National Wrestling Hall of Fame inducts Class of 2024, led by Distinguished Members Stieber, Scott, Montgomery, Hatta

STILLWATER, Okla. – The 47^th Honors Weekend at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame concluded with the Induction Ceremony on Saturday night at the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts.

Class of 2024 Distinguished Members were honored at the end of the formal program, each receiving a smaller version of their portrait which will now be displayed on the walls of the Hall of Fame. This year’s Distinguished Members were World or Olympic medalists Coleman Scott, Logan Stieber, Toccara Montgomery plus legendary coach Tadaaki Hatta,

Scott was a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist in men’s freestyle, and an NCAA champion and four-time All-American for Oklahoma State. A  two-time Junior National champion and three-time Pennsylvania high school champion, Scott has transitioned into a college coach, including a stint as head coach at Div. I North Carolina.

Scott talked about the many of the ups and downs in life and in wrestling, and how it made him the person that he has become.

“When I think about how I got here, it was the selflessness of others. For 32 years, I have chased a dream. I have done everything in my power to achieve it. As I progress through this, I will be thankful for this sport and what it has done to shape me,” said Scott.

Stieber was 2016 World champion in freestyle, and was the fourth wrestler in history to win four NCAA Div. I titles, which he won for Ohio State. Stieber was a member of the U.S. team which won the 2017 Senior World Championshipes Team, and also led the Ohio State team which won an NCAA team titles in 2015. A four-time Ohio state champion, he is now an assistant coach at his alma mater Ohio State.

Stieber thanked a number of influential people, but chose to spend the majority of his speech thanking his parents.

“I want to talk about my mom and my dad. They sacrificed for us, but I think they enjoyed it. They gave their time, their money and their heart for us. As children, we went on a lot of trips. Two of them were for fun, but the rest of them were for wrestling. Thank you to my mom, my dad and everyone else in my life. I couldn’t be happier,” said Stieber.

Montgomery was a member of the historic 2004 U.S. Olympic team which competed in the Athens Games. Three of the four members of that team are now Distinguished Members, and Montgomery was the first African American woman to wrestle in the Olympics. A two-time Senior World silver medalist and a Junior World silver medalist, she was also a two-time college national champion for the University of the Cumberlands. She first learned to wrestle in Ohio. She was a head coach at Lindenwood University.

Montgomery recalled the time that she heard in high school the announcement inviting boys and girls to join the wrestling team. She is hopeful that more girls will answer that invitation and become part of this great sport.

“Wow. Thank you. This honor is absolutely monumental. It is crazy to see my career come full circle. My list of thank yous is too large to call out here tonight, but that says a lot about the support group that has been behind me,” said Montgomery.

Hatta came from a legendary wrestling family in Japan, and came to the United States to wrestle for Oklahoma State, where he was an NCAA champion and two-time All-American, wrestling for two OSU teams which won national team titles. He became a respected coach at many levels, and coached both men and women at the Olympic Games and World Championships. An art teacher who has done many wrestling paintings, he gives back to the sport by working with youth wrestlers often.

Hatta had numerous people that he thanked for being part of his wrestling journey, including his family and those who attended the ceremony to support him. He spent some extra time thanking his father.

“I thank my father Ichiro Hatta for starting wrestling in Japan in 1930, and bringing the first Japanese wrestlers to the United States, including my brother Masaaki and I. My life mission has been and will remain connecting people to understand friendship and peace through the sport of wrestling. This was my father’s dream, and he passed it to me,” said Hatta.

Longtime USA Wrestling athletic trainer Darryl Miller received the Order of Merit, an award selected by Distinguished Members of the Hall of Fame honoring a leader for wrestling achievements not as an athlete. Miller was trainer for men’s freestyle wrestlers at three Olympic Games, eight World Championships and the Pan American Games. His career began as wrestling trainer at Wisconsin, and when he moved to Denver for work, became a leader within USA Wrestling.

Miller thanked numerous people for being part of his journey, including Doc Bennett, who nominated him, Rich Bender and Cody Bickley from USA Wrestling for supporting him, Mitch Hull for helping get him involved in USA Wrestling and numerous others from the medical community for their guidance. He thanked his first family, including his wife and his relatives, and his second family, with the U.S. Marine Corps.

“As I have worked with USA Wrestling, I came in contact with extraordinary athletes, coaches and staff. I am far most importantly grateful for God’s never-ending grace and love. To you be the glory,” said Miller.

Retired United States Army Infantry Colonel Steve Banach was inducted as an Outstanding American, recognizing wrestlers for tremendous success in society in all walks of life. Banach served 28-years in the U.S. Army, including deployments to six combat zones. He was an Army Ranger and commanded the 3^rd Ranger Battalion. He directed the School of Advanced Studies. He is the older brother of Olympic champions and Distinguished Members Ed and Lou Banach. They become the first set of three brothers inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Banach told the story about how he and his brothers Ed and Lou lost their family, and how they were adopted together and grew strong together. He also gave specific references to how wrestling helped him when serving his country in combat and in other aspects of his life.

“I want to talk about what works. Ed, Lou and I started out homeless. They were three and I was four. We had no standing. It didn’t stop God from doing incredible work with three boys with a lot of energy,” said Banach. “I have been all over the world. I will tell you what works is the United States of America.”

Meritorious Official J.R. Johnson, who has officiated 20 NCAA Div. I Championships and 20 Big Ten Championships, was honored for his excellence as a referee. He has done multiple college conference tournaments, and some of the biggest Div. I college dual meets. He also assigns officials for major events such as the Southern Scuffle, Journeymen Duals and others. A respected high school referee in Virginia, he also works to prep events including the Beast of the East and the Virginia Duals.

Johnson shared information about many of those who helped him on his wrestling journey, with special thanks for his family for supporting him throughout all the time away for travel to be part of the sport.

“I am sorry. I am not good in front of crowds. I usually have a whistle in my mouth,” said Johnson. “I want to thank everyone who made this possible. Being in the Hall of Fame is something I never imagined. I’m totally humbled.”

Medal of Courage recipient Jonathan Koch was honored as a past wrestler who overcame insurmountable obstacles in life. A high school wrestler in Pennsylvania, he became a successful television producer and founded his own production company. He fell seriously ill and went into a coma, and when he survived septic shock, he lost all or part of all four limbs. He battled back after painful surgeries, rehabilitation and prosthetic fittings. He received a pioneering surgery and received a new hand. He now gives motivational speeches and coaching to others, inspiring them to fight against adversity.

Koch told about his challenges and how he was able to recover, but spent most of his time explaining how much wrestling meant to him and has been an important part of his life years after his last competition.

“It is an incredible honor to be here. I mean it. I love being around this community more than any other community in my life. It is like being home,” said Koch. “I want to express my gratitude that you are proud of me as a wrestler, not for my wrestling, but for being a wrestler.”

Also honored were Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award winner Aoeden Sinclair of Wisconsin and Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award winner Nebi Tsarni of Maryland.  This recognizes achievement on the mat, in academics and in community service. Both have won multiple USA Wrestling national titles. Sinclair will attend Missouri and Tsarni is headed to the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Sinclair was unable to attend, as he was competing in the U20 World Team Trials in Geneva, Ohio over the weekend. He gave a video-taped thank you message. Tsarni was able to speak after accepting her award, pledging to be a role model and to give back to the sport that means so much to her.

Saturday’s activities began with the Tribute Brunch, also at the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, where people close to each inductee gave a five-minute talk from someone who knows them well. Moderated by Dave Martin, it has become an annual highlight of the Honors Weekend.

The Tribute speakers this year included:

• Distinguished Member Tadaaki Hatta: Nancy Schultz Vitangeli, Anthony Spooner
• Distinguished Member Toccara Montgomery: Jessica Medina, Axa Molina
• Distinguished Member Coleman Scott: John Yates, Neil Erisman
• Distinguished Member Logan Stieber: Helen Stieber, Hunter Stieber
• Order of Merit Darryl Miller: Bill Zadick, Jake Miller
• Meritorious Official honoree J.R. Johnson: Mike McCormick, Jeff Pultz
• Medal of Courage Jonathan Koch: Mark Waters, Kyle Klingman
• Outstanding American Steve Banach: Mark Faller, Samuel Banach