PENNSYLVANIA WRESTLING HEROES MCCOY AND KOLAT AMONG THOSE TO BENEFIT FROM FUNDS RAISED BY "WRESTLING FOR THE NEXT MILLENNIUM" CAMPAIGN 
 Wrestling's leading organizations have joined forces to raise funds for the future of the sport, which will assist athletes and coaches on all levels. Those who will benefit directly from this campaign will include Pennsylvania residents and wrestling heroes Kerry McCoy and Cary Kolat. 
 This announcement is being released during the week of the NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships, which are hosted at The Penn State University in State College, Pa., March 18-20. 
 "Wrestling for the Next Millennium" is a joint capital campaign, conducted by USA Wrestling, the National Wrestling Coaches Association and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, with a goal to raise $10 million for the sport by the end of 2000. 
 McCoy and Kolat, both two-time NCAA champions,  are currently top Olympic hopefuls and members of Freestyle Team USA, the U.S. national team in freestyle wrestling. Among the goals of the "Wrestling for the Next Millennium: campaign is to raise $6 million to endow the USA Wrestling National Teams program. 
 Both McCoy and Kolat are currently receiving monthly stipends for training support from USA Wrestling as part of the Team USA program. Both athletes receive valuable coaching support from USA Wrestling's National Freestyle Coach Bruce Burnett. In addition, both grapplers are able to attend training camps and participate in international wrestling tours because they have earned the right to be members of the national team. 
 By endowing the National team program, USA Wrestling will be able to provide this support for McCoy and Kolat for the rest of their competitive careers, and well as ensure that the future stars of the sport who one day will take their place will also have the same opportunities to achieve their dreams. 
 McCoy, who is the assistant wrestling coach at Penn State University, is currently the No. 1 ranked super heavyweight in the United States at 286 pounds. He placed fourth in the 1998 World Championships, his first World tournament on the Senior level, and was a silver medalist at the 1998 Goodwill Games.  
 McCoy was an outstanding athlete for Penn State, winning two NCAA titles for the Nittany Lions at heavyweight. He was also an outstanding student and campus leader, serving as President on the Penn State student advisory board. McCoy originally hails from Longwood, N.Y., where he was a New York state high school champion. 
 He is now the Chairperson of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee for the NCAA, the leading voice for student-athletes within the NCAA structure. McCoy is also very active with USA Wrestling, serving as a member of a number of standing committees. 
 "Kerry McCoy is a true student-athlete, a testament to the character that we hope to develop in our future USA Wrestling stars," said Jim Scherr, USA Wrestling Executive Director. 
 Kolat has become a gold-medal favorite on the world level, after claiming a World silver medal in 1997 and a World bronze medal in 1998 at 138.75 pounds. He also won gold medals at the 1998 World Cup and the 1998 Goodwill Games.  
 Kolat is a legend in the Pennsylvania wrestling community. He was a four-time high school state champion from Jefferson-Morgan High School in Rices Landing. He was undefeated as a high school wrestler and was named Outstanding Wrestler in the state meet all four years. He placed in the Olympic Trials while still in high school.  
 In college, Kolat first attended Penn State and was a two-time All-American, then transferred to Lock Haven Univ., where he won two NCAA titles. Kolat has helped as a coach for the Lock Haven team, as well. 
 "Pennsylvania has a great wrestling legacy, and Cary Kolat is, perhaps, the greatest athlete the Keystone State has produced," said Scherr. "Our staff is at the 1999 NCAA Championships to support and monitor our future international stars. For many, it all started here at the NCAA Championships." 
 "Wrestling for the Next Millennium" could also affect McCoy and Kolat later in their careers. If either athlete decides to continue coaching after their competitive careers are over, the $1 million slated for the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA)  will assist their careers. The NWCA will use their support to endow their national office, provide coaches education programs and help protect and preserve the sport on all levels. 
 Should these athletes achieve their goals on the mat and in the sport and continue to excel, they may one day be recognized by their peers for their achievement. The National Wrestling Hall of Fame will receive $2 million from the capital campaign to preserve the history of the sport and honor its heroes. Some of the achievements of these two great athletes are already included at the Hall of Fame - and they both have to potential to perhaps be elected to the Hall of Fame someday. 
 The other element of "Wrestling for the Next Millennium" is USA Wrestling's Beat the Streets program, which will provide wrestling opportunities for urban youth. Both McCoy and Kolat were World champions on the youth level in USA Wrestling programs. Young athletes of the future may have the opportunities to achieve greatness, just like McCoy and Kolat, because of the Beat the Street programs. 
 "Wrestling for the Next Millennium" is chaired by business leader Scott Beck, a former chairman of Blockbuster Video and founder of Boston Chicken and Einstein Bros. Bagels. Honorary co-chairs are Dan Gable and Nancy Schultz, widow of Olympic champion Dave Schultz. 
 The committee's goal is to raise $10 million by January 2000.  Of this total, $6 million will endow its national teams, which will ensure living and training expenses; $2 million is planned for expansion and renovation of the Stillwater, Okla.-based Wrestling Hall of Fame; and $1 million will go to the National Wrestling Coaches Association.  The final $1 million is planned for USA Wrestling's new "Beat the Streets" program, an aggressive program to promote the sport at the local level. 
 Each program to be endowed by the campaign could be named in honor of a donor. Pledges can be earmarked for specific programs and can be made in lump sums or monthly payments. 
  For information on participating in the Wrestling for the Next Millennium campaign, contact USA Wrestling, 6155 Lehman Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, (800)999-8531.