USA Wrestling Board of Directors in-person meeting held in Colorado Springs, Colo., August 8-9

USA Wrestling hosted an in-person Board of Directors meeting on Friday and Saturday, August 8-9, at the Hotel Polaris in Colorado Springs, Colo. USA Wrestling President Bruce Baumgartner chaired the meeting.

USA Wrestling’s Board of Directors meets three times each year, with one in-person meeting and two meetings conducted remotely. The in-person Board of Directors meeting this year was held alongside USA Wrestling’s State Leaders Summit, which was also held at the Hotel Polaris, August 6-8.

In his President’s Report, Baumgartner gave a summary of the 2024-25 membership year, thanked a variety of stakeholders for their leadership, gave an update on his travel and activities on behalf of the organization, thanked the national staff and spoke about the many opportunities ahead for USA Wrestling and the sport.

“We are always trying to continually improve our organization. We had a great run this year. USA Wrestling is moving in the right direction, but we can always be better,” said Baumgartner. “We have a lot of work to do to put our many ideas in place. This is an exciting time for our organization. Our sport is growing at many levels. This is arguably the most important Olympic quadrennium heading into the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. We have grown significantly since the pandemic, which is the result of the work of the people in this room.”

In the Executive Director’s Report, Rich Bender expanded upon USA Wrestling’s successful year, thanked Baumgartner and the volunteer leaders for their achievements, then talked about the challenges and opportunities in the years ahead.

“It is not a stretch to say that this is the best year we have ever had in the history of the organization. My thanks go to Bruce Baumgartner for his leadership. The investment he has made in the sport as an athlete and a leader is Olympic-caliber. He has set the standard in the Olympic movement. Our state leaders are the straw that stirs the drink for USA Wrestling. The opportunities that you provide for young people does not happen without our enormous infrastructure. Our states focus on opportunity, and it has led to phenomenal growth,” said Bender.

Baumgartner provided the Board with an update on United World Wrestling, in his role as a newly elected member of the UWW Bureau. Bender, who is a member of the Board of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, provided an update on the USOPC and its activities.

The Board of Directors approved a number of changes to USA Wrestling’s by-laws. The by-law proposals covered changes in the language of certain areas, an update of the Athlete Advisory Committee processes, a mandate for committee appointments to occur on deadlines, and a process for filling openings on the Executive Committee.

The Board of Directors then conducted elections for open positions on its Finance Committee and its Audit Committee, as well as for one opening on its Executive Committee.

The new committee members are:

Finance Committee: Ted Young of Wilton, Conn., Angie Taylor of Fairfax, Va., Chad Ravannack of Metairie, La.

Audit Committee (from the Board): Pat Culp of Columbia City, Ind.,

Audit Committee (at-large): Elisa Lackey of State College, Pa., Kelli Shuffler of Valdese, N.C.

Executive Committee: Pat Culp of Columbia City, Ind.

Baumgartner announced that he has appointed Pat Culp as the chairperson of the Audit Committee.

Treasurer Don Reynolds gave his Finance Report, with information on the current 2024-25 fiscal year performance. He reported that the year-end forecast is expected to show an operating reserve of $12 million, a favorable budget variance of $3 million and total net assets of almost $26 million.

“We have never been in a stronger position to start a new fiscal year,” said Reynolds.

Reynolds explained many of the highlights of the proposed FY2026 budget, which includes an athlete stipend increase, continued investment in infrastructure, grass roots investments and support for state associations, a full-time dedicated strength and conditioning position, resources for athlete career support and transition, investment in public relations and a new Manager of National Events position.

The Board of Directors approved its 2025-26 Fiscal Year Budget, which was recommended by the organization’s Finance Committee. The budget consists of revenue of $24,907,491, with expenses of $24,763,210, and revenue over expenses of $144,281.

The Board of Directors approved the report from the Junior Olympic Committee, presented by Pat Ream, including a new policy concerning eligibility at USA Wrestling Regional and National Championships (excluding National Duals), which is below.

“At all USA Wrestling regional and national championships (excluding National Duals), one shall be deemed ineligible if he/she represented another country (as recognized by the international federation) at continental and/or World Championships. If an individual has represented another country but has since changed his/her sporting nationality to the U.S. with the international federation, the individual shall be eligible for USA Wrestling regional and national championships. Any athlete who represented another nation before 8/31/2025 shall be exempt.”

The Board accepted the report from the Audit Committee, given by Pat Culp, which included a recommendation to retain the services of Waugh and Goodwin to manage USA Wrestling’s financial audit in the next fiscal year.

Mallory Velte reported on the Athlete Advisory Committee, which she said is working to advocate for athletes and provide them with expanded communication. Velte reported on a new athlete survey which will close on August 15, and explained the goals of the AAC for 2026. Veronica Carlson reported on the Team USA AC, with information on the programs and activities of athlete-leaders at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

Ron Brant, the Director of High Performance for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, explained the close partnership between the USOPC’s Team Five and USA Wrestling, and provided insight into how the USOPC will approach its High Performance programs leading up to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

There were a number of reports from USA Wrestling staff included in the meeting.

Director of Finance Greg Dana updated the Board on the progress of the effort to secure a new USA Wrestling headquarters building in Colorado Springs, Colo., with the national staff expected to move into a new office before the end of the calendar year.

National Team High Performance Director Cody Bickley provided a report on the U.S. performance in international competition in 2024, which included 45 overall World or Olympic medals, three age-group World Team titles, as well as victories in every Pan American Championships event at all age levels. Bickley also gave an update on the U.S. international teams preparation plans for the 2025 year, including the Senior World Team that will compete in Zagreb, Croatia in September.

Manager of Safe Sport and Compliance Kenya Dixon gave an update on USA Wrestling’s Safe Sport Program, explained in detail the Safe Sport process when a report is filed, then answered specific questions from members of the Board.

Director of Communications and Special Projects Gary Abbott outlined the highlights for the Communications team in 2025, plus notable Special Projects achievements, then provided his insight concerning Communications opportunities leading up to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The chairs of USA Wrestling’s Sport Committees provided reports, Iris Smith (women’s freestyle), Zac Dominguez (Greco-Roman) and Jamill Kelly (men’s freestyle). Rob Cate provided the report of the Folkstyle Committee. Sam Julian gave the United States Wrestling Officials report, and Joan Fulp provided an extensive women’s wrestling update. A number of constituent groups also presented reports to the Board of Directors.