CAIRO – Cairo’s former wrestling coach is being recognized by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Kevin Elliott, a wrestling coach for 31 years with head-coaching stints at Valdosta and Cairo, was honored for his selection.

“The one thing is I’ve been very successful, that’s for sure,” Elliott said. “I think that had a lot to do with it; all the wins and the kids that I’ve coached at the state level and the kids that I’ve helped send to college. You never set out as a coach and say, I’m going to do this because I want to be in the National Hall of Fame. This was just being recognized amongst my peers for the service that I’ve had over those years. It’s quite an accomplishment. 

“I’m very excited for me and for my family. The one thing that gets overlooked is my wife and my kids; that sacrifice for 31 years while I was gone all the time.”

Elliott started coaching at Valdosta in 1990-91. While coaching the Wildcats for 14 years, Elliott helped train three countries in 1996 that were preparing for the Atlanta Olympics. Those wrestling teams included Belarus, Venezuela, and Italy.

“They used our facility, and we were able to work with those guys for two weeks prior to the Olympics,” Elliott said. “We really enjoyed that.”

Elliott then moved to Cairo and started the wrestling program. He coached until he retired in 2021. He recalled his most memorable achievement with the Syrupmakers.

“One of the biggest things I think was neat for me is taking a program from scratch at Cairo and having an 11-year run where I had a kid on the podium, being in the top 6 in state,” Elliott said. “That was quite a run there.

“We put Cairo on the map.”

Elliott said he will be recognized at this season’s state championships. There will also be a banquet in the spring in Atlanta.

“It is phenomenal, very much deserved,” Cairo athletic director Sam Holland said. “It just goes back and speaks volumes about Cairo athletics; the coaches that are here and have been here.”