Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC) was named 2011 Women's Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the first time in her career that she has received this award.

Bernard won a bronze medal at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. at the 2011 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey in September, one of two U.S. women wrestlers to claim a bronze medal. Her performance helped lead the USA to a tie for third place in the team standings. With her medal performance, Bernard qualified the USA to compete at the 2012 Olympic Games at her weight class.

At the World Championships, Bernard won three straight matches against top international opponents. She opened with a win over Jenny Fransson of Sweden, 7-6, 2-1. In the second round, she had a come-from-behind third-period pin over Olympic champion Jiao Wang of China, 4-6, 8-7, 1:56. In the quarterfinals, she stopped World silver medalist Ohenewa Akuffo of Canada, with a second period fall.

Bernard was beaten in the semifinals by four-time World champion Stanka Zlateva of Bulgaria. In the bronze-medal bout, Bernard stopped 2004 Olympic silver medalist Guzel Manyurova of Kazakhstan by fall in 1:40.

Bernard qualified for the U.S. World Team with a victory at the World Team Trials in Oklahoma City, Okla., defeating Iris Smith in the finals in two straight matches. She was also a 2011 U.S. Open champion in Cleveland, Ohio in April, beating Smith in the finals by fall. It was her third career U.S. Open title.

She won two international events held in Canada, the Guelph Open in January and the Hargobind International in November. Bernard was also a bronze medalist at the Poland Open and the Grand Prix of Tourcoing in France.

She also competed for the USA at the Women’s World Cup in France in March, where the USA finished second as a team. 

Bernard was fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games, and also competed on the 2009 U.S. World Team. She was a 2010 University World champion, and won two Junior World titles (2003, 2005). She was also a Junior World bronze medalist in 2006.

She competed in college in Canada, winning five CIS Canadian college titles competing for the Univ. of Regina and the Univ. of Alberta. A native of New Ulm, Minn., Bernard won her first U.S. Open title on the Senior level while still in high school. She was the 2004 ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year.

PAST WOMEN'S WRESTLER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
2011 – Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn., Gator WC
2010 – Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo., Gator WC
2009 – Deanna Rix, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC
2008 - Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo., Gator WC
2007 - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC
2006 - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo., New York AC
2005 - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. U.S. Army
2004 - Sara McMann, Lock Haven, Pa., Sunkist Kids
2003 - Patricia Miranda, Colorado Springs, Colo., Dave Schultz WC
2002 - Kristie Marano, Albany, N.Y., ATWA
2001 - Toccara Montgomery, Cleveland, Ohio, Sunkist Kids
2000 - Kristie Marano, Albany, N.Y., ATWA
1999 - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids
1998 - Kristie Stenglein, Albany, N.Y., ATWA
1997 - Sandra Bacher, San Jose, Calif., Dave Schultz WC
1996 - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids
1995 - Vickie Zummo, Hamburg, N.J., New York AC
1994 - Shannon Williams, Ontario, Calif., Sunkist Kids
1993 - Tricia Saunders, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids