EXECUTIVE NOTES By Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director
U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City brings out the best in our wrestlers and the American wrestling community Every four years, USA Wrestling has the unique opportunity to present the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, a spectacle which has become our most popular event property. The Olympic Trials are truly special, not only because of the quality of the competi- tion but also because it brings the American wrestling communi- ty together as part of the Olympic Dream.
Over 230 athletes earned the right to compete at the Olympic
Trials, pursuing a lifelong dream to represent the United States at the Olympic Games. Each of them brought many years of training, competition, success and sacrifice with them, to take their best shot at becoming an Olympian. USA Wrestling con- gratulates each and every athlete for their tremendous achieve- ment. We also salute their coaches, their clubs, their families and those who supported them on their Olympic journey. These amazing wrestlers poured out their hearts on the mats and the result was outstanding action and pure drama. For two days, fans were treated to the best our sport can offer. Congratulations to the 18 athletes who emerged as Olympic
Trials champions in Iowa City. They had to defeat talented and motivated opponents in a pressure situation unlike any other event. They truly earned the right to represent the United States. Nine punched their ticket to the Rio Games, while nine others earned the right to go overseas to qualify their weight class for the Olympics. They all made us very proud. After a fantastic 2012 Olympic Trials at historic Carver- Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, USA Wrestling decided to bring it back again in 2016. And once again, the event was something we can all be very proud of. Thanks go to our partners in the local organizing committee, led by the University of Iowa and the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Leaders including Josh Schamberger, Matt Getz, Dan Gable, Tom Brands, Terry Brands, Ryan Morningstar, Luke Eustice, Chris Brewer and many others were responsible for promoting and organizing the Olympic Trials. There were numerous volunteers who gave their time and efforts to present the tournament. Large crowds attended all four sessions with 44,254 coming through the turn- stiles, the second largest combined Olympic Trials attendance
ever, behind only Iowa City in 2012. Kudos to the state of Iowa. The University of Iowa has shown tremendous success in wrestling and a commitment to the sport. Our USA Wrestling Iowa state association has also been a leader in sup- porting the Olympic Trials event. The entire Iowa community values the sport of wrestling and it is truly appreciated. USA Wrestling also extends our thanks
and appreciation to the U.S. Olympic Committee, for all that it has done to present this event, including Chester Wheeler, Tammie Liddie, Brian Gordon, Alan Ashley, Patrick Sandusky and others. Our success as a sport is not possible without the strong partner- ship we have developed with the USOC at all levels. For those who could not make it to Iowa City, our partners at
NBC Sports brought all of the action to the nation. The finals each night were broadcast nationally on NBC Sports Network, with Jason Knapp and John Smith on the call. And every match of the tournament was live via webcast on
NBCSports.com. We also recognize USA Wrestling’s sponsors and partners, as well as our many generous donors, for supporting this competi- tion. They made a big difference in making it something special. Outside of the arena, the 2016 ASICS Fan Fest was present- ed between sessions in Downtown Iowa City and was a big suc- cess for fans and vendors. We also celebrated the history of our sport with reunions of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team which competed in Atlanta, Ga., as well as the historic 2004 U.S. Olympic Women’s Freestyle Team, which competed in Athens, Greece. It was great to visit with our past heroes. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to my co-workers, the
staff team at USA Wrestling. This talented group of dedicated professionals poured their heart and soul in this event, on top of a tremendous existing work load. Each and every one of them answered the call for the extra effort to help make the event a spectacle for the wrestling community. We are excited about the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in August. The team which was deter- mined at the Olympic Trials has the support of America’s wrestling community, and we look forward to seeing them bat- tling for Olympic medals for our nation. Thank you for all you do to help support Team USA.
4 USA Wrestler
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