Three from area will enter wrestling hall

Three locals are among six who will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Washington Chapter, for lifetime service to the sport on May 13.

Former West Valley and East Valley coach Chuck Miller, retired Central Valley coach and administrator Jay Rydell and Spokane official Randy Santora will be inducted along with Jim Adamson, Bill Conrad and Larry McGuire.

Miller coached 21 years at WV and nine at EV. He had 13 state champions among 71 qualifiers and WV won the 1972 AA team title. He is in the Washington Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame.

Rydell, a Montana native, spent 11 years as a teacher and wrestling coach and another 17 as athletic director at CV, retiring in 1997. He remains active in local sports and wrestling, including as a tournament director and official.

Santora coached middle school sports for 24 years, but was better known as a wrestling official and organization officer during 32 years. His numerous tournaments included 13 state meets.

Conrad taught and coached 36 years in Moses Lake, Warden and Kennewick; Adamson, in his 80s, helped start Moses Lake wrestling in the early 1950s; and McGuire coached from 1966-2003 at South Kitsap and North Kitsap highs.

Tim Owen, a 2005 University graduate who didn’t wrestle for two years because of a congenital chest deformity but became a state placer on the Titans’ state championship team, will be presented the chapter’s Medal of Courage.

Ceremonies will be May 13 at Mirabeau Park in Spokane Valley beginning with a reception at 3 p.m. Tickets are $30. Send payment to National Hall of Fame, State Chapter of Washington, 1203 S. Liberty Drive, Liberty Lake, Wash., 99019.