Deanna Rix (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) was named 2009 Women's Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the first time in her career that she has received this award.

Rix placed fifth at 59 kg/130 lbs. at the 2009 World Championships in Herning, Denmark in September. It was the second straight year which Rix has placed fifth in the World Championships. She was among three U.S. women wrestlers who were fifth at the 2009 Worlds.

Rix qualified for the U.S. Team by winning the 2009 World Team Trials in Council Bluffs, Iowa in May, defeating Kelsey Campbell in the championship series. Rix had been second at the 2009 U.S. Open in Las Vegas in April, losing to Campbell in the finals.

She had a strong international season in 2009. Rix won gold medals at the Dave Schultz Memorial International and the Guelph Open in Canada. She added silver medals at the Sunkist Kids International, the New York AC International and the Canada Cup. Rix also won bronze medals at the Hargobind International in Canada and the Ukrainian Memorial Internation.

Rix also had a strong showing at the 2009 Women’s World Cup, going 3-1 in her dual meet action. 

Rix is a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete. She attended Northern Michigan prior to coming to the USOTC. She attended Marshwood High School in Maine, where she was second in the state tournament competing against boys. She won three Junior National titles during her high school years.

PAST WOMEN'S WRESTLER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
2009 – Deanna Rix, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC
2008 - Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo., Gator WC
2007 - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC
2006 - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC
2005 - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. U.S. Army
2004 - Sara McMann, Lock Haven, Pa., Sunkist Kids
2003 - Patricia Miranda, Colorado Springs, Colo., Dave Schultz WC
2002 - Kristie Marano, Albany, N.Y., ATWA
2001 - Toccara Montgomery, Cleveland, Ohio, Sunkist Kids
2000 - Kristie Marano, Albany, N.Y., ATWA
1999 - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids
1998 - Kristie Stenglein, Albany, N.Y., ATWA
1997 - Sandra Bacher, San Jose, Calif., Dave Schultz WC
1996 - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids
1995 - Vickie Zummo, Hamburg, N.J., New York AC
1994 - Shannon Williams, Ontario, Calif., Sunkist Kids
1993 - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids