PODCAST · sports
Legends
by Jason Bryant, Mat Talk Podcast Network
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Mat Talk Podcast Network presented Legends, a series dedicated to telling the stories of wrestling's greats. Featuring Outstanding Americans, Distinguished Members, Order of Merit and Medal of Courage winners, Legends will chronicle the stories from the most legendary figures in Olympic, college and high school wrestling.
Episodes
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2025 Tribute & Induction: Greg Wojciechowski, Distinguished Member
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2025 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Greg Wojciechowski. Tribute speakers: Josh Cowell and Don Wyper. Tribune emcee: Tim Johnson. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2025. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple Podcasts…
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2025 Tribute & Induction: Terry Steiner, Distinguished Member
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2025 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Terry Steiner. Tribute speakers: Adeline Gray and Rich Bender. Tribune emcee: Tim Johnson. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2025. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple Podcasts |...
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2025 Tribute & Induction: Matt Lindland, Distinguished Member
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2025 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Matt Lindland Tribute speakers: Mark Cody and Chris Saba. Tribune emcee: Tim Johnson. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2025. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple Podcasts |...
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2025 Tribute & Induction: Darryl Burley, Distinguished Member
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2025 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Darryl Burley Tribute speakers: Peter Schuyler and Solomon Fleckman. Tribune emcee: Tim Johnson. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2025. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple...
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2025 Tribute & Induction: Terry Davis, Outstanding American
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2025 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Outstanding American inductee Terry Davis. Tribute speakers: Frank Gallardo and Josh DoBell. Tribune emcee: Tim Johnson. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2025. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple...
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2025 Tribute & Induction: Mark Coleman, Medal of Courage
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2025 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Medal of Courage inductee Mark Coleman. Tribute speakers: Matt Brown and Royce Alger. Tribune emcee: Tim Johnson. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2025. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple Podcasts…
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2025 Tribute & Induction: Van Stokes, Order of Merit
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2025 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Order of Merit inductee Van Stokes. Tribute speakers: Gary Abbott and Jonathan Stokes. Tribune emcee: Tim Johnson. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2025. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple Podcasts…
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2025 Tribute & Induction: Ken Mara, Meritorious Service for Officials
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2025 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Meritorious Service for Officials inductee Ken Mara. Tribute speakers: P.A. Bowler and Mike Hagerty. Tribune emcee: Tim Johnson. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2025. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW...
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NWHOF Class of 2025 Full Induction Ceremony
Full induction ceremony for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors Weekend in Stillwater, Oklahoma on June 7, 2025. Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award: Marcus Blaze Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award: Piper Fowler Meritorious Service for Officials: Ken Mara Order of Merit…
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NWHOF Honors Weekend 2025: Tribute Brunch
The annual tribute brunch for Saturday, June 7, 2025 at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors Weekend. This is the full audio of the morning's events. Tim Johnson serves as the emcee. Speakers P.A. Bowler & Mike Hagerty (for Ken Mara) Gary Abbott & Johnathan Stokes (for Van Stokes) Matt…
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2024 Tribute & Induction: Logan Stieber, Distinguished Member
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2024 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Logan Stieber. Tribute speakers: Helen Stieber and Hunter Stieber. Tribune emcee: Dave Martin. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2024. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple…
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2024 Tribute & Induction: Coleman Scott, Distinguished Member
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2024 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Coleman Scott. Tribute speakers: John Yates and Neil Erisman. Tribune emcee: Dave Martin. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2024. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple Podcasts |...
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2024 Tribute & Induction: Toccara Montgomery, Distinguished Member
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2024 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Toccara Montgomery. Tribute speakers: Jessica Medina and Axa Molina. Tribune emcee: Dave Martin. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2024. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple...
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2024 Tribute & Induction: Tadaaki Haata, Distinguished Member
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2024 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Tadaaki Hatta. Tribute speakers: Nancy Schultz Vitangeli and Anthony Spooner. Tribune emcee: Dave Martin. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2024. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW...
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2024 Tribute & Induction: Col. Steve Banach, Outstanding American
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2024 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Outstanding American recipient Col. Steve Banach. Tribute speakers: Mark Faller and Samuel Banach. Tribune emcee: Dave Martin. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2024. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW...
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2024 Tribute & Induction: Jonathan Koch, Medal of Courage
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2024 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Medal of Courage recipient Jonathan Koch. Tribute speakers: Mark Waters and Kyle Klingman. Tribune emcee: Dave Martin. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2024. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple...
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2024 Tribune & Induction: Darryl W. Miller, Order of Merit
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2024 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Order of Merit recipient Darryl W. Miller. Tribute speakers: Bill Zadick, Jake Miller and Andy Rein. Tribune emcee: Dave Martin. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. Recorded June 2024. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW...
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2024 Tribute & Induction: J.R. Johnson, Meritorious Service for Officials
The tribute speeches and induction ceremony for 2024 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Meritorious Service for Officials recipient J.R. Johnson. Tribute speakers: Jeff Pultz & Dr. Mike McCormick. Tribune emcee: Dave Martin. Induction ceremony emcee: Sandy Stevens. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple…
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2024 Distinguished Member: Coleman Scott
Coleman Scott won a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics after being an NCAA champion, two-time finalist and four-time All-American for Oklahoma State University. He helped OSU win NCAA team titles in 2005 and 2006 and to fifth-place finishes in 2007 and 2008. Scott was a member of the U.S. National...
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2024 Medal of Courage Recipient: Jonathan Koch
Koch worked as a television producer and co-founded Asylum Entertainment which sold to Legendary Entertainment in 2014. In 2015 his life took an unexpected turn when he fell seriously ill during a producers conference in Washington, D.C. To save his life, doctors had to place Koch into a coma....
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2024 Outstanding American: Col. Steve Banach
Retired United States Army Infantry Colonel Steve Banach began wrestling in the eighth grade and competed alongside his younger twin brothers Ed and Lou Banach for Port Jervis High School in Port Jervis, New York. He continued his career at Clemson University, where he was elected captain of the...
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2023 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The 2023 Induction Ceremony and speeches from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors Weekend in June 2023 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame has announced that the Class of 2023 is Distinguished Members Rich Bender, Jimmy Jackson, Patricia Miranda and Joe Williams,...
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2023 Hall of Fame Tribute Breakfast
The Tribute Breakfast for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2023 took place at the McKnight Center on the campus of Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Speaking for the Class of 2023 honorees were: John Kelly and Joel Weber for Meritorious Official Ed Kelly, Pat…
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2022 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
The 2022 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors Weekend closed out with its annual induction program featuring all the honorees. The Class of 2022 featured Meritorious Official Tom Clark (posthumously), Order of Merit recipient Mike Moyer, Medal of Courage recipient Melissa Simmons, Outstanding...
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2022 Hall of Fame Tribute Breakfast
The 2022 National Wrestling Hall of Fame Honors Weekend was back to a fully attended in-person event after a delay from the 2020 class and the 2021 induction ceremony. The McKnight Center hosted one of the newest additions to the weekend, the Tribute Breakfast. Speaking at the Tribute Breakfast…
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2021 Distinguished Member Bruce Burnett
Bruce Burnett has excelled as a coach on the high school, collegiate and international levels, serving as USA Wrestling’s national freestyle coach and leading some of the most successful teams in American history. During his tenure, five Americans won Olympic gold medals and 11 U.S. athletes won…
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2021 Distinguished Member Mark Lieberman
When wrestlers, coaches, media and fans gather to talk about the G.O.A.T. at Lehigh University, the conversation always includes Mark Lieberman. Combining all styles, he is considered the Mountain Hawks’ greatest overall wrestler. A 1979 Sports Illustrated article described Mark as “the guttiest...
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2021 Distinguished Member Dremiel Byers
One of only two Americans to win three medals at the Greco-Roman World Championships, Dremiel Byers is considered one of the best Greco-Roman wrestlers in U.S. history. Byers won a gold medal at the 2002 World Championships and is one of just five Americans to win a gold medal in Greco-Roman...
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2021 Distinguished Member Bill Zadick
As a competitor and coach, Bill Zadick has forever written his name in the U.S. wrestling record book. He won a gold medal at the World Championships in Guangzhou, China in 2006. His younger brother, Mike, brought home a silver medal from the same tournament, making them the first set of brothers...
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2021 Medal of Courage honoree Gary Chopp
In 1975, a few months after concluding his wrestling career at Grand Valley State University with a sixth-place finish at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national tournament, Gary Chopp went skydiving. During the 3,000-foot jump, his main and reserve parachutes…
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2021 Order of Merit recipient Gary Abbott
Show Notes: Legends Since 1988, Gary Abbott has served as the media face of USA Wrestling, traveling to major wrestling events in the United States and around the globe, including eight Olympic Games, dozens of senior and age-group World Championships and 38 straight NCAA Championships. Currently...
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2021 Meritorious Official Tim Shiels
Tim Shiels began officiating full-time in 1988, working the regional and state tournaments in his home state of Minnesota. He began focusing on college officiating in 1989 and has worked 12 NCAA Division I national championships, seven NCAA Division II national championships, 19 NCAA Division III...
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2021 Hall of Fame Honors Weekend Induction Speeches
The induction speeches for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Meritorious Service for Officials: Tim Shiels Order of Merit: Gary Abbott Medal of Courage: Gary Chopp Outstanding American: Carl Eschenbach Distinguished Members Bruce Burnett Dremiel Byers Mark Lieberman Bill Zadick...
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2019 Distinguished Member Rich Lorenzo
An outstanding high school and collegiate wrestler, Rich Lorenzo became an icon in college wrestling as the head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions from 1978 to 1992. His exemplary career has earned Lorenzo induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a 2019 Distinguished Member.…
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2019 Distinguished Member Brandon Paulson
Successful at virtually every level of his storied career, Brandon Paulson is recognized for his wrestling prowess and coaching expertise by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a 2019 Distinguished Member. The highlight of his wrestling career was winning the silver medal at 114.5 pounds in...
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1979 Distinguished Member Charles "Doc" Speidel
He devoted a lifetime to the sport of wrestling. But in more than 60 years as an athlete, coach and teacher, Charlie Speidel contributed far more to the lives of others than ever can be recorded in the statistics of achievement. He was a pioneer for wrestling and helped it gain stature as a major...
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1979 Distinguished Member Dr. Albert deFerrari
His interest in wrestling surfaced in 1922 from deep in the waters of San Francisco Bay. After more than half a century of service to the sport, Dr. Albert deFerrari's impact on wrestling had spanned the globe. His first exposure to the sport followed a shipwreck near the Golden Gate. The ship's...
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1979 Distinguished Member Keith Young, three-time NCAA champion
He packed more wrestling success into five years than most athletes manage in a lifetime of competition. Keith Young spent the next three decades returning those rewards to the sport with full interest. His Algona High School team didn't offer wrestling until his senior year, and when he joined…
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1979 Distinguished Member Frank Lewis, Olympic Champion
As a tall, skinny college freshman, Frank Lewis was "a little tired" after six years of wrestling and planned to give full attention to his studies at Oklahoma State University. But he needed a physical education credit and a wrestling class would provide an easy grade. Members of the class were...
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1979 Distinguished Member Doug Blubaugh, Olympic Champion
In the shadowed ruins of Rome's ancient Basilica, Doug Blubaugh battled the world champion from Iran for the Olympic gold medal. Emamali Habibi had never known defeat. Three times the Persian attacked, each time throwing the young American into danger. Then a swift counterattack from Blubaugh...
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1978 Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Introductions
In another unearthed tape from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, the introduction video for the Class of 1978 Distinguished Members has been released as a special episode of Hall of Fame Legends. This episode previews the inductions of the third induction class which featured true legends Glen...
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2017 Medal of Courage recipient, Thomas Irving Green
A real-life profile of courage, Thomas Irving Green truly personifies the word. As the all-time wins leader at Weedsport High School in New York, Green wrestled collegiately at Cayuga Community College in Auburn, New York, and at SUNY Cortland. After college, he turned his attention to…
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2017 Outstanding American, Dom Gorie
The latest episode of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Legends Podcast is with 2017 Outstanding American Dom Gorie. Beginning his wrestling career in junior high school, Dominic (Pudwill) Gorie always set his sights high. As a wrestler at Palmetto High School in Miami, he forged a standout...
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2017 Distinguished Member Andre Metzger, Two-time NCAA Champion
The latest episode of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Legends Podcast is with 2017 Distinguished Member and two-time NCAA champion Andre Metzger. SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHOW Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spreaker | iHeartRadio | Spotify | Google Play Music | Android | RSS For those historians who…
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2017 Distinguished Member Chuck Yagla, Two-time NCAA Champion
The latest episode of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Legends Podcast is with 2017 Distinguished Member and NCAA champion Chuck Yagla. Raised in the wrestling hotbed of Waterloo, Iowa, Chuck Yagla turned a talent for wrestling into a lifelong passion. He began his wrestling journey at...
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2017 Distinguished Memeber Cary Kolat, Two-time NCAA Champion
When the conversation among Pennsylvania wrestling fans turns to “the best ever,” Jefferson Morgan High School alumnus Cary Kolat’s name is always in the mix. Kolat compiled a 137-0 high school record with four Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association championships, and he was named...
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Rare Olympians Breakfast featuring conversation with U.S. Olympic wrestlers from 1924-1964
Episode 11 of the Hall of Fame Legends podcast unearths a gem of audio from the late 1970s. It's not confirmed when this was recorded, but noted wrestling historian Don Sayenga serves as a moderator for a special Olympians Breakfast that included wrestlers from all the way back in the 1920s. This...
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1979 Distinguished Member Joe McDaniel, Three-time NCAA champion
Episode 10 of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's LEGENDS podcast features the introduction speeches and acceptance speech from 1979 inductee Joe McDaniel. McDaniel passed away in 2011, but archives unearthed at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame have given us his voice from that Honors…
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2017 Distinguished Member Tony Gizoni, Two-Time NCAA Champion
Episode 9 of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's LEGENDS podcast features 2017 Distinguished Member Tony Gizoni. Gizoni passed away just over a month after his 2017 induction. One of the greatest wrestlers ever to grace the collegiate mat, Tony “Babe” Gizoni was undefeated for seven years in…
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HOF08: 2015 Order of Merit Recipient Dave Bennett
Episode 8 of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's LEGENDS podcast features 2015 Order of Merit recipient Dave Bennett. Known as “Doc” throughout the wrestling community, Dave Bennett got his start in wrestling as a member of the inaugural high school wrestling team at Jamestown High School in...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Mat Talk Podcast Network presented Legends, a series dedicated to telling the stories of wrestling's greats. Featuring Outstanding Americans, Distinguished Members, Order of Merit and Medal of Courage winners, Legends will chronicle the stories from the most legendary figures in Olympic, college and high school wrestling.
HOSTED BY
Jason Bryant, Mat Talk Podcast Network
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Legends have?
Legends currently has 58 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Legends about?
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Mat Talk Podcast Network presented Legends, a series dedicated to telling the stories of wrestling's greats. Featuring Outstanding Americans, Distinguished Members, Order of Merit and Medal of Courage winners, Legends will chronicle the stories from the...
How often does Legends release new episodes?
Legends has 58 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Legends?
You can listen to Legends on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Legends?
Legends is created and hosted by Jason Bryant, Mat Talk Podcast Network.
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