By Gary Abbott
USA Wrestling
The 41st Honors Weekend of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is in the history books, as the Class of 2017 honorees were inducted during the banquet and induction ceremony at the Oklahoma State University Student Union Ballroom on Saturday night. It was a fitting conclusion to full schedule of activities celebrating the greats of wrestling and sharing the history and the legacy of the sport with those who attended.

Four new Distinguished Members were added to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, joining other legends in American wrestling history in its revered shrine.

Two-time World medalist and 2000 Olympian Cary Kolat was very appreciative of an honor he had not even considered when he put together an exceptional wrestling career at all levels of the sport.

“As an athlete, when I started my career, you set out to achieve individually. The Hall of Fame is not something that I thought about during my competitive years. Now that it is here, I am thankful for those who nominated me and voted me in. This event has been unbelievable. I have tried to soak it in. I will probably never get a moment like this again. Coming in contact with people I have not seen in 10 or 15 years has been great,” said Kolat.

He was considered one of the greatest high school wrestlers ever as a four-time undefeated Pennsylvania state champion who won the Outstanding Wrestler at the state meet all four years he competed. He was already competing on the Senior level in freestyle and beating top college stars at the Midlands while still enrolled at Jefferson Morgan High School.

Kolat went on to be a four-time All-American in college, a two-time NCAA champion for Lock Haven and a two-time All-American at the start of his collegiate career for Penn State. He won a World silver medal in 1997 and a World bronze medal in 1998. His 2000 Olympic experience was controversial, after winning his opening bout but then losing a re-wrestled match to the same opponent after a protest. Kolat has continued to impact wrestling as a coach, taking a number of assistant jobs at the Div. I level, before becoming the head coach of the rising program at Campbell University.

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