Wrestlers Without Borders honorees

As seen on Edge:

Two founders of Philadelphia’s gay wrestling club, a three time Gay Games gold medalist and five Californians are among the nominees this year for induction into the Don Jung WWB Hall of Merit. The inductees will be announced May 24 at the WWB Cup tournament in San Francisco.

Wrestlers WithOut Borders said his year’s nominees represent the theme of "Endurance and Excellence," providing athletic inspiration, achievement and leadership over a span of many years. The hall was created last year to recognize long-term and exemplary contributions toward making LGBT wrestling successful and inclusive. The nominees are:

Michael LoFurno and Dennis Spillman, instrumental in the founding of the Philadelphia Spartans

Mike Ognibene, a three-time Gay Games gold medalist for New York’s Metro Gay Wrestling Alliance

John Thayer of Los Angeles, who wrestled for Southern California Wrestling Club in the first six Gay Games

Rochelle Robinson and Erika Hom, two of the dominant women stars from San Francisco’s Golden Gate Wrestling Club

Golden Gate’s Eric Richter, who won two Games medals and built an award winning web site for the Federation of Gay Games

Nancy Dito, former director of City of San Francisco’s Eureka Valley recreation Center who played an instrumental and supportive role in establishing Golden Gate in the center

Philippe Bruno, a founding member of Paris-Lutte Wrestling Club in the late 1990s.

John English, founder of Sydney’s Harbour City Wrestling Club

Robinson and Richter were both nominated in 2008.

The Don Jung WWB Hall of Merit is named in honor of Don Jung, organizer of the first Gay Games wrestling tournament in 1982, and has 18 members.


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