Barb Brummet
Ohio
A graduate of Hazelwood High School, Brummet was only the second woman ever to become a wrestling official, working Missouri State High School Activities Association events from 1997 to 2014 and returning in 2018. She has been a member of the St. Louis Wrestling Officials Association and was active with the Illinois officials registration from 2002 to 2014. Brummet is a former registered NCAA official and worked matches for Missouri Baptist University, Missouri Valley College and Lindenwood University in Missouri, and at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, and McMurray State in Jacksonville, Ill.
Her career includes numerous tournaments. Among them were AAU Missouri youth state tournaments, AAU folkstyle Nationals in Detroit, the U.S. Girls Wrestling Association National Championships, the AAU Scholastic (Disney) Duals in Florida, the World of Wrestling Nationals in Reno, Nev., the Beast of the East in Delaware and 12 MSHSAA Wrestling Championships. Brummet served on the Board of Directors of the National Wrestling Coaches Association, is the head official of the Wonder Woman tournament that is known as the largest all-female high school wrestling tournament in the country, and in 2018 was inducted into the Missouri chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Don Barnett
Southeastern
Earl Caddock "The Man of a Thousand Holds"
District TBD
Born in Huron, South Dakota, on February 27, 1888, Earl Caddock’s journey from a sickly child to a World Champion wrestler is one of the most inspiring stories in American sports history. Known as “The Man of a Thousand Holds,” Caddock was a technical master whose precision, intelligence, and heart made him a legend in both amateur and professional wrestling.
After overcoming early health struggles through exercise at the YMCA in Chicago, Caddock discovered wrestling and quickly became a standout. His natural skill earned him the Chicago Athletic Association club championship and, by 1914, the AAU National Light Heavyweight Championship in San Francisco. A year later, he added both the light heavyweight and heavyweight AAU titles, cementing his dominance in the amateur ranks.
Caddock transitioned to the professional circuit in 1915, quickly earning a reputation for his innovative style and deadly head scissor finish. Managed by Gene Malady, he trained under the legendary Frank Gotch and Farmer Burns, who refined his technical approach and ring awareness. By 1916, the wrestling world was buzzing about a potential showdown between Caddock and World Champion Joe Stecher.
That match came on April 9, 1917, in Omaha, Nebraska, before a sold-out crowd. Despite being outsized, Caddock used speed and precision to shock the world—defeating Stecher and capturing the World Heavyweight Championship. His victory was hailed as one of the greatest upsets in wrestling history, and his scientific style made him a fan favorite across the Midwest.
When the United States entered World War I, Caddock put his career on hold to serve his country. Enlisting in the U.S. Army in December 1917, he taught hand-to-hand combat and later served overseas with distinction, surviving a gas attack while stationed in France. After the war, he returned home thinner but determined, eventually resuming his wrestling career in 1919.
In 1920, Caddock and Stecher met again in Madison Square Garden in one of the most anticipated rematches of the era. The bout, a grueling two-hour classic, ended with Stecher reclaiming the title—but both men earned lasting respect for their sportsmanship and skill. Film from that historic match remains one of wrestling’s early cinematic treasures.
Earl Caddock’s legacy goes beyond championships. As a two-time AAU National Champion, U.S. Army veteran, and World Heavyweight Champion, he embodied the AAU spirit of athletic excellence, discipline, and integrity. His story reminds every wrestler that true greatness is defined not only by victories, but by resilience, respect, and the will to overcome any challenge.
AAU Wrestling proudly honors Earl Caddock—The Man of a Thousand Holds—as one of the sport’s pioneering champions and a symbol of American wrestling excellence.
Nat Pendleton
District TBD
Nat Pendleton was an American Olympic wrestler and a successful Hollywood actor who won a silver medal at the 1920 Olympics. His wrestling career included two EIWA championships with Columbia University before the Olympics, and he later became a professional wrestler, which led to his film career. Pendleton appeared in over 100 films, often playing tough-guy roles, and is remembered for his strength, acting ability, and intelligence.
Wrestling career
- College: Won the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) championship in both 1914 and 1915 while at Columbia University.
- 1920 Olympics: Won a silver medal in freestyle wrestling at the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium.
- National Championships: Won the National AAU Wrestling Championship in 1916.
- Professional wrestling: After the Olympics, he had a short career as a professional wrestler, which led to his acting career.
Transition to acting
- Early career: Pendleton's success as a popular professional wrestler opened the door to a career in motion pictures.
- Film roles: He appeared in 113 films and television shows between 1924 and 1956.
- Notable roles: Known for playing tough guys, he appeared in films like The Great Ziegfeld (1936), where he portrayed the strongman Sandow, and the Dr. Kildare film series, where he played the character Joe Wayman.
Legacy
- Nat Pendleton is a member of the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame.
- He passed away in 1967.
