Tim Shiels, Gary Abbott, Gary Chopp and Carl Eschenbach inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on first night of Honors Weekend
by Mike Willis, USA Wrestling
Feature photo of Tim Shiels courtesy of Larry Slater.
Stillwater, Okla. – The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has four new members. Tim Shiels, Gary Abbott, Gary Chopp and Carl Eschenbach were all inducted this evening. Shiels was inducted as a Meritorious Official, Abbott as a recipient of the Order of Merit, Chopp as a recipient of the Medal of Courage and Eschenbach as an Outstanding American. Tomorrow, Bruce Burnett, Mark Lieberman, Dremiel Byers and Bill Zadick will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as Distinguished Members. The group was originally scheduled to be inducted in 2020, but after postponement due to the pandemic, they will now be honored as the Class of 2021.
View this evening’s inductees’ interviews and biographies below.