Scherr inducted into Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame; Cejudo gets key to the city
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by Gary Abbott
Wrestling Olympian and current CEO of the U.S. Olympic Committee Jim Scherr receives his induction award from the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - It was a big night for wrestlers at the annual Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame banquet held at the World Arena on Tuesday night.
U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr, a 1988 Olympian in freestyle wrestling, was among those inducted into the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame.
The city of Colorado Springs also honored two of its "hometown heroes," with the presentation of the key to the city from Mayor Lionel Rivera. 2008 Olympic freestyle gold medalist Henry Cejudo was presented with this special key, along with newly elected National Baseball Hall of Fame member, relief pitcher Goose Gossage.
Scherr was the first inductee to address the 700-plus audience who filled the floor of the World Arena and talk about his honor.
Scherr, a three-time World medalist who was the Executive Director of USA Wrestling for 10 years, was very appreciative of the opportunities he has received through the sport of wrestling and the Olympic movement.
"If there is anything I have done, I was persistent, showed up, stayed in the game and never gave up," said Scherr. "There are all these people who supported me along the way. My mother Jan said I could do anything I wanted to do, and I believed her. My father Frank, through conscript labor, taught me the value of hard work."
Scherr thanked the two "teams" that had been part of his professional journey, the staffs at USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic Committee. During high school, Scherr was among the first athletes to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in the late 1970's.
Scherr also talked about the tremendous performance of the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where U.S. athletes won more medals than any other Olympic Team that competed in a fully-participated Games.
"They represented our country with pride and dignity," said Scherr. "I want to congratulate Henry Cejudo and the entire 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for their achievements."
Now as the CEO of the USOC, Scherr was able to thank the Colorado Springs community for all of its support and assistance during his many years in the city. He applauded the leaders of the community for working hard to embrace the USOC, which has committed to keeping its headquarters in Colorado Springs for another 25 years.
"I say thank you for everybody in the Olympic movement for letting me live my dreams," said Scherr.
Cejudo received a rousing ovation when Mayor Rivera introduced him, calling the 21-year-old gold medalist "a champion in every single way." Cejudo received a special honor which Mayor Rivera said was traditionally given to major world dignitaries, such as President George W. Bush.
"The best move I could do was to move here," said Cejudo, who left his Arizona home as a high school junior to train full-time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. "I came here to win the Olympic gold medal."
Cejudo made a special note to thank those he calls the "true heroes," the U.S. military personnel who are serving the nation in Iraq.
"Now, when I am asked where I am from, I say Colorado Springs," said Cejudo.
Cejudo presented one of his "American Dream" t-shirts to Mayor Rivera, calling him the greatest mayor in the nation. He also made a promise to the sports fans in the city about his future success.
"There will be more of these for Colorado Springs," said Cejudo, waving his gold medal to the crowd.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - It was a big night for wrestlers at the annual Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame banquet held at the World Arena on Tuesday night.
U.S. Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr, a 1988 Olympian in freestyle wrestling, was among those inducted into the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame.
The city of Colorado Springs also honored two of its "hometown heroes," with the presentation of the key to the city from Mayor Lionel Rivera. 2008 Olympic freestyle gold medalist Henry Cejudo was presented with this special key, along with newly elected National Baseball Hall of Fame member, relief pitcher Goose Gossage.
Scherr was the first inductee to address the 700-plus audience who filled the floor of the World Arena and talk about his honor.
Scherr, a three-time World medalist who was the Executive Director of USA Wrestling for 10 years, was very appreciative of the opportunities he has received through the sport of wrestling and the Olympic movement.
"If there is anything I have done, I was persistent, showed up, stayed in the game and never gave up," said Scherr. "There are all these people who supported me along the way. My mother Jan said I could do anything I wanted to do, and I believed her. My father Frank, through conscript labor, taught me the value of hard work."
Scherr thanked the two "teams" that had been part of his professional journey, the staffs at USA Wrestling and the U.S. Olympic Committee. During high school, Scherr was among the first athletes to train at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in the late 1970's.
Scherr also talked about the tremendous performance of the U.S. Olympic Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where U.S. athletes won more medals than any other Olympic Team that competed in a fully-participated Games.
"They represented our country with pride and dignity," said Scherr. "I want to congratulate Henry Cejudo and the entire 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for their achievements."
Now as the CEO of the USOC, Scherr was able to thank the Colorado Springs community for all of its support and assistance during his many years in the city. He applauded the leaders of the community for working hard to embrace the USOC, which has committed to keeping its headquarters in Colorado Springs for another 25 years.
"I say thank you for everybody in the Olympic movement for letting me live my dreams," said Scherr.
Cejudo received a rousing ovation when Mayor Rivera introduced him, calling the 21-year-old gold medalist "a champion in every single way." Cejudo received a special honor which Mayor Rivera said was traditionally given to major world dignitaries, such as President George W. Bush.
"The best move I could do was to move here," said Cejudo, who left his Arizona home as a high school junior to train full-time at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. "I came here to win the Olympic gold medal."
Cejudo made a special note to thank those he calls the "true heroes," the U.S. military personnel who are serving the nation in Iraq.
"Now, when I am asked where I am from, I say Colorado Springs," said Cejudo.
Cejudo presented one of his "American Dream" t-shirts to Mayor Rivera, calling him the greatest mayor in the nation. He also made a promise to the sports fans in the city about his future success.
"There will be more of these for Colorado Springs," said Cejudo, waving his gold medal to the crowd.
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