The Hall of Fame’s Presentation of Plaques is all about family and friends celebrating wrestling excellence

Family is life. The wrestling community is one big family. Honors Weekend at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is truly all about family.

The traditional Presentation of Plaques social is the official kick-off, when the honored inductees come together in the Hall of Fame facility for a social and the first stage of induction activities.

Friends and family from across the nation, and in some cases from around the world, have travelled to Stillwater, Okla. to celebrate excellence in the sport and in life.

The Class of 2025 came together in wrestling’s shrine for the unveiling of their official Hall of Fame display on Friday night. Many of the inductees have been in the Hall of Fame museum before, but some of them are here for the first time. For most family members and friends, this will be their first opportunity to experience the rich history and tradition of wrestling’s sacred shrine.

Distinguished Members being inducted this year are Darryl Burley, Matt Lindland, Terry Steiner and Greg Wojciechowski. Joining them as honorees are the Medal of Courage recipient Mark Coleman, Order of Merit recipient Van Stokes, Meritorious Official Ken Mara, Outstanding American Terry Davis, plus the two high school honorees, Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winner Marcus Blaze and Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award winner Piper Fowler

When each of the honorees arrive at the Hall of Fame, they are given a special medal to wear for the night, which identifies them as the Hall of Fame members. Each honoree is surrounded by the people who love them, parents, siblings, children, uncles and aunts, teammates, coaches and others who were there to supply support and share in the experience.

The evening begins with a social with food and beverages. It is a lively time when people wander throughout the museum, visit old friends and meet new acquaintances, and experience the special bond within the National Wrestling Hall of Fame family.

The legendary Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, gave a welcome message to all in attendance, and explained some of the current initiatives and projects going on with the organization.

Just like a family reunion, Smith also recognized the family members who had passed away, as well as the previous inductees who were there in person to support the new class of honorees.

A moment of silence was held for these Hall of Fame honorees who we lost since the last induction ceremony: Distinguished Members Stan Abel, Bucky Maughan and Grady Peninger, Meritorious Officials Mike Allen and Jerry Kuntz, Order of Merit recipients John Dustin and Fritz McGinnis and Outstanding American Congressman James Leach.

Joining the 10 new honorees, were numerous other past Hall of Fame inductees who are present to support the new crop. Distinguished Members in the house were Dan Gable, Andy Rein, Rich Bender and Mark Lieberman, with a number of other award winners also introduced.

Smith then called for each of the honorees to join him on a championship podium, when the Class of 2025 had their first team picture together.

The formal presentation starts with the announcer for the Presentation of Plaques, the legendary Sandy Stevens, who won the Order of Merit in 1998. Stevens led the small ceremony for each honoree, who had their Hall of Fame bio read as their display was unveiled.

Every time an award winner was announced, they were photographed by legendary wrestling photographer Larry Slater in front of their display. After that, each honoree was able to take pictures with their immediate family in attendance, and then with their other family members and friends.

When Terry Steiner was presented with his plaque and his family called up for the photo, it took awhile for Slater to get the photo organized because of the number of family there. When Steiner called up his friends, work colleagues and former athletes for another picture, Slater had to move way back and rearrange things so everybody could fit into the picture.

Stevens, who is on top of many details, let people know that Order of Merit winner Van Stokes’ son travelled all the way from Asia to be with him tonight. Davis had a son who came from Europe to see him receive his Outstanding American award.

When the formal ceremony ended, each honoree and their entourage gradually left the Hall of Fame into the humid Stillwater night.

The wrestling family will all come back together tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. for the Honorees Tribute Breakfast, and then again at 5:30 p.m. for the 48^th Honors Induction Ceremony.