2026 NWHOF Order of Merit: James L. Porter

James L. Porter has devoted more than five decades to wrestling as an athletic trainer, medical coordinator, educator, and advocate for athlete safety.

Porter has served as a medical provider for USA Wrestling for 45 years and worked as an athletic trainer at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels for more than 50 years. He has worked many of the sport’s premier events, including the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

As a tournament medical coordinator, Porter has worked numerous major events, including World Championships, Olympic Team Trials, USA Wrestling Junior Nationals, World Team Trials, USA Opens, World Cups, and the Pan American Games.

In 2012, Porter received the FILA Gold Star Award, becoming the only United States medical provider to earn the honor. He also helped develop USA Wrestling’s medical tournament coordinator guidelines and served on its Sports Science and Sports Medicine and Concussion Management committees.

In addition to his national and international work, Porter coached wrestling and served as an athletic trainer at North Linn and South Tama high schools in Iowa while volunteering at Drake University. He later served as director of sports medicine for Athletes in Action wrestling and also educated coaches and medical professionals on bleeding management and skin infection identification in combat sports.

Porter continues to serve the sport today and received the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award from the Nevada Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2025.

For his dedication and service to wrestling and athlete safety, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame proudly honors James L. Porter with the 2026 Order of Merit.