Former Popeye, Homer High School and Voznesenka High School Wrestling Coach Steve Wolfe will be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Saturday.

The induction ceremony will be held at Bartlett High School in Anchorage on the same weekend of the Alaska State Wrestling Tournament. 

Coach Wolfe’s name will now be mentioned among the greats where his plaque will forever be placed in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Okla. Wolfe is one of five Alaska Chapter inductees who will be recognized this weekend, all of which make a total of only nine Alaskans to be inducted with such honors.

Helping Homer earn the moniker of being the “toughest small school in the state” during the 1980s, Wolfe led the Mariners to three Alaska team state titles. He was the founder of the Popeye Wrestling Club in 1979 and is a three-time coach of the Arctic Winter Games, representing Alaska.

Aside from being a well-respected coach, Wolfe has been the owner and operator of Wolfe’s Lawns since 1978, and also was scoutmaster for Troop 365 for five years beginning in 1990, contributing in other ways around the community. He also will be recognized at the KPBSD Middle School Borough Championships at the Homer Middle School on Feb. 23. 

Wolfe’s many accomplishments include:

• Winning more than 20 state championships in Alaska in the Open Division personally, including 11 years in a row, 1993 – 2003;

• Being the National Champion for Veterans 1998 and 2001, and runner-up 1999 and 2003;

• Refereeing since 1976;

• Winning State High School Championships with Homer High in 1982, 1985 and 1986;

• Producing eight individual state champions and 32 individual place winners as a coach for Homer;

• Coaching the smallest school in Alaska with wrestling, Voznesenka High School;

• Producing an individual state champion and six individual place winners for Voznesenka, and four borough championships between Chapman and Voznesenka junior high schools;

• Beginning the  “Popeye Wrestling Club” in 1979;

• Coaching the 2006, 2008 and 2010 Alaska Wrestling Team at the Arctic Winter games, and bringing home more gold ulus (medals) than all other teams combined;

• Being named the 1986 National Wrestling Coach of the year;

• Being inducted into the Homer High School Hall of Fame in 1987;

• Being inducted into the Alaska State Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1988;

• Being named Alaska State Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2010; and

• Being nominated National Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2011.