Superintendent Tom Evans has been selected to receive the “Lifetime Service to Wrestling” award from the Ohio Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame (NWHOF). The award is given in recognition of 20 years or more of dedication to the development of leadership and citizenship in youth through the sport of wrestling.
“This award recognizes that you are leaving behind a legacy that others admire,” said Lee Roy Smith, executive director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “You are leaving your family, friends, and wrestling fans a valuable asset . . . for serving a sport that we all consider worthy of passing onto future generations.”
“Evans is well known throughout the State of Ohio for actively serving the wrestling community as a coach, manager, tournament director, etc. and is well-deserving of this award.” added Ryan Kelber, athletic director for Cuyahoga Heights Schools.
Evans' contribution to the sport of wrestling transcends more than 30 years. After wrestling at Cuyahoga Heights High School, Evans returned to wrestling as an assistant coach at Bethel-Tate High School. He continued his coaching career at Berea High School, where he started as an assistant wrestling, football, and track coach; Evans was promoted to head wrestling coach and held the position for 11 years. He rounded out his coaching career at Elyria Catholic, where he was the assistant coach for three years.
Evans is a four-time Greater Cleveland All Star Meet Coach and a past President of the Greater Cleveland Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (GCWCOA) with more than thirty years membership. He was a representative for the Ohio Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame for three years as well as the regional representative for the Ohio Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame for four years. Evans is also a member of the Lorain County Coaches association.
Over the past 20 years, he has helped run and manage a multitude of tournaments and events, including sectionals, districts, the Catholic Invitational,and the Greater Cleveland All-Star Match. He is also a member of the WEOL radio sports Broadcast team. During the wrestling season, he hosts a weekly wrestling wrap-up show and podcast as well as serves as the radio color commentator for Kent State football. In 2019, Evans was inducted to the Ohio Wrestling Officials Hall of Fame. For the past eight years, he has served as the superintendent of the Cuyahoga Heights School District.
Evans was nominated by wrestling officials, coaches, and others associated with the sport. Along with other members of the Class of 2022, he will be formally inducted into the Ohio Chapter of the NWHOF at the Villa Milano Banquet and Conference Center in Columbus on October 9. In addition, he will be recognized at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, OK.