Standing proudly in downtown Perry, Oklahoma, the Perry Wrestling Monument Park represents something unprecedented in American high school athletics. Opened on May 14, 2016, this remarkable memorial is arguably the greatest memorial ever created to honor a high school wrestling program.
The monument park serves as a pilgrimage destination for wrestling enthusiasts worldwide, celebrating a program that has achieved what no other high school athletic program in America has accomplished. With 43 State Tournament championship teams, Perry holds the national record according to the National Federation of High School Sports, making this small Oklahoma town the undisputed king of high school wrestling. And that’s not including their 20 Dual State championships.
A Legacy Etched in Stone
The Perry Wrestling Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, created this monument park with a clear mission: to preserve the heritage and history of the Perry Wrestling Program while highlighting the extraordinary successes of its athletes. Every element of the park reflects the pride, passion, and success that Perry has found in wrestling over more than eight decades.
Two larger-than-life bronze statues dominate the monument park, honoring Perry’s Olympic champions Danny Hodge and Jack VanBebber. These towering figures represent not just individual achievement, but the pinnacle of what the Perry wrestling program has produced.
The park features detailed monuments recognizing every individual state champion, state championship team member, and significant achievement in Perry wrestling history. Walking through the monument park becomes a journey through American wrestling excellence, with each engraved name representing years of dedication, training, and championship-level performance.
Danny Hodge: Wrestling’s Living Legend
Danny Hodge stands as one of the most recognized and celebrated names in wrestling history, and his journey began in Perry where he was an undefeated state champion in 1951. Just one year removed from high school, Hodge competed in the 1952 Olympics, beginning an unprecedented career that would make him wrestling royalty.
At the 1956 Olympics, Hodge was leading by a large margin in the finals when a controversial fall was called against him, resulting in the silver medal instead of gold – a moment that still sparks debate among wrestling historians.
Hodge’s college career at the University of Oklahoma remains unparalleled. He finished with an unblemished 46-0 record with 36 falls, pinned 24 consecutive opponents, and was never taken down during his entire college career. As a three-time national champion, he pinned his opponent in all three finals and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the National Tournament twice.
His achievements extended beyond wrestling. In 1958, Hodge won the Golden Gloves championship in boxing, becoming the first athlete to win national championships in both wrestling and boxing. The Dan Hodge Trophy, wrestling’s equivalent to the Heisman Trophy, is presented annually to the nation’s best college wrestler in his honor.
Jack VanBebber: Triumph Over Adversity
Jack VanBebber’s story embodies the fighting spirit that defines Perry wrestling. Severely injured at age six after being thrown from a wagon, doctors warned he would never be able to do strenuous work or play, or risk being crippled for life.
VanBebber defied those predictions spectacularly. He became a three-time undefeated national champion at Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) and won the gold medal in the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles. In 1950, he was selected as one of the 10 most outstanding amateur athletes in the Western Hemisphere for the first half of the 20th Century.
Both Olympians were inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as charter members in 1976, and the Amateur Wrestling News named both men to their all-time best amateur wrestling team prior to 1958.
The Numbers That Define Greatness
Perry’s wrestling dominance spans generations, creating statistics that seem almost impossible to believe. From 1961 to 2019, Perry won 41 state championships and never went more than two years without winning a state title. This means every senior class during that 59-year period was part of at least one state championship team.
The program has crowned 179 individual state champions, ranking third in the nation. Beyond State Tournament championships, Perry has won 20 Dual State championships and 4 academic state titles. In 2023, the Lady Maroons added an academic state championship, bringing Perry’s total state championships across all categories to 68.
In 2019, the Maroons achieved another milestone by winning their 1,000th dual meet, becoming only the fourth school in the nation to reach this remarkable achievement. The program has averaged 8.8 state qualifiers since 1942, demonstrating consistent excellence across weight classes year after year.
Perry has produced three four-time state champions and eleven three-time champions. The 1973 team achieved legendary status by crowning seven state champions out of twelve weight classes – one of the greatest performances in Oklahoma high school sports history.
The John Divine Legacy
The late John Divine wasn’t Perry’s first wrestling coach, but his impact on the program remains indelible. Beginning in 1931, Divine coached Perry for 30 seasons and is considered the father of the sport in Perry. The home gymnasium of Perry’s varsity wrestling team bears his name in recognition of his foundational contributions.
Divine’s influence extended far beyond his own coaching tenure. He coached four wrestlers who later became Perry coaches themselves, winning a combined 20 state championships. Coach John Divine didn’t just build a wrestling program – he created a wrestling lifestyle that continues to define Perry today.
A Destination for Wrestling Pilgrims
The Perry Wrestling Foundation has made bringing visitors from across the country to Perry one of their top priorities. The monument park serves as the centerpiece of this effort, offering wrestling enthusiasts a chance to experience the most successful high school wrestling program in American history.
Located just 25 miles from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Perry Wrestling Monument Park makes a natural stop for wrestling fans visiting OSU for dual meets. Oklahoma State represents one of the premier wrestling communities at the collegiate level, and the short drive to Perry allows visitors to experience both college wrestling excellence and the greatest high school wrestling program in America during a single trip.
Former Perry wrestlers made up half of the starting lineup of the University of Oklahoma’s 1957 national championship team, including national champion Danny Hodge and All-Americans Leonard Shelton, Rex Edgar, and Gordon Roesler. This connection between Perry and college wrestling excellence continues today, with Perry alumni competing at the highest levels of collegiate wrestling.
The monument park provides an opportunity to understand how a small Oklahoma town created a wrestling dynasty that has influenced the sport nationwide. Visitors can trace the program’s evolution from John St. Clair’s first individual state title in 1942 through Scott Chenoweth becoming Perry’s 100th state champion.
Planning Your Visit
Perry Wrestling Monument Park is located in downtown Perry, making it easily accessible as part of a broader visit to this historic community. The park is open year-round, allowing visitors to experience this wrestling shrine regardless of season.
The monument park pairs perfectly with other Perry attractions, including the Cherokee Strip Museum, historic downtown square, and annual wrestling events. Many visitors time their trips to coincide with Perry wrestling matches or tournaments, experiencing both the historical significance and the continuing excellence of the program.
Wrestling coaches, athletes, and fans from around the world make pilgrimages to Perry to see firsthand what the greatest high school wrestling program in America has achieved. The monument park provides inspiration for current wrestlers while honoring the champions who built this incredible legacy.
Perry Wrestling Monument Park stands as more than a memorial – it represents the pinnacle of high school athletic achievement and the power of a community united behind excellence. For anyone who appreciates wrestling, competitive spirit, or championship tradition, this monument park offers an experience unlike any other in American sports.
