Distinguished Members Slay, Haselrig, Harlow, Wilson headline 40th Hall of Fame Induction Banquet
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
The Class of 2016 inductees for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame pose after the Honors Banquet on Saturday night in Stillwater, Okla. Front row: Ron Good, Marcia Haise, Katie Brock, Randy Bortles. Back row: Brandon Slay, Joseph Galli Jr., Bruce Wilson (son of the late Dick Wilson), William Harlow, Carlton Haselrig. Photo by Larry Slater.
VIDEOS: Interviews with each of the Class of 2016 inductees
STILLWATER, Okla. – A memorable weekend for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame concluded at the 40th Honors Banquet held in the Student Union Ballroom on Saturday night.
Earlier in the weekend, a $3.5 million renovation of the Hall of Fame and Museum facility was unveiled to the general public to rave reviews.
The Class of 2016 was inducted during the Honors Banquet, with four new Distinguished Members added to the long list of wrestling heroes enshrined. This year’s Distinguished Members were Brandon Slay, Carlton Haselrig, William Harlow and the late Dick Wilson.
Slay was a 2000 Olympic freestyle champion, defeating eventual three-time Olympic champion Bouvaisa Saitiev of Russia in his pool competition. A two-time NCAA runner-up for the University of Pennsylvania, Slay was a two-time Cadet World medalist as a high school star from Texas. He serves as USA Wrestling’s Assistant National Freestyle Coach.
Distinguished Member Brandon Slay Hall of Fame biography
Haselrig won six NCAA titles at heavyweight, three as the Div. I champion and three as the Div. II champion for Pitt-Johnstown. His high school did not have a team but he won the Pennsylvania states as an independent. Haselrig played football in the NFL and is now as assistant coach at his alma mater.
Distinguished Member Carlton Haselrig Hall of Fame biography
Harlow was a World silver medalist and three-time national champion in freestyle. He was a three-time NCAA finalist and 1966 NCAA heavyweight champion for Oklahoma State. Harlow spent almost 50 years as a wrestling coach and teacher in Illinois, Oklahoma and Alaska.
Distinguished Member William B. Harlow Hall of Fame biography
Wilson was a three-time Olympian in Greco-Roman (1956, 1960 and 1964) and was also an accomplished freestyle wrestler who. He was fourth in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Wilson was a three-time NCAA runner-up for the University of Toledo and later served as the coach there.
Distinguished Member Dick Wilson Hall of Fame biography
Joseph Galli Jr. was honored as this year’s Outstanding American. Galli won an ACC title at North Carolina, and went on to great business success. He is currently CEO and Executive Director of Techtronics Industries Co. Ltd. which produces brands including Milwaukee, Ryobi, Homelite, Hoover, Oreck and Dirt Devil. He also was an executive at Black and Decker and at Amazon.com.
Outstanding American Joseph Galli Jr. Hall of Fame biography
The Medal of Courage went to Randy Bortles of Georgia. Bortles became a paraplegic due to a motorcycle accident, and has continued to be a leader within wrestling in the state of Georgia. He wrestled in high school in Phoenix, N.Y., and in college at Auburn CC and SUNY-Brockport. He has coached at three high schools in Georgia. With the Atlanta Takedown Association, he helped bring back five wrestling programs to Georgia and has been active with Team Georgia.
Medal of Courage winner Randy Bortles Hall of Fame biography
The Order of Merit went to Ron Good of Oklahoma. Good has worked as a journalist and editor at Amateur Wrestling News since 1977. In almost 40 years, he has been recognized for his columns, features and rankings, and has received numerous wrestling journalism awards for his efforts.
Order of Merit winner Ron Good Hall of Fame biography
The Meritorious Official was Marcia Haise of New York. Haise has been a referee for 30 years, a trailblazer for women officials. Included in her body of work is 16 World Championships, four Pan American Championships and three World Cup. She has also been a top high school referee. She has taken numerous leadership roles at USA Wrestling and in New York officiating circles.
Meritorious Official Marcia Haise Hall of Fame biography
The Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award went to Mark Hall II of Minnesota. Hall won six Minnesota high school state championships for Apple Valley High School and helped lead the team to six state team titles, an amazing 12 combined state titles. He was 2014 Cadet World champion and has made the last two U.S. Junior World Teams. Hall will compete for Penn State. Hall was able to attend the unveiling of the plaques on Friday night, but missed the Saturday banquet to attend his high school graduation.
Dave Schultz HS Excellence winner Mark Hall II Hall of Fame biography
Katie Brock of Tennessee was the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award winner. Brock was a four-time Tennessee state high school champion for Sequatchie County High School and was Outstanding Wrestler at the regional and state level as a senior. She was four-time team captain. Brock will attend Campbellsville University where she will wrestle and study pediatric nursing.
Tricia Saunders HS Excellence winner Katie Brock Hall of Fame biography
Note: More videos will be posted including induction speeches and plaque unveilings within a few days.
VIDEOS: Interviews with each of the Class of 2016 inductees
STILLWATER, Okla. – A memorable weekend for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame concluded at the 40th Honors Banquet held in the Student Union Ballroom on Saturday night.
Earlier in the weekend, a $3.5 million renovation of the Hall of Fame and Museum facility was unveiled to the general public to rave reviews.
The Class of 2016 was inducted during the Honors Banquet, with four new Distinguished Members added to the long list of wrestling heroes enshrined. This year’s Distinguished Members were Brandon Slay, Carlton Haselrig, William Harlow and the late Dick Wilson.
Slay was a 2000 Olympic freestyle champion, defeating eventual three-time Olympic champion Bouvaisa Saitiev of Russia in his pool competition. A two-time NCAA runner-up for the University of Pennsylvania, Slay was a two-time Cadet World medalist as a high school star from Texas. He serves as USA Wrestling’s Assistant National Freestyle Coach.
Distinguished Member Brandon Slay Hall of Fame biography
Haselrig won six NCAA titles at heavyweight, three as the Div. I champion and three as the Div. II champion for Pitt-Johnstown. His high school did not have a team but he won the Pennsylvania states as an independent. Haselrig played football in the NFL and is now as assistant coach at his alma mater.
Distinguished Member Carlton Haselrig Hall of Fame biography
Harlow was a World silver medalist and three-time national champion in freestyle. He was a three-time NCAA finalist and 1966 NCAA heavyweight champion for Oklahoma State. Harlow spent almost 50 years as a wrestling coach and teacher in Illinois, Oklahoma and Alaska.
Distinguished Member William B. Harlow Hall of Fame biography
Wilson was a three-time Olympian in Greco-Roman (1956, 1960 and 1964) and was also an accomplished freestyle wrestler who. He was fourth in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Wilson was a three-time NCAA runner-up for the University of Toledo and later served as the coach there.
Distinguished Member Dick Wilson Hall of Fame biography
Joseph Galli Jr. was honored as this year’s Outstanding American. Galli won an ACC title at North Carolina, and went on to great business success. He is currently CEO and Executive Director of Techtronics Industries Co. Ltd. which produces brands including Milwaukee, Ryobi, Homelite, Hoover, Oreck and Dirt Devil. He also was an executive at Black and Decker and at Amazon.com.
Outstanding American Joseph Galli Jr. Hall of Fame biography
The Medal of Courage went to Randy Bortles of Georgia. Bortles became a paraplegic due to a motorcycle accident, and has continued to be a leader within wrestling in the state of Georgia. He wrestled in high school in Phoenix, N.Y., and in college at Auburn CC and SUNY-Brockport. He has coached at three high schools in Georgia. With the Atlanta Takedown Association, he helped bring back five wrestling programs to Georgia and has been active with Team Georgia.
Medal of Courage winner Randy Bortles Hall of Fame biography
The Order of Merit went to Ron Good of Oklahoma. Good has worked as a journalist and editor at Amateur Wrestling News since 1977. In almost 40 years, he has been recognized for his columns, features and rankings, and has received numerous wrestling journalism awards for his efforts.
Order of Merit winner Ron Good Hall of Fame biography
The Meritorious Official was Marcia Haise of New York. Haise has been a referee for 30 years, a trailblazer for women officials. Included in her body of work is 16 World Championships, four Pan American Championships and three World Cup. She has also been a top high school referee. She has taken numerous leadership roles at USA Wrestling and in New York officiating circles.
Meritorious Official Marcia Haise Hall of Fame biography
The Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award went to Mark Hall II of Minnesota. Hall won six Minnesota high school state championships for Apple Valley High School and helped lead the team to six state team titles, an amazing 12 combined state titles. He was 2014 Cadet World champion and has made the last two U.S. Junior World Teams. Hall will compete for Penn State. Hall was able to attend the unveiling of the plaques on Friday night, but missed the Saturday banquet to attend his high school graduation.
Dave Schultz HS Excellence winner Mark Hall II Hall of Fame biography
Katie Brock of Tennessee was the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award winner. Brock was a four-time Tennessee state high school champion for Sequatchie County High School and was Outstanding Wrestler at the regional and state level as a senior. She was four-time team captain. Brock will attend Campbellsville University where she will wrestle and study pediatric nursing.
Tricia Saunders HS Excellence winner Katie Brock Hall of Fame biography
Note: More videos will be posted including induction speeches and plaque unveilings within a few days.
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