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United World Wrestling names 11 U.S. leaders to positions on its Commissions and Committees
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
United World Wrestling has notified its national wrestling federations of the assignments for UWW Commissions, as well as those for Associated Styles Committees.
UWW Vice-President and former USA Wrestling President Stan Dziedzic has been named as President of the Coach Commission, along with assistant Don Ryan of Canada. Seven athletes from around the world have been assigned to work with Dziedzic and Ryan on this Commission. Dziedzic, who lives in Roswell, Ga., was a 1976 Olympic bronze medalist and 1977 World champion and has served on the UWW Bureau since 2006. He has chaired the UWW Hall of Fame Commission.
Seven other American leaders were named as members of UWW Commissions.
Scientific Commission
David Curby, LaGrange, Ill.
Curby being re-assigned to this commision, after serving during the previous term. Curby has been founder and director of the International Network of Wrestling Researchers and edits the International Journal of Wrestling Researchers. He has served as Executive Director of Beat the Streets Chicago, and as a coach of youth wrestling in the Chicago area. Curby received the Order of Merit from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2019.
Legal/Ethics/Disciplinary Commission
Laura Peeters, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Peeters serves as General Counsel on the USA Wrestling staff, and also serves as Director of USA Wrestling’s Safe Sport program. She has worked in sport law since 2007 and has worked within sports and entertainment law throughout her 24-year career. From 2007-2104, she served as an Associate General Counsel for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
Technical Commission
Rich Bender, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Bender is being re-assigned to this commission, after serving during the previous term. Bender has served as USA Wrestling’s Executive Director since 2001 and has been a USA Wrestling employee for over 33 years. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. He served six years as chair of the USOPC National Governing Body Council. He was Competition Manager for Wrestling at the 1996 Olympic Games.
Refereeing Commission
Casey Goessl, Osceola, Wis.
Goessl is being re-assigned to this commission, after serving during the previous term. Goessl is the president of the UWW Americas Referee Commission and has been a UWW referee since 2005. He was a referee at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and has worked six Senior World Championships and four Junior World Championships. Goessl has served on the USWOA Board since 2011.
Sport For All Commission
Andy Barth, San Marino, Calif.
Barth is being re-assigned to this commission, after serving during the previous term. Barth is the founder of the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club, which supports Senior and age-group wrestlers in all three Olympic disciplines. He is the founder and President of Beat the Streets Los Angeles which provides opportunities for young athletes in the community. He was inducted as Outstanding American by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012.
Marketing and Sponsoring Commission
Morgan Rabine, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Rabine serves as Manager of Corporate Partnerships on the USA Wrestling staff, and has been with the organization since 2019. Rabine is primary contact for USA Wrestling’s corporate sponsorship program. She has sports sales and marketing background with the Golf Club at Newcastle, the Kansas City Chiefs and KemperLesnik.
Media Commission
Taylor Gregorio, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Gregorio serves as Manager of Communications and Social Media for USA Wrestling, and has been with the organization since 2016. She has covered many international competitions at the Continental and World level on behalf of United World Wrestling. She was Sports Information Director at Oklahoma State and Public Relations Intern for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. She is secretary of the National Wrestling Media Association.
Three other Americans have been named to Associated Styles Committees
Beach Wrestling Committee
Ed Duncan, Spruce Pine, N.C.
Duncan is being re-assigned to this committee, after serving during the previous term. Duncan serves as the chair of USA Wrestling’s Associated Styles Committee, has been the state chairperson for North Carolina USA Wrestling since 2016. He has been Event Director of USA Wrestling’s Beach Nationals since 2013. Duncan served as Team Leader for the U.S. Beach Wrestling team at the 2019 ANOC Beach World Games. He has coached wrestling since 1993.
Grappling Committee**
Richard Tado
Tado is being re-assigned to this committee, after serving during the previous term.
Pankration Committee**
Ron Hill
Hill is being re-assigned to this committee, after serving during the previous term.
** Please note that USA Wrestling does not currently conduct the UWW Grappling program or the UWW Pankration program within the United States. These individuals represent different organizations recognized by United World Wrestling for conducting the sport in our nation
UWW Vice-President and former USA Wrestling President Stan Dziedzic has been named as President of the Coach Commission, along with assistant Don Ryan of Canada. Seven athletes from around the world have been assigned to work with Dziedzic and Ryan on this Commission. Dziedzic, who lives in Roswell, Ga., was a 1976 Olympic bronze medalist and 1977 World champion and has served on the UWW Bureau since 2006. He has chaired the UWW Hall of Fame Commission.
Seven other American leaders were named as members of UWW Commissions.
Scientific Commission
David Curby, LaGrange, Ill.
Curby being re-assigned to this commision, after serving during the previous term. Curby has been founder and director of the International Network of Wrestling Researchers and edits the International Journal of Wrestling Researchers. He has served as Executive Director of Beat the Streets Chicago, and as a coach of youth wrestling in the Chicago area. Curby received the Order of Merit from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2019.
Legal/Ethics/Disciplinary Commission
Laura Peeters, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Peeters serves as General Counsel on the USA Wrestling staff, and also serves as Director of USA Wrestling’s Safe Sport program. She has worked in sport law since 2007 and has worked within sports and entertainment law throughout her 24-year career. From 2007-2104, she served as an Associate General Counsel for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
Technical Commission
Rich Bender, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Bender is being re-assigned to this commission, after serving during the previous term. Bender has served as USA Wrestling’s Executive Director since 2001 and has been a USA Wrestling employee for over 33 years. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. He served six years as chair of the USOPC National Governing Body Council. He was Competition Manager for Wrestling at the 1996 Olympic Games.
Refereeing Commission
Casey Goessl, Osceola, Wis.
Goessl is being re-assigned to this commission, after serving during the previous term. Goessl is the president of the UWW Americas Referee Commission and has been a UWW referee since 2005. He was a referee at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and has worked six Senior World Championships and four Junior World Championships. Goessl has served on the USWOA Board since 2011.
Sport For All Commission
Andy Barth, San Marino, Calif.
Barth is being re-assigned to this commission, after serving during the previous term. Barth is the founder of the Titan Mercury Wrestling Club, which supports Senior and age-group wrestlers in all three Olympic disciplines. He is the founder and President of Beat the Streets Los Angeles which provides opportunities for young athletes in the community. He was inducted as Outstanding American by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2012.
Marketing and Sponsoring Commission
Morgan Rabine, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Rabine serves as Manager of Corporate Partnerships on the USA Wrestling staff, and has been with the organization since 2019. Rabine is primary contact for USA Wrestling’s corporate sponsorship program. She has sports sales and marketing background with the Golf Club at Newcastle, the Kansas City Chiefs and KemperLesnik.
Media Commission
Taylor Gregorio, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Gregorio serves as Manager of Communications and Social Media for USA Wrestling, and has been with the organization since 2016. She has covered many international competitions at the Continental and World level on behalf of United World Wrestling. She was Sports Information Director at Oklahoma State and Public Relations Intern for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. She is secretary of the National Wrestling Media Association.
Three other Americans have been named to Associated Styles Committees
Beach Wrestling Committee
Ed Duncan, Spruce Pine, N.C.
Duncan is being re-assigned to this committee, after serving during the previous term. Duncan serves as the chair of USA Wrestling’s Associated Styles Committee, has been the state chairperson for North Carolina USA Wrestling since 2016. He has been Event Director of USA Wrestling’s Beach Nationals since 2013. Duncan served as Team Leader for the U.S. Beach Wrestling team at the 2019 ANOC Beach World Games. He has coached wrestling since 1993.
Grappling Committee**
Richard Tado
Tado is being re-assigned to this committee, after serving during the previous term.
Pankration Committee**
Ron Hill
Hill is being re-assigned to this committee, after serving during the previous term.
** Please note that USA Wrestling does not currently conduct the UWW Grappling program or the UWW Pankration program within the United States. These individuals represent different organizations recognized by United World Wrestling for conducting the sport in our nation