Oklahoma State University Athletics
Ray Stapp to Receive 2024 Gallagher Award
February 14, 2024 | Cowboy Wrestling
STILLWATER – Former Oklahoma State wrestler and longtime Oklahoma high school coach Ray Stapp will be the recipient of the 2024 Gallagher Award, the program announced Wednesday.
The award, given annually to an OSU alumnus who has exemplified the spirit and leadership eminent in the tradition of champions, will be presented prior to the Cowboys' penultimate home dual against Oklahoma on Sunday, February 18.
"Of course, I never knew Ed Gallagher, but I know what he built and what he did," Stapp said. "He was OSU wrestling. It's a big honor to be awarded the Gallagher Award, the man who built OSU wrestling. I don't know how to explain how much I appreciate it, other than it's overwhelming to me kind of. There's been a lot of great recipients, and there's still a lot of great ones out there that I think deserve it."
Originally from south Oklahoma City, Stapp attended U.S. Grant high school, where he began his wrestling career in ninth grade. Stapp's small stature prevented him from playing other sports like football, however, that extra time on the mat paid off, as he became U.S. Grant's first state champion as a senior in 1966 at 112 pounds.
Stapp found a passion for the sport after spending each of his summers throughout high school at Oklahoma State head coach Myron Roderick's wrestling camps. There, the two formed a close bond as Stapp continued to improve as a wrestler and raise his athletic aspirations.
"I've had great coaching most of my life," Stapp said. "I've got to really give them the credit for developing me to where I was a college wrestler."
Despite his achievements throughout high school and strong relationship with Roderick, Stapp's size still proved to be a barrier in his wrestling career. Although Stapp had always dreamed of attending OSU, he ended up at Trinidad State, a junior college in Colorado. Stapp didn't allow this bump in the road deter him and instead went undefeated as a freshman in 1967 and won the NJCA national championship at 115 pounds.
"That was a big goal for me, because I knew OSU wouldn't look at me unless I did something really good," Stapp said. "As soon as I won, Myron called me and said, 'welcome to OSU.'
"To get to wrestle for him and go to OSU was really a lifetime dream."
Following his national championship, Stapp transferred to Stillwater and wrestled for the Cowboys from 1969-71. He compiled an impressive 57-8 record, won three straight Big Eight titles and was a three-time All-American, including a runner-up finish in 1970. As a senior, Stapp finished fourth to help the Cowboys bring home their 27th NCAA team title.
Despite his memorable career as a Cowboy, it's Stapp's legacy after leaving Stillwater that will be remembered throughout the state of Oklahoma and in the sport of wrestling.
After graduating from Oklahoma State in 1971, Stapp went into the workforce and worked a handful of jobs outside the sport. Stapp quickly realized his heart wasn't in it, as he missed wrestling too much and wanted to give back to the sport that had provided him so many lifelong memories.
It marked the beginning of Stapp's long and successful coaching career throughout the state of Oklahoma, which he credits to his old coach as a Cowboy.
"Roderick really aided me along," Stapp said. "He was a big, big part of me getting into coaching, because he was probably the man I admired more than anyone else… I attribute my coaching to him.
"He was the main person in my life and just was everything for me."
Learning under Roderick, Stapp excelled as a coach for 30 years. After pit stops at Southeast High School and Putnam City West, Stapp landed at Western Heights, where he spent the rest of his coaching career.
At Western Heights, Stapp started the junior high wrestling program and eventually continued to the high school level. Stapp's teams were consistently in the top-three of their class, while racking up eight individual state champions and 38 place-winners. He was named the 3A Coach of the Year in 1979 before receiving the 1995 Governors Accomplishment Award and being named the all-state team coach in 1999.
While leading his program to unprecedented heights, Stapp also spent much of his time contributing to the community, serving as a member of the Oklahoma and National Education Associations, Oklahoma Coaches Association, National Wrestling Coaches Association and National High School Athletic Coaches Association.
In 2001, Stapp was honored with the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award by the Oklahoma chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Through all his accomplishments as an athlete and coach, Stapp looks back at his impact on the kids he coached as the most important part of his time in the sport.
"I think my legacy is the guys who still stay in touch and give me credit for what they turned out to be… That's probably the big thing I'd like to have as my legacy. I worked with some kids that turned out good and have wonderful lives."
Stapp will be in Stillwater on Sunday to accept the Gallagher Award before the Bedlam dual, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. CT.
"What a career Ray Stapp had in the sport of wrestling as a student-athlete here at Oklahoma State and as a coach for 30 years," head coach John Smith said. "Coach Gallagher would be proud that Stapp is accepting the award. He exemplifies everything great about Coach Gallagher."
Gallagher Award Recipients
1986 – Rex Peery
1987 – Frank Lewis
1988 – Myron Roderick
1989 – Tommy Chesbro
1990 – Joe McDaniel
1991 – John W. Divine
1996 – Ray Murphy
1997 – John Smith
1998 – Grady Peninger
1999 – Kenny Monday
2000 – Pat Smith
2001 – Kendall Cross
2002 – Mike Sheets
2003 – Doug Blubaugh
2004 – Grover Rains
2005 – Bobby Douglas
2006 – Charles Hetrick
2007 – Fred Davis
2008 – Lee Roy Smith
2009 – Bobby Stites
2010 – Bill Harlow
2011 – Eddie Griffin
2013 – Jim Shields
2014 – Mike Jones
2015 – Jay Arneson
2016 – Hardell Moore
2017 – Stanley Henson
2018 – Nick Williams
2019 – Tadaaki Hatta
2020 – Jim Rogers
2021 – Ned Blass
2022 – J Robinson
2023 – Ricky Stewart
The award, given annually to an OSU alumnus who has exemplified the spirit and leadership eminent in the tradition of champions, will be presented prior to the Cowboys' penultimate home dual against Oklahoma on Sunday, February 18.
"Of course, I never knew Ed Gallagher, but I know what he built and what he did," Stapp said. "He was OSU wrestling. It's a big honor to be awarded the Gallagher Award, the man who built OSU wrestling. I don't know how to explain how much I appreciate it, other than it's overwhelming to me kind of. There's been a lot of great recipients, and there's still a lot of great ones out there that I think deserve it."
Originally from south Oklahoma City, Stapp attended U.S. Grant high school, where he began his wrestling career in ninth grade. Stapp's small stature prevented him from playing other sports like football, however, that extra time on the mat paid off, as he became U.S. Grant's first state champion as a senior in 1966 at 112 pounds.
Stapp found a passion for the sport after spending each of his summers throughout high school at Oklahoma State head coach Myron Roderick's wrestling camps. There, the two formed a close bond as Stapp continued to improve as a wrestler and raise his athletic aspirations.
"I've had great coaching most of my life," Stapp said. "I've got to really give them the credit for developing me to where I was a college wrestler."
Despite his achievements throughout high school and strong relationship with Roderick, Stapp's size still proved to be a barrier in his wrestling career. Although Stapp had always dreamed of attending OSU, he ended up at Trinidad State, a junior college in Colorado. Stapp didn't allow this bump in the road deter him and instead went undefeated as a freshman in 1967 and won the NJCA national championship at 115 pounds.
"That was a big goal for me, because I knew OSU wouldn't look at me unless I did something really good," Stapp said. "As soon as I won, Myron called me and said, 'welcome to OSU.'
"To get to wrestle for him and go to OSU was really a lifetime dream."
Following his national championship, Stapp transferred to Stillwater and wrestled for the Cowboys from 1969-71. He compiled an impressive 57-8 record, won three straight Big Eight titles and was a three-time All-American, including a runner-up finish in 1970. As a senior, Stapp finished fourth to help the Cowboys bring home their 27th NCAA team title.
Despite his memorable career as a Cowboy, it's Stapp's legacy after leaving Stillwater that will be remembered throughout the state of Oklahoma and in the sport of wrestling.
After graduating from Oklahoma State in 1971, Stapp went into the workforce and worked a handful of jobs outside the sport. Stapp quickly realized his heart wasn't in it, as he missed wrestling too much and wanted to give back to the sport that had provided him so many lifelong memories.
It marked the beginning of Stapp's long and successful coaching career throughout the state of Oklahoma, which he credits to his old coach as a Cowboy.
"Roderick really aided me along," Stapp said. "He was a big, big part of me getting into coaching, because he was probably the man I admired more than anyone else… I attribute my coaching to him.
"He was the main person in my life and just was everything for me."
Learning under Roderick, Stapp excelled as a coach for 30 years. After pit stops at Southeast High School and Putnam City West, Stapp landed at Western Heights, where he spent the rest of his coaching career.
At Western Heights, Stapp started the junior high wrestling program and eventually continued to the high school level. Stapp's teams were consistently in the top-three of their class, while racking up eight individual state champions and 38 place-winners. He was named the 3A Coach of the Year in 1979 before receiving the 1995 Governors Accomplishment Award and being named the all-state team coach in 1999.
While leading his program to unprecedented heights, Stapp also spent much of his time contributing to the community, serving as a member of the Oklahoma and National Education Associations, Oklahoma Coaches Association, National Wrestling Coaches Association and National High School Athletic Coaches Association.
In 2001, Stapp was honored with the Lifetime Service to Wrestling award by the Oklahoma chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Through all his accomplishments as an athlete and coach, Stapp looks back at his impact on the kids he coached as the most important part of his time in the sport.
"I think my legacy is the guys who still stay in touch and give me credit for what they turned out to be… That's probably the big thing I'd like to have as my legacy. I worked with some kids that turned out good and have wonderful lives."
Stapp will be in Stillwater on Sunday to accept the Gallagher Award before the Bedlam dual, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. CT.
"What a career Ray Stapp had in the sport of wrestling as a student-athlete here at Oklahoma State and as a coach for 30 years," head coach John Smith said. "Coach Gallagher would be proud that Stapp is accepting the award. He exemplifies everything great about Coach Gallagher."
Gallagher Award Recipients
1986 – Rex Peery
1987 – Frank Lewis
1988 – Myron Roderick
1989 – Tommy Chesbro
1990 – Joe McDaniel
1991 – John W. Divine
1996 – Ray Murphy
1997 – John Smith
1998 – Grady Peninger
1999 – Kenny Monday
2000 – Pat Smith
2001 – Kendall Cross
2002 – Mike Sheets
2003 – Doug Blubaugh
2004 – Grover Rains
2005 – Bobby Douglas
2006 – Charles Hetrick
2007 – Fred Davis
2008 – Lee Roy Smith
2009 – Bobby Stites
2010 – Bill Harlow
2011 – Eddie Griffin
2013 – Jim Shields
2014 – Mike Jones
2015 – Jay Arneson
2016 – Hardell Moore
2017 – Stanley Henson
2018 – Nick Williams
2019 – Tadaaki Hatta
2020 – Jim Rogers
2021 – Ned Blass
2022 – J Robinson
2023 – Ricky Stewart
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