SOURCE: intermatwrestle.com

September 10, 2015

Matt Hamill, college wrestling champ and mixed martial arts star, is among ten honorees who will be welcomed into the Ohio chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on October 18, 2015.

Hamill will be presented with the Ohio chapter's Medal of Courage award. Others who will be honored that day include Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award recipients Tony DiGiovanni, Jamie Milkovich, Michael Papouras, Melvin Peters, Robin Rayfield, Dave Riggs, John Storey and Mary Terbay. In addition, Paul Palivoda will receive Outstanding American in the State of Ohio honors.

Hamill, a Loveland, Ohio native, was born deaf, yet found success in wrestling and in Ultimate Fighting Championships. At Loveland High School, he set school records in eight categories, including career victories. After one year at Purdue University, Hamill transferred to Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to take advantage of the strong support of deaf students. At RIT, Hamill won three NCAA Division III wrestling titles at three different weight classes, and earned Outstanding Wrestler honors in 1998 and 1999. Hamill launched his MMA career as a contestant on the third season of The Ultimate Fighter TV series in 2006. After three wins, Hamill made a successful debut at UFC 98 in March 2007, retiring from the Octagon in August 2011 with an overall MMA record of 10-4. He was welcomed into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in June 2013 as Medal of Courage recipient.