The Florida Chapter produced an Honors Weekend that lived up to the hype. A Friday night social with the shirt signing ceremony and the Saturday brunch testimonial paved the way for Saturday evening’s historic presentation ceremony. Our comprehensive traveling museum is the capstone to the weekend. 

‘EPW’ is a well-known phenomenon that occurs any time this many wrestlers gather in one room. It takes a sharp eye to catch this ritual. Look for the attention getting elbow nudge, followed with the finger point, and finished with the, down low, “I can take that guy, I can take that guy, I can take that guy”. (Elbow Point Whisper). It is common, like cauliflower ear. Watch for it!

A record 415 attendees filled the Wyndham banquet hall to honor John Lawton, Bryan Wilkes, Dave Phillips, Jeff Levitetz, Mark Prince, and Humberto Reyna Jr. for their Lifetime of Service to our sport. Kevin Pedersen was recognized as Outstanding American, and Miriam Jenkins received the prestigious, Florida Chapter’s John Vaughn Award. 

Among the crowd were uniformed soldiers and sailors who were there to support veteran inductees, Coach Bryan Wilkes, and Kevin Pedersen. Wilkes is a Marine serving from 1982 -86. He served with distinction as a door gunner in “Operation Urgent Fury”, the action that liberated Grenada. Coach Pedersen is a 1980 West Point graduate serving from 1980-86 were he served as a Platoon Leader, XO and Battery Commander. His son is an Army veteran and his brother is a Marine. Inductee Mark Prince’s sons are FHSAA champions, and both are Naval Academy graduates currently serving.

Miriam Jenkins is serving in the United States Marines. She joined the all-male Marine Corps wrestling team. Jenkins served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq and is currently stationed in New Orleans. Miriam was a trailblazer for girls’ scholastic wrestling. Out of Gainesville High she won a single match at the 1999 FHSAA State Championships, a first with only boys teams. 

NWHOF Director, Lee Roy Smith was there to affirm Florida’s commitment to advancing awareness and appreciation for the history and heritage of wrestling in the state. We caught a glimpse of his golf game Friday morning. Not much to talk about there.

Thank you for your service to Florida wrestling and to America. That is a special combination.

We thank all of those who attended, congratulate our honorees, and applaud the Board who put in countless hours to bring this event together. It begins again for us in 8 weeks.