Heather Van Peursem of Colorado Springs, Colo. has been named Manager of Media Relations for USA Wrestling.    Van Peursem will manage USA Wrestling's media relations programs, including promotion and media services for events and athletes. She will manage the media operations at major USA Wrestling events. Van Peursem will handle the reporting of results and creation of press releases for USA Wrestling's National Teams and national events activities. She will also manage the event photography needs for the organization.    "USA Wrestling is pleased that Heather will be managing our media relations activities," said Executive Director Rich Bender. "Her skills and experience will help our sport to increase its media coverage and public exposure."    "I am excited to continue and expand my responsibilities with USA Wrestling," said Van Peursem. "Since USA Wrestling is about helping promote athletes and the sport, I am glad to help in that realm."    She has worked at USA Wrestling since February, 1999. Her previous assignments for the organization have  been as a Communications Assistant and as the Manager of Public Relations. She was involved in a variety of communications, promotions and internet activities in these positions.    Van Peursem has a variety of experience in communications and media relations. She served as a U.S. Olympic Committee press officer for the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia. She was also a USA Wrestling press officer at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia.    She came to USA Wrestling from the Univ. of Wisconsin Sports Information Department, where she worked with the wrestling program, as well as with football, basketball and hockey.    Van Peursem has considerable broadcast experience. She served as an on-air talent for the USA Sports Broadcasting production of the 2000 U.S. National Wrestling Championships, which aired nationally on ESPN2. While at Wisconsin, Van Peursem was co-host of the "Go Badger Show," a television broadcast promoting UW athletics programs and athletes. She also has worked on a freelance basis with ABC Sports since 1998, at events such as Monday Night Football and Super Bowl XXXIV, with assignments including statistical research for the talent and talent booth manager.    Van Peursem received a Journalism/Broadcast degree from the Univ. of Iowa in 1997, with an emphasis in Sports. She worked in the Iowa football video department during the 1996 season.  Van Peursem has also worked as a model and actor since 1994. She is originally from Madison, Wis.