Stacey Davis of Powder Springs, Ga. was named 2011 USA Wrestling Official of the Year. This award is presented annually to an outstanding official within USA Wrestling for achievements and service to the sport. Davis holds a FILA rank of Olympic category, one of two U.S. referees with this classification. He holds a USA-1 rank domestically. Davis has been a referee within USA Wrestling since 1997. He will officiate at the 2011 World Wrestling Championships in Istabul, Turkey in September. He is also scheduled to work the Olympic Test event in London, England in December, which is the event where the referees for the 2012 Olympic Games will be selected. Davis has worked many major international events, including the 2010 Junior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary and the 2009 Women’s World Cup in Tijuan, China. He has worked the Pan American Championships in the Senior, Junior and Cadet levels. Davis has also officiated at several FILA Grand Prix events overseas. He has worked each of the U.S. Senior National Championships and World Team Trials events since 2002. Davis has also been officiating USA Wrestling age-group national tournaments on many levels since 1996. He has also served on the USWOA Board in the past. Davis has also been very active as a coach within USA Wrestling, especially within the state association in Georgia. It was his involvement in coaching which led him to become a mat official. “I wanted to be a better coach and I felt if I knew the rules, I could train athletes better. Somebody told me I couldn’t do it and that’s how I got in. That didn’t sit well with my nature,†said Davis. “You are around the best wrestlers in the world. What better way to learn technique that to be out on the mat? Wrestling helps my officiating and officiating helps my wrestling.†Davis has been active as a coach within Team Georgia since 1996. He has also served as a coach for Holy Innocents High School in Atlanta. He was an NCAA qualifier for the University of North Carolina, competing for Coach Bill Lam from 1982-1986. Davis was also a state champion for Andrews High School in High Point, N.C. “I have learned about being an official within the United States. We have the deepest officials’ organization in the world. I am among guys, 15 at any different time, who could receive this award. It is an honor to be included in this group. I look at the previous award winners, Olympic and World Championship officials, Golden Whistle Award winners. I am grateful to be included with them,†said Davis. Official of the Year Award 1971 - Vince Zuaro, New York 1972 - Wes Hogland, Oregon 1973 - Dennis Fankhouser 1974 - Pat Lovell, California 1975 - Pat Lovell, California 1976 - Sam Williams. New York 1977 - Mick Pickford, Iowa 1978 - Charlie White, Colorado 1979 - Jon Schaus, Illinois 1980 - Don Sondgeroth, Colorado 1981 - Steve Bernhardt, Virginia 1982 - Gordon Weeks, Michigan 1983 - Bernie Norris, Illinois 1984 - Leroy Evans, California 1985 - Carolyn White, Colorado 1986 - Tony Melosci, New York 1987 - Santos Cageao, Ohio 1988 - Bob Dellinger, Oklahoma 1989 - Chuck Almeida, Florida 1990 - Eric Kopsch, Michigan 1991 - Sue Siar, Pennsylvania 1992 - Rick Tucci, Florida 1993 - Bill Stecklein, Pennsylvania 1994 - Jack Bowman, Indiana 1995 - Bob Siar, Sr., Pennsylvania 1996 - David Errett, Indiana 1997 - Chris Curtis, New Jersey 1998 - Tom Clark, Indiana 1999 - Mort Geller, Florida 2000 - Mike Hess, Washington 2001 - Tom Siar, Pennsylvania 2002 - Jan Hesser, Indiana 2003 - Douglas Molin, Indiana 2004 – John Branch, California 2005 – John Heyman, Florida 2006 – Jerry Kuntz, Oklahoma 2007 – Bill Hinchley, Minnesota 2008 – Toby Tobiasson, Utah 2009 – Rusty Davidson, New Mexico 2010 – Zach Errett, Indiana 2011 – Stacey Davis, Georgia