USA Wrestling President James Ravannack presents President's Award winner Loren Vigil of New Mexico with some Team USA gear during the 2011 State Leaders Conference in Oklahoma City, Okla.

USA Wrestling President James Ravannack has announced the winner of the President’s Award for this year, Loren Vigil of Albuquerque, N.M.

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. 

Vigil will be part of the U.S. delegation which attends the 2011 World Wrestling Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, Sept. 12-18.

“I was surprised. I was told it had to do with our membership going up in our state,” said Vigil. “This is exciting, but this is not the reason I do what I do. I believe USA Wrestling is the right answer. It does the right thing for our wrestlers, from kids to Olympians. That is why I support it and work to get our state on board with USA Wrestling.”

Vigil is in his fifth year as the state chairperson for USA Wrestling in New Mexico. One of his top achievements as chair came this year when New Mexico Junior Wrestling, the largest wrestling organization in the state, teamed up with USA Wrestling and joined the organization. Membership in New Mexico has increased, especially in the youth programs. New Mexico has remained active as a team within the Southern Plains Region.

Vigil has served as head wrestling coach at Rio Grande High School in Albuquerque for five years. Previously, he served as the community’s youth club coach, working with Raven Junior Wrestling. He competed for Rio Grande High School, and was on the varsity wrestling team at Stanford University.

“The importance of this program is for our state leaders to feel what our athletes feel at international competitions, such as the World Championships and Olympic Games,” said USA Wrestling President James Ravannack. “They get a sense of pride, and go back to whatever state and region they are from with a great experience. They are not going to just sit in a chair and watch. They video matches, our coaches ask them to help, they interact with the athletes. They are a part of what goes on there. This program is dear to me, but I think it is truly what we need, more opportunities for our grassroots people to experience the Olympic level of our sport.”