It is with great pleasure that the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Illinois Chapter announces their 2024 selections for Lifetime Service Awards.

The induction ceremony for the Class of 2024 will be held on October 6 at the DoubleTree by Hilton-Alsip Hotel, 5000 W. 127th St., Alsip, Illinois.  

A social begins at 3 p.m. with dinner and the presentation of awards to follow.

CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for the Honors Banquet

Selected to be recognized as Lifetime Service Award recipients are: 

Pete Alber, Dakota - Pete has a 30 plus career as coach at Dakota High School. During this time his teams won 6 IHSA Dual Team State Titles and 397 dual meets. 

Jim Chaloupka, Berwyn - A 2010 IWCOA Hall of Fame Inductee, Jim officiated and coached for 44 years. He officiated at 9 IHSA State Championships. 

Ed Giese, Westmont - A 2X IHSA State Champion, Ed had a high school career record of 172-5. He was a two time Big Ten Champion for the University of Minnesota, Pan Am Champ and has 37 years of coaching, including head coach at the prestigious Dave Schultz Wrestling Club. 

Mike Matozzi, Oswego - With over 43 years of service to wrestling, Mike was an assistant coach and head coach at Hinsdale South High School in Darien. A long-time Executive Board Member of the IWCOA, he served as President and was IWCOA Man of the Year in 2013. 

John Welter, Ingleside - John has coached for over 53 years at several youth and high school programs across northern Lake County. A 2018 IWCOA Hall of Fame inductee, he served as Grand Marshal of the IESA State Tournament in 2009, was inducted into the Grant High School Hall of Fame in 2014, and the College of Lake County Hall of Fame in 1994. 

In addition, the Illinois Chapter will also recognize two individuals to receive the Outstanding American and Medal of Courage Awards along with the Dave Schultz and Tricia Saunders Student Excellence Awards. 

Dru Goodman, Riverwoods will be honored as Outstanding American. He is a highly accomplished Illinois businessman whose success is due in great part to the foundational skills he learned through his involvement with Illinois wrestling as a competitor, coach and official. 

Selected to receive this year’s Medal of Courage Award is Adam Sikes. Adam is a former U.S. Marines - Silver Star Recipient who wrestled for the Lake Zurich Bears while in high school. He is an acclaimed author of espionage thrillers and has been a 20+ year CIA & Hollywood consultant. 

The Illinois Chapter will also honor a male and female to receive the Dave Schultz and Tricia Saunders Award for 2024. To be recognized will be: 

Dillon Johnson, Joliet (Catholic Academy), (University of Wisconsin) - Schultz Award

Cadence Diduch, Freeport H.S., (University of Iowa) - Saunders Award 

The State Chapters Program was established by the Board of Governors of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1993. Its purpose is to pay tribute to those coaches, officials and contributors who represent the best qualities of what the sport of wrestling has to offer and who share those characteristics with young people day in and day out. The Illinois Chapter was formed in 1997. Since this time, 173 men and women of Illinois have been recognized.