One of USA Wrestling's top Pairing Masters was recently rewarded for her over 30 years working as an educator in Colorado.    Ina Gomez, of Walsenburg, Colo., was named Alpha Delta Kappa Teachers Sorority Omicron Chapter's Outstanding Retired Educator for 2004.    Ina, a Pairing Master for Olympic style wrestling, taught students in grades 1 through 8 at Gardner, Hill, Washington and Walsenburg Middle Schools.    Members of the Alpha Delta Kappa Teachers Sorority are responsible for choosing a winner of their annual award.    "I was absolutely dumbfounded when they called and said I had won," Ina said. "Then they said my name had been the only one brought up and it was unanimous, I was even more surprised."    Ina's work in wrestling began with her husband, Pete, a high school wrestling coach. She started by sitting in the stands and helping take care of her three boys, along with Pete's wrestlers.     Even before her boys were old enough to wrestle, the whole family would travel to high school tournaments.    "I started out as the team mommy," Ina said. "I would hold all the duffel bags and wallets."    Eventually, Ina began helping to run the local tournaments her husband put on.    "I'm not one to stay home and watch the soaps," Ina said. "It just kind of spread out like pouring water on the table. I started to do more and more."    Ina got her U.S. National pairing license in 1978 and continued her work to get upgraded so she could follow her sons as they continued in their career. When their oldest son joined the Army wrestling program, she earned her Category I license.    Ina is currently serving her second term on the Executive Board of the United States Wrestling Officials Association.     Opportunities to work tournaments across the globe urged Ina and Pete to get their FILA international licenses in 1984.    "We just love to travel," Ina said. "That is really what brought us into our FILA licenses."    Although they have since traveled the world to work tournaments, getting the actual FILA license turned out to be quite an adventure for Ina and Pete.     In order to get licensed they had to travel to Mexico City. After they had been sitting on their airplane in Denver for almost an hour, Ina called the travel agent to ensure they wouldn't miss their connecting flight in Houston.    "I did not want to miss that flight," Ina said. "But she assured me that everything would be fine."    But when they arrived in Houston and were greeted with champagne and promises of an all-expense paid night, Ina refused to miss their opportunity to get their international licenses.    "I almost hit the lady over the head with the champagne bottle," Ina said. "I told her, 'this is a business trip and I am not going to miss out on this."    After a frantic sprint across the Houston airport and eventually having to catch another flight without their luggage, Pete and Ina made it to Mexico City for their licensing clinic.    "Luckily, Pete had brought along the officials outfits," Ina said.    Ina has worked local, national and international events in over 30 states, including Hawaii. She has worked seven World Championships, two World Cups, six Pan American Championships, two Olympic Festivals, four Armed Forces Championships and 87 other International tournaments in France, Sweden, Finland, Canada, Mexico and Australia, as well as the United States. She has also presided over dual meets between the USA and teams from Poland, Cuba, Belarus, Russia and Sweden and has worked over 100 national tournaments and hundreds of local events.    For the people who have worked with Ina at some of the national events, she is a valuable asset to the wrestling community.    "She's always willing to do anything she can to help anybody and everybody," said Sue Siar, National Pairing Director. "She's been a worker and staunch supporter of USA Wrestling for well over 20 years."    Ina still runs high school and junior high school tournaments and writes the championship award brackets at the Colorado State High School Wrestling Championship.     As an official, she was voted the National Pairing Master of the Year in 2002, the National Dedicated Service to Pairing Award in 1989 and a Regional Service to Wrestling Award in 1987.     As an educator, she was named a "Positive Person Educator" in 1989 by the Chamber of Commerce for her work with local youth in the community.    Many of USA Wrestling's active volunteers have a background in education. Ina Gomez is an example of a wrestling leader who has been recognized for her achievements in her profession, as well as within the sport of wrestling.    USA Wrestling congratulates Ina Gomez for this outstanding award and thanks her for her years of service and dedication to the sport.