U.S. Wrestling Foundation Gala held in Los Angeles huge success for wrestling

Randy Couture gave a moving speech at the USWF Gala in Los Angeles Thursday evening. Photo: Larry Slater.

LOS ANGELES – The red carpet was rolled out for wrestling on Thursday evening as many past and present wrestling greats and celebrities alike attended the U.S. Wrestling Foundation Gala held at LA Center Studios in the heart of Los Angeles, Calif.


The fundraising event hosted by the U.S. Wrestling foundation, alongside USA Wrestling, and presented by the U.S. Marines raised approximately $400k to support wrestling in the U.S.


An evening represented by the phrase “everyone wrestles” began with a riveting speech from three-time UFC Heavyweight Champion and former wrestler Randy Couture who emceed the event.


“Many spend their lives searching for vocation. I found my vocation. I found my calling in life. Through the course of my journey in this sport, the many highs, the many lows, I learned some very important things,” said Couture.


“That journey and that hard won courage from wrestling culminated for me walking out into an arena in front of 55-thousand people in nothing but my board shorts to face an opponent that may or may not kick me in the head and knock me out,” he continued. “Wrestling taught me that there are a few things human beings need to live well: to breathe, eat, drink, sleep, love and I would add to this list struggle. We all need something to struggle for. What you will become is a result of what you will endure.”


Also speaking as featured guests were U.S. Marine Corps Brigadier General Paul Kennedy, U.S. Marines and UFC Commentator Brian Stann and past NCAA champion for Arizona State Anthony Robles. All three men gave memorable attributions to the power of wrestling.


“I love that phrase everyone wrestles because we all truly do wrestle with our own things, our own challenges whether its physical, family, work, whatever, there’s always these opponents and I’ve learned so much from the sport, it’s given me so much,” said Robles.


U.S. Wrestling Foundation Chairman Managing Member Jeffrey Waters spoke to the impact wrestling had on his life as he addressed the gala audience.


“Wrestling changed my life,” Waters said. “It opened doors for me. It provided educational opportunities for me and took me in my life direction it never would have gone on otherwise, and therefore when the leadership of USA Wrestling in effect called me to service there was only one possible answer for me. As a result, here I am and here we are.”


Current wrestling greats in attendance included several members of the men’s freestyle World Cup team, 2015 World champion Kyle Snyder, 2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner, three-time World champion Adeline Gray, 2015 World champion Helen Maroulis and four-time World medalist Elena Pirozhkova among others.


Past U.S. wrestling heroes such as two-time Olympic champion Bruce Baumgartner and Olympic champions Steve Fraser and Brandon Slay joined countless other former World and Olympic medalists in attendance.


Also coming out to support this great cause were actor Billy Baldwin, actor Michael Trucco, mma stars Dan Henderson, Dominick Cruz, Frank Shamrock and Joe Warren, and writer and producer of The Simpsons Mike Reiss.


Several wrestling items were auctioned off at the event with all proceeds going directly to help further the sport. These items included a U.S. men’s freestyle team autographed Dave Schultz painting, Mark Ruffalo signed wrestling shoes worn in Foxcatcher and Dave Schultz’s gold medal from the Pan American Games.


The U.S. Wrestling Foundation Gala was held in advance of the 2016 Men’s Freestyle World Cup that will be contested this weekend at The Forum in Inglewood, Calf. For more information on the World Cup visit wrestlingworldcup.com.