J.D. Bergman (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC) has been named the winner of the 2010 John Smith Award as the Freestyle Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the first time that Bergman has won this prestigious award.

The award is named in honor of two-time Olympic champion and four-time World champion John Smith.

Competing in his first World Championships, Bergman placed 10th at the 2010 World Championships in Moscow, Russia at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. He opened the competition with a second-period pin of Farkhad Anakalov of Tajikistan. In the second round, he was defeated by Arfan Amiri of Iran, and when Amiri did not reach the finals, Bergman could not enter the repechage.

He qualified for his first U.S. World team with a victory at the 2010 World Team Trials in Council Bluffs, Iowa, defeating Jake Varner in the final series in two straight matches. He also won his first U.S. Open title in Cleveland, stopping Varner in the finals.

Bergman won gold medals at the 2010 Cerro Pelado International in Cuba and the 2010 New York AC International in New York City. He added a silver medal at the Medved International in Belarus and a bronze medal at the Hargobind International in Canada.

He trains full-time at the Ohio Regional Training Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Bergman was a three-time All-American for Ohio State, and was a NCAA runner-up in 2008. He also placed third and fourth at the NCAA meet. Bergman was a two-time Ohio state champion from Oak Harbor High School.

PAST JOHN SMITH AWARD WINNERS AS FREESTYLE WRESTLER OF THE YEAR
2010 – J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio, New York AC
2009 – Jake Herbert, Evanston, Ill., New York AC
2008 - Henry Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunkist Kids
2007 - Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla., Gator WC
2006 - Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo., Gator WC
2005 - Tolly Thompson, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Sunkist Kids
2004 - Cael Sanderson, Ames, Iowa, Sunkist Kids
2003 - Cael Sanderson, Ames, Iowa, Sunkist Kids
2002 - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa, Sunkist Kids
2001 - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa, Sunkist Kids
2000 - Brandon Slay, Amarillo, Texas, Dave Schultz WC
1999 - Stephen Neal, Bakerfield, Calif., Dave Schultz WC
1998 - Sammie Henson, Norman, Okla., Sunkist Kids
1997 - Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore., Sunkist Kids
1996 - Kendall Cross, Raleigh, N.C., Sunkist Kids
1995 - Kevin Jackson, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids
1994 - Melvin Douglas, Mesa, Ariz., Sunkist Kids
1993 - Terry and Tom Brands, Iowa City, Iowa, Team Foxcatcher
1992 - John Smith, Stillwater, Okla., Sunkist Kids