The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and Rider University, co-hosts of the 2011 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia March 17-19, have announced the formation of a Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and its honorary chairmen and committee members. 

The chairman of the Philadelphia LOC is Roger Reina, an Account Manager at Ticket Leap, Inc. and former head coach of the University of Pennsylvania wrestling team. Reina is considered the most successful coach in program history. In 19 seasons, he posted a career record of 205-106-6 and won eight Ivy League Championships. He is a member of the Penn Athletics Hall of Fame and the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association Hall of Fame, and has received the National Wrestling Coaches Association Meritorious Service Award, the organization's highest honor. Reina, who has coached NCAA and Olympic Champions, also served as President of the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

"Like any great team, the formation of the LOC represents talented and motivated individuals who have come together with a common purpose - to host a record setting NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia," said Reina. "The LOC draws representatives from a broad constituency, including co-hosts Rider University and the MAAC, the Wachovia Center, and the Philadelphia Sports Congress, along with wrestling coaches and alumni leadership from area colleges." 

Serving as honorary co-chairmen for the LOC are Bill Graham, Chairman of the Board/CEO of The Graham Company; Ira Lubert, Chairman and co-founder of Independence Capital Partners; John Middleton, CEO of Dock Street Capital and a partner of the Philadelphia Phillies; David Pottruck, Co-Chairman of High Tower; Dr. Mordechai Rozanski, President of Rider University; and Fred Shabel, Vice-Chairman of Comcast-Spectacor. 

"The appointment of the Honorary Co-Chairs demonstrates the significant value of the student-athlete experience and, specifically, the student-wrestler experience as a component of our nation's educational process," said Reina. "Four of our Honorary Chairs - Graham, Lubert, Middleton, and Pottruck - celebrated prep careers and collegiate careers in the classic sport of amateur wrestling, while Shabel held various positions in collegiate athletics throughout the east coast. Dr. Rozanski has held several academic leadership roles throughout his extensive career in higher education. They credit the lifelong lessons of discipline, commitment, and pursuit of excellence inherent to both our great sport and in the classroom with regard to their monumental success in business and their profound civic contributions."

The LOC's Committee Members are Rich Bender, Executive Director of USA Wrestling; Mike Moyer, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Coaches Association; and Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. 

"The NCAA Wrestling Championships are a prestigious event that puts the national spotlight on the Wachovia Center and the entire Greater Philadelphia Region," said Comcast-Spectacor President Peter Luukko. "It is events like the NCAA Wrestling Championships that allow us to showcase the Wachovia Center as a premiere facility in the United States. We have a terrific history with the NCAA and we look forward to working with the MAAC and the NCAA in making the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships the best ever in the history of the sport."

"Rider University is extremely proud and excited to once again partner with the MAAC as co-hosts of this prestigious and exciting NCAA Wrestling Championship in Philadelphia," said Rider Director of Athletics Don Harnum. "The formation of a quality LOC, under the leadership of Roger Reina, is a huge step forward in our efforts to run a quality championship and promote the sport of wrestling in the region."

"The quality of the 2011 NCAA Wrestling Championships' LOC is indicative of the high level of support the sport has in the greater Philadelphia region," said MAAC Commissioner Richard J. Ensor. "The MAAC is very proud to co-host the championship for the second time and look forward to providing a great hosting experience to the student-athletes, coaches, and fans at the Wachovia Center."

One of the LOC's primary initiatives will be the development of a fan festival that runs throughout the championships. Tentative events will include a USA Wrestling team practice open to the public, autograph sessions with members of USA Wrestling and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and local Philadelphia entertainment. 

"The Fan Fest will provide an ideal setting to entertain fans from across the country, and from throughout our own region, to the best that Philadelphia has to offer," said Reina. "We anticipate over 100,000 tickets sold over the three days of the NCAA Championships. The Fan Fest will be held near the Wachovia Center, and will celebrate the foods and fanfare of the city, along with exhibitions celebrating the rich tradition of our sport at all levels, including youth, scholastic, collegiate and Olympic." 

The LOC, in conjunction with Philadelphia's Beat the Streets program, will also be hosting a Youth Clinic prior to the start of the championships. The goal of the clinic is to encourage kids to participate in wrestling so that they can benefit from the valuable lessons unique to the sport. Clinicians and coaches will include former NCAA Champions and Olympic medalists. 
"Beat the Streets is a nationwide program designed to bring the sport of amateur wrestling to inner city youth across the country," explained Reina. "Launched successfully in many major cities across the country, including most recently in New York City, Beat the Streets delivers an introduction to our sport along with life skills and leadership development components."

Working members of the LOC include: Reina, Page, Ensor, and Harnum; Meghan Bertovich, MAAC Director of Women's Basketball Operations and Tournament Manager; Tim Murphy, General Manager and Vice President of the Wachovia Complex; Mike Reca, Associate Vice President at Rider; Brian Keane, Assistant Athletic Director at Rider; Jennifer Nagle, Marketing Director for the Philadelphia Sports Congress; Mariya Brewer, Senior Convention Services Manager at the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB); Maria Grasso, Director of Sales for the Philadelphia CVB; Gary Baker, President of the University of Pennsylvania Alumni Association; Gary Taylor, Head Wrestling Coach at Rider; Rob Eiter, Head Wrestling Coach at Penn; Jack Childs, Head Wrestling Coach at Drexel University; Dave Icenhower, Head Wrestling Coach at The College of New Jersey; John Hangey, Assistant Wrestling Coach at Rider; Josh Henson, Assistant Wrestling Coach at Penn; Chet Dalgewicz, Former Associate Athletic Director at Rider; Shaun Clarida, Athletic Coordinator at Rider; Tim Lengle, Athletic Trainer at Rider; and Doug Umbehauer, Graduate Assistant at Rider.