October 6, 2024

ALSIP, IL - The Illinois Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame inducted its Class of 2024 at the DoubleTree by Hilton ballroom in front of over 170 family, friends and guests of some of Illinois wrestling’s finest legends.

This year’s class included (Pictured: front row left to right): Pete Alber (Dakota, Lifetime Service), Dru Goodman (Riverwoods, Outstanding American), Mike Matozzi (Hinsdale South, Lifetime Service), Ed Giese (Fenton, Lifetime Service); Back Row: Jim Chaloupka (Berwyn, Lifetime Service), John Welter (Fox Lake, Lifetime Service), and Adam Sikes (Lake Zurich, Medal of Courage).

Celebrating our inductees this year were NWHOF Distinguished members Kevin Jackson and Bill Scherr as well as Order of Merit award winner Sandy Stevens.

The 2024 Outstanding American was Dru Goodman from Riverwoods, Illinois. Dru is an accomplished business and has been a philanthropic donor to numerous youth, high school and collegiate programs throughout Illinois. He recently has supported Illinois' Ken Gerdes III Foundation, which provided financial support to this year's Illinois Olympians Kennedy Blades, Joe Rau, and Kamal Bey.

Medal of Courage winner Adam Sikes wowed the audience with rousing speech, deeply connecting his wrestling experience to his heroic actions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where the then Staff Sergeant earned a Silver Star citation from President Bush. Adam further spent 25 years as a paramilitary operations officer with the CIA, where he again bridged wrestling to his leadership and team building proficiency.

This year’s Tricia Saunders HS Excellence Award winner was Cadence Diduch (Freeport, University of Iowa) and the Dave Schultz Award winner was Dillan Johnson (Joliet Catholic, University of Wisconsin-Madison).