USA Wrestling President James Ravannack (left) recognizes President's Award winners Mark Reiland of Iowa and Ned Zollinger of Idaho. John Sachs photo

USA Wrestling President James Ravannack has announced the winners of the President’s Award for this year, Mark Reiland of Iowa City, Iowa and Ned Zollinger of Rexburg, Idaho.

Each year, USA Wrestling honors an exceptional state association leader with this award, which includes sending the recipient as a member of the U.S. delegation to the World Championships. This is the first year in which two state leaders were recognized with the award.

Reiland and Zollinger will be part of the U.S. delegation which attends the 2010 World Wrestling Championships in Moscow, Russia, Sept. 6-12.

“It’s an outstanding opportunity,” said Reiland. “Any time you can attend the World Championships as member of USA Wrestling, it’s one of those things you dream about. As a high school coach, to go to Moscow to see that level of competition is a phenomenal honor. I am very excited.”

“This is great,” said Zollinger. “I am hoping I can bring something back to inspire, and help the people I work with, on the grassroots level. This is an opportunity that just does not happen for those at my level of involvement with USA Wrestling. The respect I have for our World programs, the athletes and the coaches is immense. To get to be with them and to get to know them better is an opportunity of a lifetime.”

Reiland has served eight years as the state chairperson for Iowa USA Wrestling. He also served previously as Iowa’s Junior Director for four years. He is a member of numerous USA Wrestling committees, including serving as co-chair of the National Coaches Council. Reiland is one of the nation’s top high school coaches with nationally ranked Iowa City West High School. He was recently named USA Wrestling Junior Person of the Year.

Zollinger has been involved with USA Wrestling going all the way back to the formation of the organization. At one point, he was president of the East Idaho chapter of the organization, before the Idaho association combined into one group. He participated in the first Western Regional Kids/Cadet Championships when it was held in Gillette, Wyo. He has been at every Western Regional event since, more than two decades of service. Athletes from Idaho have been very successful in USA Wrestling national and regional competitions.