This Cowlitz deputy sergeant is in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame

Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office's Sgt. Riley McNeal was awarded the 2026 Medal of Courage by Washington Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, as well as formally inducted earlier this month.

McNeal, who joined the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office in 2010 and oversees the agency's detective unit, was honored on May 2 in Federal Way along with 10 other inductees into the Washington Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Sgt. Riley McNeal

Sgt. Riley McNeal of the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office, holding the award given to him by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Washington Chapter, after it presented him with the Medal of Courage and inducted him into the hall.

His supporters attended the event, as did a former student whom he coached, who came to the United States from El Salvador.

For McNeal his former student's journey is the "one that sticks with me," as he was a young man living in subsidized housing, would get into fights, get arrested and who he says was drifting into a gang lifestyle.

"But when he came up to the wrestling team, he loved it," McNeal said.

As the student became dedicated to the craft of wrestling, his past issues faded into the background, and he remained out of trouble, McNeal said. He would later graduate from high school, go on to attend a community college, where he continued to wrestle, and later transferred to a university in Ohio.

McNeal said his former student now works as a property manager in Seattle.

"If it wasn't for wrestling to guide him, ... it probably wouldn't be the same story," McNeal said.

Induction ceremony group photos

Stg. Riley McNeal and 10 other inductees of the Washington Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame were inducted ceremonially Saturday, May 2, in Federal Way.

According to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Washington Chapter, the Medal of Courage, which was presented to McNeal, is given to a wrestler or former wrestler who has "overcome what appear to be insurmountable challenges."

When he heard news of his nomination, McNeal told The Daily News he was surprised and deeply humbled.

"I was a good wrestler, I worked very hard, (but) I wasn't the best," McNeal said.

McNeal, who grew up in Tacoma and had been wrestling since a kid, now oversees a team which investigates everything from violent crimes to murders. He said that many of the values he learned while wrestling - along with some wrestling moves - helped him over the years in law enforcement.

"Wrestling was the one sport I kind of controlled how successful I could be. If I worked hard, I could see results," McNeal said.

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According to the official state chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's website, McNeal wrestled while enrolled at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, where he became the team captain, a two-time most valuable player, and placed at the 2001 Mat Classic State Championships at 189 pounds.

His high school record was 99-39. After high school, he enrolled at the University of Idaho, according to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Washington chapter's website.

Before graduating, McNeal enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he achieved the rank of lance corporal and was deployed to Iraq.

He said he enlisted early, spurred on by a sense of idealism and because he saw friends enlist as well. While in Iraq's Al Anbar province, McNeal's vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb, injuring him.

"I got a concussion, and I split my head open," McNeal said. He received a Purple Heart in 2006 and returned to the University of Idaho to finish his studies, graduating in 2008 with a degree in education. He didn't compete in college.

McNeal initially wanted to be a teacher and wrestling coach, and for some time he did, becoming the head wrestling coach at Sammamish High School in Bellevue. He also worked as an assistant coach at Idaho High School in Moscow, Idaho.

However, life threw him a curve when the Great Recession hit, and teachers were being let go. The few openings were being filled by experienced teachers, leading him to seek a new career: law enforcement.

"I found, like, with investigations, it's kind of a wrestling match. You get knocked down; you're just hitting brick wall after brick wall. But as long as you keep pushing forward and you stay committed to doing the right things ... I might solve it."

McNeal was awarded the Cowlitz County Excellence in Service Award in 2023 for solving a cold-case homicide.

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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 4:20 AM.