USA Wrestling, the national governing body for amateur wrestling in the United States, has set records in five major membership categories during the 2011-2012 year. 

The 2011-2012 membership year, which ended on August 31, 2012, set annual records for athletes, coaches, clubs, and sanctioned events, in addition to female athlete members.

During the 2011-2012  year, USA Wrestling registered 166,226  athlete members, topping the previous mark of 156,559 set during the 2010-11 year. 

The new record for coach members was set with 24,020 coaches, breaking the record of 22,684 coaches registered in the 2007-2008 membership year.

For the eighth consecutive year, USA Wrestling chartered clubs reached a new level, climbing to 4,070 clubs. The previous high was 3,846 clubs, which was set in the previous membership year.
 
Sanctioned events rose to a record 2,023 in 2011-2012, an increase from the 1,954 events which were sanctioned last year.

Female athlete membership reached an all-time high in 2011-2012 with 4,724 registered, up from the previous record of 4,226 set in 2010-11.
 
The membership records were possible through the combined team effort of USA Wrestling's volunteer leaders on the regional, state and local levels along with the national staff, which provided the most comprehensive program of wrestling activities in the nation.

USA Wrestling also saw an increase of officials members, up to 2,663 officials which beat the previous year membership of 2,363. It fell just short of the record, however, which was set five years ago.

Seven state associations showed increases in all five of the major membership categories: total athletes, coaches, clubs, sanctions and officials: Georgia, Hawaii, Michigan, Montana, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

Special mention goes to Utah, which saw its athlete member total more than double from the previous year, with a substantial increase in its coach membership as well.

States with an increase in athlete members included: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

States with an increase in coach members included: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

States with an increase in clubs included: Alabama, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New York, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.

States with an increase in sanctioned events included: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

States with an increase in officials members included: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin.
 
“There are many reasons that we saw membership growth. We have a superior product in the wrestling marketplace and we are confident in that product. We have a tremendous group of volunteers in our state associations who are providing the services to our members across the nation. The last two years, we have also looked at our membership structure and tried to figure out if a one-size-fits-all approach is the best idea. We have explored different kinds of membership. We are pleased with the options that we have put forward to our membership,” said Tony Black, USA Wrestling’s Manager of State Services.
 
USA Wrestling has high expectations for the 2012-2103 season, and will work hard to continue to increase opportunities within wrestling at all levels across the nation.