving them honorary Lehigh status. After thanking them for sharing his special moment, Burley gave credit to his coach Thad Turner for guiding the tradition at Lehigh. “We have been good stewards of a program we love. Let’s continue the tradition,” he concluded.

Lindland is one of the nation’s great Greco-Roman heroes, a 2000 Olympic silver medalist in Sydney, Australia and a 2001 Senior World silver medalist. A Junior College national champion at Clackamas and conference champion for Nebraska, Lindland went on to success in Mixed Martial Arts. He impacted the next generation as USA Wrestling’s National Greco-Roman Coach from 2014 to 2022.

“The theme of wrestling for me is gratitude and love,” said Lindland, who went on to tell about his wrestling journey, from an equestrian athlete to a high school wrestler just learning the sport. He went from Junior College to Nebraska, then focused on Greco-Roman, which he compared to punk rock. “I have always seen myself as a martial artist. I also see myself as a son, a husband and a father.” Lindland thanked his transformational coaches then gave special thanks to his wife and children for being alongside during his journey.

Steiner was the first USA Wrestling Women’s National Coach in 2022 and still leads the program, which massive international success at all levels. He has coached at six Olympic Games, mentoring Olympic champions Helen Maroulis, Tamyra Mensah Stock, Sarah Hildebrandt and Amit Elor, six-time World champion Adeline Gray and numerous other World and Olympic medalists. His leadership helped change a culture, as women’s wrestling has exploded nationwide. He was an NCAA champion at Iowa and talented college coach before joining USA Wrestling.

“I am honored and humbled and proud to receive this award tonight. I would like to thank God for putting me in a position to impact the next generation of superstars,” said Steiner. After thanking USA Wrestling Executive Director for offering him the chance to coach the U.S. women, Steiner gave special thanks to his wife Jodi “for seeing the vision” and his daughter Raven for “sharing me with the athletes in this program.” Steiner said that he was the product of a strong family who inspired him during his life, calling their example of service and support as his greatest gift. Mentioning the opportunities at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Steiner concluded by saying ‘for me, it’s all about moving forward.”

Wojciechowski was a world-class heavyweight in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, who qualified for the 1980 Olympic freestyle team but could not compete due to the U.S. boycott of the Moscow Games. An NCAA champion and three-time NCAA finalist for the University of Toledo, he was part of the wrestling culture when Toledo was an international center of wrestling excellence. He continued his impact as a coach in his native Ohio.

Wojciechowski was presented his award by the sons of his three coaches and mentors (Dick Torio, Joe Scalzo, Dick Wilson). He explained the wrestling culture in Toledo when he grew up, a city which hosted two Senior World Championships and the annual Freestyle World Cup. “I was the product of a tremendous environment,” said Wojciechowski. “If it wasn’t for those three dads, I wouldn’t be here without them.” Wojo thanked all of his workout partners personally, then introduced some of the young people he coached and has inspired him and made him proud of them.

The Medal of Courage went to Mark Coleman, an elite athlete in both wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts, who entered his elderly parents burning home multiple times to save their lives, almost losing his own to smoke inhalation. Coleman was feared on the mat, an NCAA champion, World silver medalist and an Olympian, then a trailblazer in the early years of the Ultimate Fighting Championships.

“I feel special being here. USA Wrestling was special to me as a kid. I am honored and thankful for you choosing me for this award,” said Coleman. He expressed thanks that his parents are still with him, thanked them for their love and told the story of how he saved them from fire. “Wrestling changed my life and made me who I am. Confidence is key in this world. That is what wrestling will give you.” Coleman then told the inspiring story of his recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction, and his comeback through rehabilitation and his pride in staying sober.

The Order of Merit was presented to Van Stokes, based on almost four decades of leadership with USA Wrestling. Stokes started as an Armed Forces representative, then volunteered for countless leadership roles including serving as Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary. He has taken on numerous assignments, from team leader to broadcaster to security officer to strategic planner and much more. The result of his dedicated efforts has been the success and growth of USA Wrestling.

After thanking his wife Lynn and his three sons, Stokes told the story of the lessons he learned in the U.S. Marine Corps, as well as his long career as a civilian employee of the U.S Army. “For all the wrestlers and coaches throughout the years, I want to thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your journey.” Stokes gave special thanks to four of his USA Wrestling friends and colleagues who inspired him, Greg Strobel, Mark Reiland, Myron Roderick and Duane Morgan.

Ken Mara received the Meritorious Official award, based upon his 50 years of service to the sport as a high school and college referee. Mara worked on the college level for 25 years, with 20 NCAA Div. I national championship matches, plus many years as an official evaluator. The impact of his work in Tennessee as a referee and mentor is immense, and he is respected for his consistency and his skill on the whistle.

“How did I get here? How did I get my name and story among the great stars of the sport?” asked Mara as he started his speech. Mara explained a bit about his journey within officiating and those who had impacted his development as a referee. “I stepped on the mat 61 years ago. Wrestling gave me all of these opportunities and I hope I took advantage of the opportunities to give back to the sport a little bit,” he said.

The author of the award-winning novel Vision Quest, Terry Davis, was named Outstanding American this year. His novel featured high school wrestler Louden Swain as its main character, later became a successful major motion picture featuring Matthew Modine and Linda Fiorentino. Davis, who wrestled in high school and has coached the sport, has an impressive career as an author and a college educator teaching creative writing.

Davis thanked the Hall of Fame for the tremendous honor and wrestling journalist Jason Bryant for nominating him. He also thanked Scooter Schultz for the amazing video. “To my wrestling friends, you have been inspiring to me,” said Davis. He noted that Vision Quest allowed him to write about the honor and beauty of the sport. “I want to thank wrestling for teaching me to never give up. Keep stroking and the far shore will appear,” he said.

Each year, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame presents the most prestigious award for high school wrestling, with the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award for boys and the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award for girls. These honorees are selected based upon excellence in wrestling, academics and community service.

Marcus Blaze of Ohio is the Dave Schultz winner for 2025. A four-time Ohio state champion for Perrysburg High School, he was a 2023 U17 World champion and a 2024 U20 World bronze in freestyle. Already successful at the Senior level, he placed third at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team. He will attend Penn State.

“If I ever say I am where I am because of me, I am number one, lying, and number two, I am being selfish. I have a support group second to none. That is the reason I am here today. It is not just me,” said Blaze.

Piper Fowler of Tennessee is the 2025 Tricia Saunders winner. A four-time undefeated Tennessee state champion for Cleveland High School, she was Outstanding Wrestler in the 2024 state tournament. A 2023 U17 World champion in freestyle, she also competed in the 2024 U17 World Championships. She will attend William Penn University.

“There are so many people who have affected my life in a positive way,” said Fowler. She thanked her family, especially her parents, for encouraging her and being with her during her wrestling career. “As I look forward, I am so excited about what lies ahead for me. Thank you for being a part of my journey. I am honored and grateful,” said Fowler.

Earlier in the day, those attending Honors Weekend learned more about each of the inductees at the Honoree Tribute Breakfast, where two people speak upon their behalf of those being inducted. The group of speakers included family members, friends, teammates, athletes they had coached and others who could give unique insight into what makes each of these people worthy of honor and recognition.

WATCH the event at rokfin.com/nwhof.

The speakers for this year’s honorees were:

• John Cowell and Don Wyper for Distinguished Member Greg Wojciechowski

• Adeline Gray and Rich Bender for Distinguished Member Terry Steiner

• Mark Cody and Chris Saba for Distinguished Member Matt Lindland

• Peter Schuyler and Solomon Fleckman for Distinguished Member Darryl Burley

• Frank Gallardo and Josh DoBell for Outstanding American Terry Davis

• Matt Brown and Royce Alger for Medal of Courage recipient Mark Coleman

• Gary Abbott and Jonathan Stokes for Order of Merit recipient Van Stokes

• P.A. Bowler and Mike Hagerty for Meritorious Official Ken Mara