USA Wrestling has partnered with the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) and the Kansas City Wrestling Association (KCWA) and to fund a Program Revitalization “pilot” initiative aimed at benefitting four “up and coming” intercollegiate wrestling programs and the dedicated coaches who are leading them.  

On December 16-17, 2011, the KCWA will host a 37-team “USA Wrestling/Dollamur Kansas City Wrestling Classic” and then donate some of the proceeds through the USA Wrestling “Making a Difference” program toward an effort to bring expertise and resources to four very deserving intercollegiate wrestling programs. 

As part of this Program Revitalization effort, each of the four coaches will be provided access to a group of advisors with expertise in fundraising, marketing, organization, and networking.  These teams of advisors will meet regularly with each coach over the course of this year to assess the wrestling program, develop a strategic plan, and then secure the necessary resources to execute the strategic plan. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to develop a “proof of concept” that can eventually be expanded to include additional deserving intercollegiate teams and coaches across the country.

“We are forever grateful to the KCWA and USA Wrestling for their willingness to help fund this initiative with proceeds from the USA Wrestling/Dollamur Kansas City Classic. This speaks volumes of the resolve within the wrestling community to help fund intercollegiate wrestling programs with proceeds from high school and youth wrestling events,” said Brian Smith, president of the NWCA.  

“As this pilot program develops over the next few years, we hope to provide many more deserving collegiate coaches with access to community and business leaders who are uniquely qualified to help strengthen their intercollegiate programs.  We envision that at some point in the future, every college coach will have the equivalent of a corporate board of advisors to help secure the necessary expertise and resources to flourish in this challenging economy,” said Mike Moyer, executive director of the NWCA.

“On behalf of the USA Wrestling/Dollamur Kansas City Wrestling Classic, it is an honor to work with Mike Moyer at NWCA and Rich Bender with USA Wrestling by helping some of the up and coming great Wrestling Programs,” said Missouri Business leader and member of the KCWA Kevin Hummer.

“Our Goal is simple. 'Wrestling Supports Wrestling.' We feel if other Wrestling Tournaments and other Business Leaders would stand up and help the NWCA and other programs USA Wrestling has to offer, we would all be more successful in helping out our brethren in the wrestling community.  We are all a family.  My Grandfather once told me, we always help out family members. This is our little way we can help out our family in the wrestling community,” said Hummer.