CHAPEL HILL—Great names in the sport of wrestling in North Carolina will be recognized at a special event at the Friday Center this weekend.

     The National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, and the North Carolina state chapter, will recognize six people for their years of commitment as positive role models for student athletes on Sunday, May 18 at the organization’s 12th annual “Hall of Fame Day.”

     The Lifetime Service to Wrestling Award is for years of dedication to wrestling as a coach, official or contributor. The recipients will be permanently recognized at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

     The class for recognition for 2014 includes Steve Atwood, Mike Jordan, Joel McCanna, Tim Sappenfield, Ronnie Sigmon and Bobby Lloyd.

     Atwood coached for a total of 27 years at Mitchell and Tuscola High Schools.  Jordan is a Methodist minister who moved frequently with the Methodist system of itinerancy and was an assistant wrestling coach for 41 years at his various stops, including Franklin, Wilkes Central, Beaver Creek, Ashe Central, Eastern Guilford, Statesville, Asheboro, Rockingham County, Brevard, and Pisgah High Schools.

     McCanna coached wrestling for 27 years, including 21 at Scotland, while Sappenfield has been an NCHSAA wrestling official for 37 years out of the Charlotte area.  Sigmon coached at Bandys High School in Catawba County and is an NCHSAA wrestling official while Lloyd was an assistant under well known coach Wally Burke and now has a wrestling academy that provides positive alternatives for youth.

     Rex Wells, athletic director at Asheville High School, serves as president of the North Carolina chapter.