COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Wrestling has named Aaron Polansky of Charlton, Mass. as the March Volunteer of the Month.  Polansky is being recognized for the role he has played in developing wrestling in Massachusetts as the state chairperson of Massachusetts - USA Wrestling.

"Aaron has been a leader in expanding and promoting wrestling opportunities in Massachusetts for the past five years," said Mark Scott, Director of State Services for USA Wrestling.  "Aaron's volunteering has really furthered USA Wrestling's mission in his state of Massachusetts, as well as the entire New England region."

Polansky started wrestling as a sophomore at Natick (Mass.) High School, and he has been involved ever since.  Following his college career at Norwich University, where Aaron wrestled 118 pounds, he went on to coach for one year at Springfield College.  

Aaron next served as the Director of Athletics at Hopkinton (Mass.) High School.  While at Hopkinton, Aaron helped introduce varsity wrestling.  He then returned the coaching ranks in 2003, when he accepted the head coaching position at Hudson (Mass.) High School.

For the past five years, Polansky has served as the Director of Massachusetts - USA Wrestling.  

Under his direction, the Stance in Motion program was started. Stance in Motion is a program that provides high schools and inner city programs assistance in helping start a wrestling program.  With the help of Dollamur and World Wide Sport Supply, the Stance in Motion program has provided six programs with assistance in order to help get wrestling started there.

In addition, as Aaron points out, "more exciting is the fact that since introducing our initiative, local high school athletic directors have become more aware of how easy it really is to start and financially sustain a high school wrestling program." 

"There have been several high school programs added throughout Massachusetts, independent of the Stance in Motion program, since our initial memo went out explaining how simple it is to start a high school wrestling program," said Polansky.

In addition to the Stance in Motion program, Polansky was responsible for spear-heading a folkstyle championship for all six New England States.  The tournament, held the first weekend of March, was a resounding success.  In addition to the tournament, Aaron also scheduled a Bronze Coaches Clinic to further the education of the coaches in the region.

Another one of Aaron's ideas that will come to fruition on May 12 is the Northeast Folkstyle Duals.  The tournament will be held in Hudson, Mass. for the second consecutive year.

The following weekend, Aaron will be the tournament director for the IRONMAN.  The tournament, which involves all three styles of wrestling, will be held May 18-20, also in Hudson.

When asked what the best part of being involved in USA Wrestling, Polansky said, "the relationships that are established through wrestling last a lifetime.

"Wrestling is really a microcosm of life," says Polansky.  "The lessons these wrestlers learn through our sport will help them to succeed in so many facets of their future endeavors."

To date, Polansky has been involved with wrestling for 16 years.  Aaron was been a competitor for nine years, coach for seven years, and the director of Massachusetts - USA Wrestling for five years.

Aaron, along with his wife Rhonda, has three daughters.  His oldest daughter, Hannah, 7, was the Massachusetts freestyle state champion in 2006 at 40 pounds.  Emma, 6, placed 3rd at the same tournament.  The Polanskys' youngest daughter, Ava, 18 months, is still too young to wrestle.

The Volunteer of the Month program is managed by USA Wrestling's State Services department.  Nominations will be accepted from state associations and individuals.  Send your suggestions to Tony Black at tblack@usawrestling.org

USA WRESTLING VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH
March 2007 - Aaron Polansky, Charlton, Massachusetts
February 2007 - Anthony Flatt, Lawrenceville, Georgia
January 2007 - Randy Hinderliter, Ottawa, Kansas