Standing L-to-R in photo: Joe Moore (North Chicago Sectional Director), Kevin Formanski (West Chicago Sectional Director), Tony Black, Jim Considine (IKWF Chairman), Chauncey Carrick (Director Freestyle/Greco Operations), and Jason Salley (Officials Chairman - Freestyle & Greco). Seated L-to-R: Tucker Formanski, Gabe Carrick, & Adam Carrick.

CAROL STREAM, Ill. – Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation (IKWF), USA Wrestling’s state association in Illinois, has continued the strong grassroots support to help keep wrestling in the Olympic Games by donating $2,000 to the Committee to Preserve Olympic Wrestling (CPOW).

Representatives from IKWF, including Illinois State Chairman for USA Wrestling Jim Considine, presented the check to USA Wrestling’s Tony Black on June 9 at Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream, Ill.

“I was stunned.  That’s the best word I can use to describe it,” Considine said about when he first had heard wrestling would not be on the 2020 Olympic program.  “I couldn’t believe it, so at a regularly scheduled [IKWF] board meeting I recommended that we make a donation as soon as possible.”

IKWF is the largest USA Wrestling state association with over 15,000 athletes, 3,300 coaches, and 370 officials, and has established a tradition of success in USA Wrestling national events at all levels.

“It’s all good for the kids of Illinois, to get them recognition and hopefully get them scholarships for school,” Considine said.  “We’re here to do that and we’re here to help USA Wrestling grow.”

On May 29 the International Olympic Committee Executive Board announced that wrestling was in a group of three sports which have been selected for the short list of candidate sports for the final provisional sport spot in the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games.  The other sports which were named to the short list of sports were squash and baseball/softball.

These sports will be presented for a final vote by the entire IOC General Assembly in its meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in September. Only one of these sports will be included in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.

Illinois joins a growing list of USA Wrestling state associations which have worked in their communities to raise money for the Keep Olympic Wrestling effort.