Tucci, Schultz, Farrell and Scalzo of the USA inducted into UWW International Wrestling Hall of Fame
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
VIDEO INTERVIEW: Rick Tucci
VIDEO INTERVIEW: Nancy Schultz Vitangeli
Receiving Hall of Fame awards were Americans (left to right): Rich Bender (on behalf of Joe Scalzo), Nancy Schultz Vitangeli (on behalf of Dave Schultz), Rick Tucci, Andy Barth (on behalf of Bill Farrell). Photo by Larry Slater.
RIO DE JANIERO, Brazil - The United States was well represented at the 2016 United World Wrestling International Wrestling Hall of Fame induction ceremonies with four of the nation’s wrestling greats honored just two days prior to the start of the wrestling competition at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. UWW Vice President Stan Dziedzic of the United States moderated the presentation of the awards.
Americans honored were referee Rick Tucci, World and Olympic champion freestyle wrestler Dave Schultz, coach and New York Athletic Club leader Bill Farrell and longtime wrestling leader Joe Scalzo. Of the four inductees, Tucci was the only one in attendance, as the others were inducted posthumously.
Tucci was inducted in the officials category, and was given a long and spirited standing ovation when his award was presented by UWW President Nenad Lalovic. It was perhaps the biggest ovation ever given to a UWW Hall of Fame award winner in the history of the program.
Tucci, an eight-time Olympic official who has worked 75 World Championships during his remarkable career, is widely respected not only for his abilities, but for his fairness and his spirit of friendship. Friends from all over the world posed with him in dozens of pictures after his presentation.
“I was surprised. There were a lot of worthy people who deserve this honor. I really feel fortunate to be put in this position. With the support of my family and USA Wrestling, I have been able to do a lot of the things I have done.
Schultz, a 1984 Olympic champion, 1983 World champion and seven-time World and Olympic medalist, was represented at the celebration by Nancy Schultz Vitangeli, Dave’s wife throughout his competitive career. Nancy was also very warmly received by the audience which included many of Dave’s friends and admirers and those who know her well.
Dave was beloved worldwide as not only one of the greatest competitors, but also as an ambassador of goodwill for the sport with friends all over the globe. Dave was murdered in 1996 as he was training for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.
“Being around the Olympic family is where I feel most at home, especially the wrestling Olympic family. This has been my home with Dave, and since Dave’s passing. With any honor for Dave, I like to say that wrestling was Dave’s passion, wrestling was Dave’s life and wrestling was Dave’s family. There is no better honor than to have this kind of award from his family,” said Nancy.
Bill Farrell was honored as a coach. He is best known as the coach of the 1972 U.S. Olympic freestyle team, which featured gold medalists Dan Gable, Wayne Wells and Ben Peterson, and six total medalists. Farrell was an athlete, coach and leader for the respected New York Athletic Club program for many years, and an executive with ASICS, one of the leading shoe and apparel companies in the world. Farrell’s award was accepted by Andy Barth, who wrestled for the New York Athletic Club and has been a longtime member, and is currently the Team Leader of the U.S. Olympic men’s freestyle team.
Scalzo received his Hall of Fame honor in the leadership category. A FILA Vice President, he was the founder of the first Freestyle World Cup event in Toledo, Ohio, and hosted the first 13 World Cup events in the United States. Scalzo also hosted and organized the 1962 and 1966 World Wrestling Championships in Toledo. Scalzo’s award was received by USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.
Tucci was a close friend to all three of the others who were inducted from the United States, and was proud to be going in with them, and also in attendance to represent the entire group.
“When I started refereeing, Joe Scalzo was one of my mentors for sure. I learned a lot from Bill Farrell, about how to officiate, when to officiate. Between him and Steve Evanoff, they really helped me get through the grind. Dave Schultz was one of my closest friends. One of my brightest moments was watching Dave up on the stand in Kiev at the World Championships when they were playing the U.S. national anthem. We go back a lot of years. It means a lot to me. I wish the three of them were here with me to enjoy it,” said Tucci.
United World Wrestling inducted one official (Tucci), two coaches (Farrell and Victor Kuznetsov of Russia), two leaders (Scalzo and Manuel Andradey Rodriguez of Mexico, and an Order of Merit winner, Dr. Harold Tunneman of Germany.
The athletes included four Greco-Roman stars: Anatoli Kolessov of Russia, Hector Milian of Cuba, Stefan Rusu of Romania and Janos Varga of Hungary. The three men’s freestyle inductees were Schultz, David Gobedjishvilli of Georgia and Park Jang-Soon of Korea. The women inductees included Ine Barlie of Norway and Martine Dugrenier of Canada.
Special recognition was given to Larry Sciacchetano of the United States, the former FILA Vice-President who created the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame during his years of leadership in international wrestling. Dziedzic thanked Sciacchetano for his vision and efforts in establishing the Hall of Fame. Sciacchetano, who was also a USA Wrestling president, was in attendance with his wife.
The ceremonies were held at the “Wrestling House” in Rio, a beautiful location where the international wrestling community will be able to come together on a daily basis for goodwill and friendship. It is the first time which UWW has hosted a “Wrestling House” in the host city of an Olympic Games, a tradition which National Olympic Committees and corporations have done for a long time.
BIOS OF UWW HALL OF FAME MEMBERS FROM THE USA
Official
Rick Tucci (United States): Officiated eight Olympic Games. International Instructor from 1990-2012. Officiated 75 World Championships at the Senior, Junior, and Cadet levels. Presented FILA Golden Whistle in 1988. Awarded two FILA Gold Stars. President of USA Wrestling Officials Association since 1986. Inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 2001 and received the Meritorious Official award in 1994.
Coach
William "Bill" Farrell (United States): Posthumous. New York Athletic Club President and Coach. Coach of 1972 USA Freestyle Olympic Team and medalists Dan Gable, Wayne Wells, and Ben Peterson. Coached 13-time World and Olympic medalist Bruce Baumgartner. Inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1987.
Leadership
Joe Scalzo (United States): Posthumous. FILA Vice President. Founder and Organizer of FILA World Cup in 1973 and hosted the first 13 World Cups in the USA. Organizer of 1962 and 1966 World Championships. Inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1987.
Men's Freestyle Wrestler
Dave Schultz (United States): Posthumous. Olympic Champion 1984. World Champion 1983. World Silver medalist 1985, 1987, and 1993. World Bronze medalist 1982 and 1986. Inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1997.
United World Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2016:
Official - Rick Tucci (United States)
Coach - William "Bill" Farrell (United States)
Coach - Victor Kuznetsov (Russia)
Leadership - Manuel Andradey Rodriguez (Mexico)
Leadership - Joe Scalzo (United States)
Female Wrestler - Ine Barlie (Norway)
Female Wrestler - Martine Dugrenier (Canada).
Greco-Roman Wrestler - Anatoli Kolessov (Russia)
Greco-Roman Wrestler - Hector Milian (Cuba)
Greco-Roman Wrestler - Stefan Rusu (Romania)
Greco-Roman Wrestler - Janos Varga (Hungary)
Men's Freestyle Wrestler - David Gobedjishvilli (Georgia)
Men’s Freestyle Wrestler - Park Jang-Soon (Korea)
Men’s Freestyle Wrestler - Dave Schultz (United States)
Order of Merit - Dr. Harold Tunnemann (Germany)
VIDEO INTERVIEW: Nancy Schultz Vitangeli
Receiving Hall of Fame awards were Americans (left to right): Rich Bender (on behalf of Joe Scalzo), Nancy Schultz Vitangeli (on behalf of Dave Schultz), Rick Tucci, Andy Barth (on behalf of Bill Farrell). Photo by Larry Slater.
RIO DE JANIERO, Brazil - The United States was well represented at the 2016 United World Wrestling International Wrestling Hall of Fame induction ceremonies with four of the nation’s wrestling greats honored just two days prior to the start of the wrestling competition at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. UWW Vice President Stan Dziedzic of the United States moderated the presentation of the awards.
Americans honored were referee Rick Tucci, World and Olympic champion freestyle wrestler Dave Schultz, coach and New York Athletic Club leader Bill Farrell and longtime wrestling leader Joe Scalzo. Of the four inductees, Tucci was the only one in attendance, as the others were inducted posthumously.
Tucci was inducted in the officials category, and was given a long and spirited standing ovation when his award was presented by UWW President Nenad Lalovic. It was perhaps the biggest ovation ever given to a UWW Hall of Fame award winner in the history of the program.
Tucci, an eight-time Olympic official who has worked 75 World Championships during his remarkable career, is widely respected not only for his abilities, but for his fairness and his spirit of friendship. Friends from all over the world posed with him in dozens of pictures after his presentation.
“I was surprised. There were a lot of worthy people who deserve this honor. I really feel fortunate to be put in this position. With the support of my family and USA Wrestling, I have been able to do a lot of the things I have done.
Schultz, a 1984 Olympic champion, 1983 World champion and seven-time World and Olympic medalist, was represented at the celebration by Nancy Schultz Vitangeli, Dave’s wife throughout his competitive career. Nancy was also very warmly received by the audience which included many of Dave’s friends and admirers and those who know her well.
Dave was beloved worldwide as not only one of the greatest competitors, but also as an ambassador of goodwill for the sport with friends all over the globe. Dave was murdered in 1996 as he was training for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team.
“Being around the Olympic family is where I feel most at home, especially the wrestling Olympic family. This has been my home with Dave, and since Dave’s passing. With any honor for Dave, I like to say that wrestling was Dave’s passion, wrestling was Dave’s life and wrestling was Dave’s family. There is no better honor than to have this kind of award from his family,” said Nancy.
Bill Farrell was honored as a coach. He is best known as the coach of the 1972 U.S. Olympic freestyle team, which featured gold medalists Dan Gable, Wayne Wells and Ben Peterson, and six total medalists. Farrell was an athlete, coach and leader for the respected New York Athletic Club program for many years, and an executive with ASICS, one of the leading shoe and apparel companies in the world. Farrell’s award was accepted by Andy Barth, who wrestled for the New York Athletic Club and has been a longtime member, and is currently the Team Leader of the U.S. Olympic men’s freestyle team.
Scalzo received his Hall of Fame honor in the leadership category. A FILA Vice President, he was the founder of the first Freestyle World Cup event in Toledo, Ohio, and hosted the first 13 World Cup events in the United States. Scalzo also hosted and organized the 1962 and 1966 World Wrestling Championships in Toledo. Scalzo’s award was received by USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender.
Tucci was a close friend to all three of the others who were inducted from the United States, and was proud to be going in with them, and also in attendance to represent the entire group.
“When I started refereeing, Joe Scalzo was one of my mentors for sure. I learned a lot from Bill Farrell, about how to officiate, when to officiate. Between him and Steve Evanoff, they really helped me get through the grind. Dave Schultz was one of my closest friends. One of my brightest moments was watching Dave up on the stand in Kiev at the World Championships when they were playing the U.S. national anthem. We go back a lot of years. It means a lot to me. I wish the three of them were here with me to enjoy it,” said Tucci.
United World Wrestling inducted one official (Tucci), two coaches (Farrell and Victor Kuznetsov of Russia), two leaders (Scalzo and Manuel Andradey Rodriguez of Mexico, and an Order of Merit winner, Dr. Harold Tunneman of Germany.
The athletes included four Greco-Roman stars: Anatoli Kolessov of Russia, Hector Milian of Cuba, Stefan Rusu of Romania and Janos Varga of Hungary. The three men’s freestyle inductees were Schultz, David Gobedjishvilli of Georgia and Park Jang-Soon of Korea. The women inductees included Ine Barlie of Norway and Martine Dugrenier of Canada.
Special recognition was given to Larry Sciacchetano of the United States, the former FILA Vice-President who created the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame during his years of leadership in international wrestling. Dziedzic thanked Sciacchetano for his vision and efforts in establishing the Hall of Fame. Sciacchetano, who was also a USA Wrestling president, was in attendance with his wife.
The ceremonies were held at the “Wrestling House” in Rio, a beautiful location where the international wrestling community will be able to come together on a daily basis for goodwill and friendship. It is the first time which UWW has hosted a “Wrestling House” in the host city of an Olympic Games, a tradition which National Olympic Committees and corporations have done for a long time.
BIOS OF UWW HALL OF FAME MEMBERS FROM THE USA
Official
Rick Tucci (United States): Officiated eight Olympic Games. International Instructor from 1990-2012. Officiated 75 World Championships at the Senior, Junior, and Cadet levels. Presented FILA Golden Whistle in 1988. Awarded two FILA Gold Stars. President of USA Wrestling Officials Association since 1986. Inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 2001 and received the Meritorious Official award in 1994.
Coach
William "Bill" Farrell (United States): Posthumous. New York Athletic Club President and Coach. Coach of 1972 USA Freestyle Olympic Team and medalists Dan Gable, Wayne Wells, and Ben Peterson. Coached 13-time World and Olympic medalist Bruce Baumgartner. Inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1987.
Leadership
Joe Scalzo (United States): Posthumous. FILA Vice President. Founder and Organizer of FILA World Cup in 1973 and hosted the first 13 World Cups in the USA. Organizer of 1962 and 1966 World Championships. Inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1987.
Men's Freestyle Wrestler
Dave Schultz (United States): Posthumous. Olympic Champion 1984. World Champion 1983. World Silver medalist 1985, 1987, and 1993. World Bronze medalist 1982 and 1986. Inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1997.
United World Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2016:
Official - Rick Tucci (United States)
Coach - William "Bill" Farrell (United States)
Coach - Victor Kuznetsov (Russia)
Leadership - Manuel Andradey Rodriguez (Mexico)
Leadership - Joe Scalzo (United States)
Female Wrestler - Ine Barlie (Norway)
Female Wrestler - Martine Dugrenier (Canada).
Greco-Roman Wrestler - Anatoli Kolessov (Russia)
Greco-Roman Wrestler - Hector Milian (Cuba)
Greco-Roman Wrestler - Stefan Rusu (Romania)
Greco-Roman Wrestler - Janos Varga (Hungary)
Men's Freestyle Wrestler - David Gobedjishvilli (Georgia)
Men’s Freestyle Wrestler - Park Jang-Soon (Korea)
Men’s Freestyle Wrestler - Dave Schultz (United States)
Order of Merit - Dr. Harold Tunnemann (Germany)
