NWCA presents awards for Dan Gable "American Needs Wrestling Award" and Meritorious Service Awards at annual pre-NCAA Tournament ceremony

Just as the action was set to get underway at The Palace of Auburn Hills, the National Wrestling Coaches Association presented its annual awards at the NWCA Social on March 14 at the Marriott Troy in Troy, Mich. 

This award is to recognize those individuals who have given significant time and effort to the sport of wrestling. Those efforts must have had significant impact on the preservation or promotion of the sport. 

This year, the NWCA presented the Meritorious Service Award to current University of Iowa assistant wrestling coach Dan Gable. 

Gable receives the award, not on his accolades as a coach or administrator, but for his efforts in traveling across the country to assist the National Wrestling Coaches Association in the creation of new wrestling programs and new educational opportunities for student athletes. 

Gable has also been instrumental in helping the NWCA brandish a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and it's "Eat Smart, Play Hard" campaign which has been prevalent in the nation's school lunch rooms. 

"Dan Gable's been an ambassador for the sport of wrestling since his days as an Olympic gold medalist," NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "After he left coaching, he's been on a crusade to assist us in bringing back wrestling and starting wrestling on the collegiate level." 

"Just recently, he helped kick off Grand Canyon University's announcement that it would start wrestling," added Moyer. 

Last year's recipient of the Meritorious Service Award was Alan Meltzer of Bethesda, Md. 

The NWCA presented the Dan Gable "America Needs Wrestling" Award recipients for this year at the same social. This year's winners are: Ray Brace, Dennis DeLiddo, Tim Cornish and Greg Dumas. 

This award is to recognize those individuals who have given significant time and effort to the sport of wrestling. Those efforts must have had significant impact on the preservation or promotion of the sport, through contributions that are financial, service and/or leadership in nature. 

Brace, the Senior Vice President of The Hershey Company has been a long-time wrestling supporter and has directly helped the National Wrestling Coaches Association with corporate sponsorships of the NWCA National Duals, the NWCA's national weight management initiative and also opened the door to other corporations that want to help the sport of wrestling. 

"The Hershey Company and Ray Brace have been a great support to our organization," said NWCA President Ron Mirkitani. "We're proud to have Hersheys on board and look forward to a long relationship that will help promote wrestling and in turn, each other." 

DeLiddo and Cornish were vital in the movement to try to save and reinstate Fresno State's wrestling program after it was cut last summer. DeLiddo, the coach at Fresno State for 24 years and Cornish, a Fresno wrestling alum, initiated protests, rallies and petition drives to try to save the program after it was cut by administrators in what was alleged as a cost-cutting move. 

These two individuals have been extremely instrumental in the fight to restore intercollegiate wrestling at California State University, Fresno. They have been spearheading the grassroots effort titled "Save Fresno State Wrestling" (www.savefresnowrestling.com) 

Also receiving the award was Greg Dumas, the Athletic Director at El Molino High School in Sebastopol, Calif... 

Greg is a former wrestler at West Chester State College and has been very generous in support of trying to fight on behalf of dropped programs such as Montclair State and Fresno State. He was also vital in the movement that helped save the San Francisco State program when it was in danger of being cut several years ago. 

"We're honored to name these three gentlemen to this award," said Moyer. "Their tireless efforts in trying to save programs that were unjustly eliminated are a testament to their devotion, not only to their school, but to the sport of wrestling." 

"What Coach DeLiddo and Tim Cornish have done to flood the media in California and around the nation about Fresno State's situation is nothing short of remarkable," said Moyer. "The program is gone for the time being, but it wasn't for a lack of time and effort put in by men like Dennis DeLiddo and Tim Cornish as well as everyone with the Save Fresno State Wrestling Campaign." 

"Greg Dumas has been active in many levels of trying to save collegiate wrestling programs and his efforts also warrant this award," added Moyer. "He lost his alma mater's program and fought hard to save Fresno's team as well - because it was his students at El Molino High School that lost the educational opportunity to attend Fresno State." 

"His efforts in trying to save Montclair State's program from across the country are also notable," said Moyer. 

The NWCA was also pleased to present its Bob Bubb Coaching Excellence Award, given annually to recognize outstanding accomplishments of collegiate coaches in each division who epitomize the qualities and characteristics of a role model and mentor for developing young student-athletes. 

Duke University's Clar Anderson was honored for Division I. Despite not qualifying a wrestler to the 2007 NCAA Division I Championships, Anderson has provided student athletes at Duke University a solid foundation and ethical approach to coaching and wrestling as well as being supportive in his wrestlers' academic work at the prestigious North Carolina school. Anderson has coached several exchange trips, escorting wrestlers overseas to wrestle competitors from other countries. 

In Division II, Steve Kimpel of Colorado School of Mines received the award, while retiring Augsburg head coach Jeff Swenson was honored. Swenson just led Augsburg to the NCAA Division III National Championship earlier this month in Dubuque, Iowa. 

Southern Oregon's Mike Ritchey was the NAIA recipient, while current Portland State head coach Mike Haluska was honored as the NJCAA recipient. Prior to Portland State, Haluska coached at Clackamas Community College in Oregon. 

The California Community Colleges were represented in the award with Larry Wantanabe of Mt. San Antonio College. 

"Sometimes people look at wins and losses to define a coach," said Ron Mirkitani. "The Bob Bubb Coaching Excellence Award is more than just wins and losses, it's about how wrestling coaches interact with their athletes, not just being a coach, but being a mentor." 

"We are very pleased with the recipients of this award, they all greatly deserve the honor," Mirkitani said.