Richard Immel promoted to Communications Manager for USA Wrestling
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by USA Wrestling
Richard Immel conducts the Greco-Roman team press conference at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by Tony Rotundo, Wrestlers Are Warriors
Richard Immel, who served in USA Wrestling’s Communications Department since January 2013, has been promoted to the position of Communications Manager for the organization. USA Wrestling is the national governing body for wrestling in the United States, with its headquarters based in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Immel had been serving as the Coordinator of Broadcasting, Social Media and Grassroots Marketing for USA Wrestling, where he handled a variety of responsibilities including USA Wrestling’s social media platforms, broadcast production and commentary projects, video editing, writing, editing and graphic design. Immel will accept additional duties in his new position with increased management responsibility.
“Richard Immel has done an outstanding job as part of USA Wrestling’s Communications team. He has made a major impact in our social media, broadcasting and promotional activities, and has helped expand our reach within the sports community and the general public. We expect him to continue to grow in his new position and provide more leadership as USA Wrestling expands and improves its communications programs,” said Gary Abbott, Director of Communications and Special Projects.
Since joining USA Wrestling, the organization’s social media presence has grown considerably. USA Wrestling’s Facebook page now has 462,000 likes and also boasts 129,000 Twitter followers. Immel also launched and helped grow USA Wrestling’s presence on Instagram, Google Plus, Snapchat and other platforms. It’s YouTube Channel has grown to 56,000 subscribers with more than 40 million total views.
In comparison with other National Governing Bodies, USA Wrestling currently stands at No. 6 in terms of total following in the “Big 3” social media platforms of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Immel has launched and served as moderator of a popular podcast for USA Wrestling entitled Bonus Points, which premiered in July 2015. Bonus Points features champion athletes and coaches at all levels, as well as other leaders within the wrestling community. The podcast has averaged over 1,800 downloads per episode, and has climbed as high as the No. 2 most-listened-to podcast in the amateur sports category.
Immel has served as an announcer on numerous USA Wrestling live webcasts, including those on Flowrestling as well as on USA Wrestling platforms. He has serves as graphic designer for USA Wrestler magazine’s cover, Fun and Games page and photo posters. Immel is also a major writing contributor to USA Wrestler and TheMat.com.
He led the social media campaign for USA Wrestling and the Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling during the successful Keep Olympic Wrestling movement in 2013, which resulted in wrestling maintaining its place on the Olympic program.
Immel received the Media Specialist of the Year Award from the National Wrestling Media Association in 2014.
Prior to joining USA Wrestling, Immel was a digital content provider for the Oklahoma City Barons hockey team. He served as a Social Media Manager for Flocasts as an intern in the summer of 2012. Other positions included Senior Production Manager for StormCrowd, a breaking weather website in Oklahoma, and online desk reporter for The Oklahoma Daily, the student publication at the University of Oklahoma.
He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma in 2012. He was the valedictorian at Midwest City High School in Oklahoma. Immel is currently pursuing a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
Immel was a member of the varsity wrestling team at the University of Oklahoma from 2008-2011, as well as a member of OU’s rugby team from 2011-2012. He was four-year letterman for Midwest City High School, which won three state team titles during his tenure there. He was a state champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman in Oklahoma.
Richard Immel, who served in USA Wrestling’s Communications Department since January 2013, has been promoted to the position of Communications Manager for the organization. USA Wrestling is the national governing body for wrestling in the United States, with its headquarters based in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Immel had been serving as the Coordinator of Broadcasting, Social Media and Grassroots Marketing for USA Wrestling, where he handled a variety of responsibilities including USA Wrestling’s social media platforms, broadcast production and commentary projects, video editing, writing, editing and graphic design. Immel will accept additional duties in his new position with increased management responsibility.
“Richard Immel has done an outstanding job as part of USA Wrestling’s Communications team. He has made a major impact in our social media, broadcasting and promotional activities, and has helped expand our reach within the sports community and the general public. We expect him to continue to grow in his new position and provide more leadership as USA Wrestling expands and improves its communications programs,” said Gary Abbott, Director of Communications and Special Projects.
Since joining USA Wrestling, the organization’s social media presence has grown considerably. USA Wrestling’s Facebook page now has 462,000 likes and also boasts 129,000 Twitter followers. Immel also launched and helped grow USA Wrestling’s presence on Instagram, Google Plus, Snapchat and other platforms. It’s YouTube Channel has grown to 56,000 subscribers with more than 40 million total views.
In comparison with other National Governing Bodies, USA Wrestling currently stands at No. 6 in terms of total following in the “Big 3” social media platforms of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Immel has launched and served as moderator of a popular podcast for USA Wrestling entitled Bonus Points, which premiered in July 2015. Bonus Points features champion athletes and coaches at all levels, as well as other leaders within the wrestling community. The podcast has averaged over 1,800 downloads per episode, and has climbed as high as the No. 2 most-listened-to podcast in the amateur sports category.
Immel has served as an announcer on numerous USA Wrestling live webcasts, including those on Flowrestling as well as on USA Wrestling platforms. He has serves as graphic designer for USA Wrestler magazine’s cover, Fun and Games page and photo posters. Immel is also a major writing contributor to USA Wrestler and TheMat.com.
He led the social media campaign for USA Wrestling and the Committee for the Preservation of Olympic Wrestling during the successful Keep Olympic Wrestling movement in 2013, which resulted in wrestling maintaining its place on the Olympic program.
Immel received the Media Specialist of the Year Award from the National Wrestling Media Association in 2014.
Prior to joining USA Wrestling, Immel was a digital content provider for the Oklahoma City Barons hockey team. He served as a Social Media Manager for Flocasts as an intern in the summer of 2012. Other positions included Senior Production Manager for StormCrowd, a breaking weather website in Oklahoma, and online desk reporter for The Oklahoma Daily, the student publication at the University of Oklahoma.
He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma in 2012. He was the valedictorian at Midwest City High School in Oklahoma. Immel is currently pursuing a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.
Immel was a member of the varsity wrestling team at the University of Oklahoma from 2008-2011, as well as a member of OU’s rugby team from 2011-2012. He was four-year letterman for Midwest City High School, which won three state team titles during his tenure there. He was a state champion in freestyle and Greco-Roman in Oklahoma.
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