Illinois Chapter Has Its 2025 Honors Banquet

More than 230 family, friends and honored guests celebrated the Illinois Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Class of 2025 on October 19.

Front Row (L to R): Rob Sherrill (Lifetime Service), Matt Hughes (Outstanding American), Rob Ledin (Lifetime Service).

Back Row (L to R): Ron Coit (Lifetime Service), Mike Garland (Lifetime Service), Jim Heffernan (Lifetime Service) and Jeff Hill (Lifetime Service).

Medal of Courage recipient Antonia Phillips is not pictured.

2025 Illinois Chapter Inductees

Eight extraordinary individuals will be honored Sunday, October 19, 2025, by the Illinois Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Bloomington, Illinois.

Ron Coit, Mike Garland, Jim Heffernan, Jeff Hill, Rob Ledin and Rob Sherrill will be honored with the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award.  MMA superstar and UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes will be honored with the Outstanding American award and Aurora College wrestler Antonia Phillips will receive the Chapter’s Medal of Courage at this honors banquet and induction ceremony.

2024 Illinois Chapter Inductees

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. The event was held in Alsip, IL on Sunday, October 6, 2024

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).

National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Illinois Chapter Announces its Class of 2024

It is with great pleasure that the National Wrestling Hall of Fame’s Illinois Chapter announces its Class of 2024.

The induction ceremony will be held on October 6 at the DoubleTree by Hilton-Alsip Hotel, 5000 W. 127th St., Alsip, Illinois.

Illinois Chapter Board Member Joe Cliffe inducted into National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame

On June 25, 2024, National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Illinois Chapter Board Member Joe Cliffe was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Illinois Chapter VP Dale Eggert to be inducted into Midlands Hall of Fame

National Wrestling Hall of Fame Illinois Chapter Vice President Dale Eggert will be inducted into the Midlands Championships Hall of Fame at this year's 59th Annual Midlands Wrestling Championships.