ITHACA, N.Y. — Former Cornell wrestling standout and Hall of Famer Mark Fergeson '93 has been selected for induction into the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Hall of Fame Class of 2026, the league announced this week.
Fergeson, one of the most decorated wrestlers in Big Red history, will be honored during a ceremony held Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Meltzer Sports Center on the campus of American University in Washington, D.C., prior to the finals of the 122nd EIWA Championships.
A two-time All-American and two-time EIWA champion, Fergeson helped lead Cornell to back-to-back EIWA team titles in 1992 and 1993, the program's first since 1959. He finished fifth at the 1992 NCAA Championships and fourth in 1993, while earning First-Team All-Ivy League honors all four seasons. Fergeson remains one of only five Ivy wrestlers ever to achieve that distinction.
During his Cornell career, Fergeson compiled a 134-19 record, setting a school record for career victories at the time of his graduation. He still holds the Big Red marks for most major decisions and dual meet wins. Fergeson was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 1990, and went on to earn Ivy Wrestler of the Year honors twice—a rare feat matched by only two others in conference history. A three-time team MVP, he also captured the John Fletcher Memorial Trophy for most career team points scored at the EIWA Tournament and was named the Cornell Daily Sun Senior Athlete of the Year in 1993.
Before his collegiate career, Fergeson was already a force on the national and international scene. Wrestling for Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he was a three-time state champion, four-time finalist, and posted a 132-4-1 career record. At 16, he won the 1987 Cadet National Championship and went on to claim gold at the U16 World Championships in Ontario, Canada.
Following graduation, Fergeson earned his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma, where he was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha, the nation's highest medical school academic honor society. Today, he is a nationally respected medical educator and holds the Harris D. Riley, Jr., Chair in Pediatric Education at the University of Oklahoma, where he also served as Dean of Students from 2015 to 2022.
Fergeson's contributions extend well beyond the mat and the classroom. He remains active in his community, volunteering as a youth coach, helping resettle refugees, and assisting elderly neighbors.
Fergeson was inducted into the Cornell Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003. He lives in Oklahoma City with his wife, Gina, and their two sons, both of whom played college soccer.
Fergeson will join Steve Fittery (American), Dave Lehman (Franklin & Marshall), Zach Rey (Lehigh) and Rich Santana (Syracuse) as members of the EIWA Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Click here to read EIWA's release.
