BETHLEHEM, PA – The Hall of Fame Committee of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA), college wrestling's oldest conference, is proud to announce that four new individuals have been selected for membership into the EIWA Hall of Fame.
The Class of 2025 inductees are Kenneth Bevier of Lehigh, Steven Bosak of Cornell, Michael Cannon of American, and Gabe Dean of Cornell. The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Stabler Arena on the grounds of Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA immediately prior to the finals of the 121st EIWA Championships.
Committee Chair Natanya Levioff stated: "The level of our current slate of nominees was not only high, but the parity with respect to their accomplishments are such that the Committee, for the second year in a row, had a very difficult task in making selections. This year's inductees cross a century of wrestling, from the 19-teens to the 20-teens. Each of them brings unique achievements, connections, and accomplishments to the Hall, and have had an impact both on and off the mat. They are, simply put, a special group, and we are honored to include these gentlemen in our Hall of Fame."
Kenneth Bevier - Wrestler
Lehigh University, Class of 1919
Kenneth Miller Bevier was born in 1897 in Brooklyn, NY and was descended from French Huguenots who came to America in 1675. During his competitive days, he was called "…possibly the most spectacular wrestler ever to work for Lehigh….," and his legendary coach Billy Sheridan would write in the Brown and White in 1926 that he, along with Stanley Martin and Eddie Booth were "…three
other outstanding mat experts who arrived at the top [of the podium] because they worked harder than many others to get there." He would capture the EIWA crown twice in a row at the 125-pound weight class in 1918 and 1919, with the second title capping off an undefeated senior year campaign.
Bevier was Lehigh's first two-time EIWA champion. What made his consecutive titles and senior record even more impressive is that he did so after volunteering to serve in the Norton-Harjes Ambulance Corps in France during World War I just after the completion of his sophomore year in 1917, driving an ambulance to the front lines to evacuate the wounded to surgical units, often while under artillery fire.
Bevier graduated from Lehigh in 1919 with a degree in Engineering Science and was the Class President. Before joining his brother Richard in launching Bevier and Co. in the 1930s, an advertising, marketing, and merchandising company, they worked together to help launch Pan-American Airways.
Bevier lived in Scarsdale, NY with his wife Mary and they had three children: Louis (followed in his father's footsteps by attending Lehigh where he graduated in 1951 and serving in the U.S. Army for two years as a Lieutenant), Elizabeth, and Phyllis. Bevier was actively engaged in civic affairs for the town and was a member of the American Legion. He passed away in1946 at the age of 49.
Steven Bosak - Wrestler
Cornell University, Class of 2013
Before joining the Big Red, Bosak attended State College Area High School in Pennsylvania, where he was a 2x state runner-up and a fourth-place finisher, posting a career record of 137-24. He also claimed four District 6 titles, was an NHSCA Senior Nationals runner up in 2008, and served as team captain his senior year. Although he did not win a state championship in high school, Bosak entered Cornell as a highly touted recruit and went on to achieve even greater success at the collegiate level.
At Cornell, Bosak reached the pinnacle of collegiate wrestling, winning the NCAA title at 184 pounds in 2012 as a junior. He also earned NCAA All-American honors in three of his four seasons, placing fourth as a sophomore and third as a senior. Bosak was also a 4x NCAA qualifier, a 4x All-Ivy League selection, and served as team captain in both his junior and senior years. He won the EIWA title in 2013, after finishing as a runner-up in 2011 and 2012, and earned the prestigious Sheridan Award in 2011 for recording the most falls in the least time during the EIWA tournament. By the time he wrapped up his collegiate career, Bosak had accumulated a 131-30 record and ranked among Cornell's all-time leaders in wins, falls, and major decisions.
He graduated from Cornell in 2013 with a degree in Communications from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Following his wrestling career, Bosak transitioned into the technology and data center industry, where he has worked for over a decade, currently serving as an Account Executive at Equinix.
Bosak has given back to the sport he loves so much, serving as a clinician at Edge Hoboken, providing lessons and training for youth. He resides in New Jersey with his wife Katie and two daughters. He is the son of Steve Sr. and Debbie Bosak and has one brother and three sisters.
Michael Cannon - Wrestler
American University, Class of 2010
Michael Cannon's wrestling journey began at Chopticon High School in Morganza, MD, where he established himself early on as a formidable competitor. With an impressive overall record of 140 wins
and 17 losses, he served as team captain three times. During his high school career, Cannon became a 4x county and regional finalist, clinching the championship title once. His dedication and skill culminated in being a 4x state placer, and in 2005, he earned the title of state champion. Additionally, his performance on the national stage was notable as he secured a fourth-place finish at the Asics/Vaughan National Championships, earning the distinction of freestyle All-American.
Continuing his athletic endeavors, Cannon took his winning ways to college, where he remained a leader on his team for the Eagles of American University, serving as captain for all four years. He was a 2x Midlands finalist, where he became champion in 2008, and was a 4x Keystone Classic Champion. He was a 4x EIWA place winner with three finalist appearances and two championships. Michael also was a 4x NCAA qualifier, achieving All-American status three times, at three different weights, with placements of sixth, eighth, and third. His career total of 122 wins ranks as the second-most in American's program history.
Cannon also displayed academic excellence as a 4x NWCA Academic All-American and was named the 2010 American University Male Senior Student-Athlete of the Year. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Kogod School of Business and is currently a Partner at a national accounting firm.
Cannon stays involved by volunteering as President of the DCAC, a non-profit organization focused on promoting the sport of wrestling at all levels in the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) area. He currently resides in Alexandria, VA with his wife Sarah and their two young daughters, Fallon, aged two, and Keegan, aged one.
Gabe Dean - Wrestler
Cornell University, Class of 2017
Dean was a 3x state wrestling finalist for Lowell High School in Michigan where his father David (an NCAA Division I National runner-up out of Minnesota) was the head coach, reaching the top of the podium in his junior year. Known for being a more accomplished quarterback than wrestler, he started his football career by winning the state championship at 15 years old as the starting quarterback on the varsity team. He was named the best player in Michigan his junior season totaling over 4,000 offensive yards and 63 touchdowns. He graduated as one of the top players in the history of high school football in Michigan as a multiple time, first team all-state quarterback.
But wrestling's call was the one Dean would follow in his collegiate career at Cornell University. A 3x national finalist at 184 pounds, Dean posted a career record of 152-7 with 101 bonus wins, both school records, and never finished lower than third at the NCAAs. He is one of just 11 wrestlers in more than 100 years to win four EIWA titles and was a two-time Ivy League Wrestler of the Year. The 4x first-team All-Ivy League pick was the 2014 Ivy League and EIWA Rookie of the Year, and was a 2x Coaches Trophy Award winner as the most outstanding wrestler at the EIWA Championships. He is currently the winningest wrestler in Cornell history.
Dean graduated in 2017 with a degree in Applied Economics and Management from the Dyson School of Business and as one of the top wrestlers in collegiate history. It would not end there. He would go on to become a 2017 Pan American Championship medalist and the 2020 US National Champion in freestyle all while serving as an Assistant Coach at Cornell. Professionally, Dean started and helped found Great Lakes Land Holdings, a real estate holding company specializing in storage and affordable
housing development. Currently, the company has holdings in 11 different states between the Midwest and Southeast while headquartered out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. The company works directly with local Housing Authority organizations to provide affordable homes to communities experiencing housing crisis.
Dean currently resides in Huntsville, Alabama with his newborn son Jaxson and wife Francesca.
About the EIWA Hall of Fame
The EIWA Hall of Fame is the only NCAA Division I Wrestling Hall of Fame in the country. As part of the oldest collegiate wrestling division in the nation, the Committee works tirelessly to induct into its Hall of Fame individuals who have excelled as competitors or coaches, have contributed to the sport in unparalleled ways, have had impactful lives beyond the mat, and most importantly, embody the traits of character, resilience, and determination. The nomination cycle runs from November 1st through September 15th each year.