Tom Keen of Cliff Keen Athletic and Joe Miller of All-American Wrestling Supply present check to CPOW Director of Development John Bardis at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas. To see the entire photo with all U.S. World and Olympic Team members, please see the bottom of this article. Larry Slater photo

Prior to the finals on the last day of the U.S. Open in Las Vegas, Nev. on April 20, Joe Miller of All American Wrestling Supply and Tom Keen of Cliff Keen Athletic presented a check for $25,129.00 to John Bardis, Director of Development and Finance of the Committee to Preserve Olympic Wrestling (CPOW) on the raised center mat to support the Keep Olympic Wrestling effort.

This donation was among the most significant contributions to the Keep Olympic Wrestling effort in the United States to date. 

During the check presentation, past members of U.S. Olympic and World Teams, posed for photos and videos with Miller, Keen and Bardis.

Working together, these two companies developed, marketed and sold the official Keep Olympic Wrestling shirt, with $20.20 from each sale going directly to CPOW. This popular shirt was a hot item within the wrestling community, and not only helped fund the cause but was a major factor in helping publicize the issue in communities around the nation and across the world.

All-American Wrestling Supply is the official merchandiser for USA Wrestling, and Cliff Keen Athletic is also a partner with USA Wrestling. Both companies have a long history of supporting wrestling in the United States and are leaders in the Keep Olympic Wrestling movement.

“The wrestling community in the United States and the leadership of CPOW truly appreciate the tremendous support that All-American Wrestling Supply and Cliff Keen Athletic have provided to the Keep Olympic Wrestling movement. The success of the official shirt which they designed and marketed has made a major impact in our quest to retain wrestling on the Olympic program,” said Bardis.

A new text to donate program was then announced at the U.S. Open, as the athletes on the stage pulled out their cell phones to make the first donations to the program. Anybody can now donate $10 to the Keep Olympic Wrestling Fund by texting the word “wrestle” to 501501. This text to donate program will be repeated at USA Wrestling events in the upcoming months.