Many within wrestling are aware that the family of Chuck and Cherie Elvin of Kansas were among those involved in a tragic accident at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nev. last week.

The Elvins have been long-time volunteer leaders within USA Wrestling, supporting our sport on the local, state, regional and national level. 

Chuck has served on USA Wrestling’s Board of Directors and numerous committees and assumed leadership positions for many years with Kansas-USA Wrestling. Cherie was a nationally ranked pairing official who helped run hundreds of wrestling competitions at all levels and was active with the U.S. Wrestling Officials Assocition. She served as head pairing official at a number major regional and national events. Wrestling is an important part of the lives of their family.

Below is a statement that the Elvin family issued this week at a press conference in Reno, Nev.

There has been a tremendous outpouring of concern and support for the Elvin family and we are very grateful.

And on behalf of the Elvin family, our hearts go out to all the families who lost loved ones… or who have someone recovering from their injuries.

There are no words to express how grateful we are to everyone who, without concern for their own safety, immediately rushed in and helped our injured family members.

Chuck Elvin, his wife Cherie, their sons Bill and Brian and Brian’s wife Linda, all received life threatening injuries as a result of the crash at the Reno air races Friday.

Thanks to the quick, selfless actions of both trained medical personnel, as well as complete strangers… lives were saved that evening.

Chuck, Bill, Brian and Linda are all in their own stages of recovering from their injuries.

All are improving, in many ways quite remarkably, thanks in large part to the medical care they’ve been receiving, as well as the prayers and thoughts of family, friends and many others we don’t even know.

Yesterday, the medical examiner confirmed that Cherie Elvin did not survive.

But four others are survivors and are improving day by day.

It is a long process… and that’s where the love, prayers and support are so much help to us.

We want people to know… the Elvins loved the air races. As a family, they’ve been attending them for more than 16 years… and it was more than an event. It was a chance for a mini-family reunion, which became a tradition.

The Elvin family ties to aviation run pretty deep. Chuck is retired from the airline industry. Brian is a pilot. John Elvin, Chuck and Cherie’s second oldest son, was an aeronautical engineer. In fact, it was John who got the family to attend their first air races.

After that, the Elvins planned for it every year. You didn’t dare have a scheduling conflict that would interfere with the Reno Air Races.

And one thing the Elvin family wants everyone to know is – Cherie would not want this accident, as tragic as it is, to be the reason for cancelling the air races. She loved it… and we believe she would want all of us to continue to love it.

We now have an answer about Cherie… and we can deal with that in a private, respectful way. We also have four family members who need us. And in them, we see hope. Each one of them is improving.

Brian is here… less than five days after the crash. Bill has been up and out in a wheelchair to see his brother and Dad. He was able to eat breakfast this morning. Linda, because she is at St. Mary’s and Brian is here, has been able to video-call Brian so they can see how well the other is doing. And Chuck, while still listed as critical, is talking and showing some signs of the Elvin sense of humor.

These are all very positive, very hopeful things.

All will survive, but not without the help of each other, the family and dear friends. There are so many people we don’t know who’ve helped, and we’d like to thank them. All of those who’ve given so much to make sure we have been taken care of… both at home and here in Reno. 

If I start mentioning names, I’ll leave someone out and I don’t want to overlook anyone. But I particular, the hospital staff, doctors, nurses, both here at Renown and Saint Mary’s, have been tremendous. Thank you.

We’d also like to thank everyone in the Reno community for their generosity, support and prayers.

Thank you all again for coming, and for respecting the Elvin family’s request for privacy as we focus on healing, recovery and honoring Cherie.

This statement was provided to USA Wrestling by the Elvin family.

In a conversation with USA Wrestling last evening, the Elvin family wanted to thank the wrestling community for their love and support.

An update is that Chuck is being moved out of the Intensive Care Unit to the Orthopaedic floor at the hospital.

At this time, the family has not yet determined any details about a memorial service for Cherie Elvin. That information will be shared when it is available. In addition, when there is an official obituary for Cherie, it will be posted.

For those who would like to send a card or letter to Chuck Elvin, the family has provided the following address to write to him at the hospital.

Charles Elvin
Tahoe 312
Renown Regional Medical Center
1155 Mill Street
Reno, NV 89502