Engel, Guilford receive AAC Athlete Leadership Award, presented by the Greg Strobel Leadership Academy

Nate Engel of Albany, Oregon and Dymond Guilford of Colorado Springs, Colorado received the Athlete Advisory Committee (AAC) Athlete Leadership Award, presented by the Greg Strobel Leadership Academy, during the recently completed U.S. Open Championships in Las Vegas, Nev.

Each year, a male and a female USA Wrestling athlete is recognized for their leadership in the sport and service to USA Wrestling. In addition to their award, both Engel and Guilford will receive a $1,500 stipend from the Greg Strobel Leadership Academy.

It is the second time that Engel received this award, with his first coming in 2023, while Guilford is receiving this award for the first time.

Engel is currently serving as Secretary of USA Wrestling and is a member of its Executive Committee and Board of Directors. As Secretary, he is chair of USA Wrestling’s Ethics and Membership Committee and is chair of the Governance Committee. Engel also serves on USA Wrestling’s Athlete Advisory Committee.

Guilford serves as a member of USA Wrestling’s Officials Committee. She has served as a proxy at past USA Wrestling Board of Directors meetings on behalf of the Athletes Advisory Committee.

Engel is the associate head wrestling coach for Oregon State University and coaches both men and women at the Beaver Dam Regional Training Center. He was named 2021 and 2022 USA Wrestling Women’s Coach of the Year and the 2019 Greco-Roman Coach of the Year, the first person to win both awards.

Engel was a two-time National Team member in Greco-Roman. He started his international career training at Northern Michigan University under respected coach Ivan Ivanov. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a member of its World Class Athlete program. He wrestled at Missouri Valley College and William Penn University.

Guilford is a U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center resident athlete and competes for the Titan Mercury WC. She was a member of the 2022 Senior World Team, won a 2022 U23 World silver medal and was a 2022 Senior Pan American champion. She won three NAIA national titles, one for Missouri Baptist in 2019 and the others for the University of the Cumberlands in 2022 and 2023.

This is the fourth year in which the Athlete Leadership Award has been presented.

For more information on the Greg Strobel Leadership Academy, visit

https://www.themat.com/donate/greg-strobel-leadership-academy

Athlete Advisory Committee Leadership Award winners

2022 - John Stefanowicz & Veronica Carlson

2023 - Mallory Velte & Nate Engel

2024 - Mallory Velte & John Stefanowicz

2025 - Nate Engel and Dymond Guilford