BRUCE BAUMGARTNER ELECTED NEW PRESIDENT OF USA WRESTLING; MORGAN, STOKES, SCHERR AND STECKLEIN ELECTED AS OFFICERS 
  
 Bruce Baumgartner of Edinboro, Pa., one of the greatest Olympic athletes of all time, was elected to a two-year term as the president of USA Wrestling, during its semi-annual Board of Directors meeting held in Stillwater, Okla., August 22. 
  
 USA Wrestling is the national governing body for amateur wrestling in the United States and is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and the international wrestling federation (FILA). 
  
 Baumgartner is the athletic director at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where he was the head wrestling coach for seven years. He previously served on USA Wrestling¹s Board of Directors as an at-large member. 
  
 On July 24, 1998, Baumgartner announced his official retirement from competition. He won gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, as well as a silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and a bronze medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. He also won three World Championship gold medals (1986, 1993, 1995). 
  
 He was bestowed with the ultimate honor for a U.S. Olympic athlete when he was selected by his peers to serve as the U.S. flagbearer for the Opening Ceremonies at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Ga. He was also selected as the 1995 James E. Sullivan Award winner, as the nation¹s top amateur athlete, one of only two wrestlers to ever receive this prestigious award. 
  
 Baumgartner is the most successful athlete in international wrestling history, with a record 13 World or Olympic medals. He is also the only freestyle wrestler from any nation to win four Olympic medals. 
  
 He holds a host of U.S. wrestling records, including the most Senior National titles (17), most Olympic medals (4), most World medals (9), most World Cup gold medals (8), most Pan American Games medals (4), and others. 
  
 As a coach, Baumgartner¹s Edinboro teams posted a 70-36 record, and were among the best teams in Div. I wrestling. He led the Scots to a 14-0 dual meet record and sixth place in the NCAA Championships in the 1996-97 season, and his 1994-95 team placed 11th in the NCAA Championships. He coached two-time NCAA All-American Lou Rosselli, who qualified for the 1996 Olympic team, and 12 other NCAA All-American athletes. 
  
 He was a 1982 NCAA champion for Indiana State Univ., and was a three-time NCAA finalist. He is originally from Haledon, N.J. He and wife Linda have three children, Bryan, Zachary and Dylan. 
  
 Baumgartner succeeds Larry Sciacchetano of Baton Rouge, La. as president, who completed his second two-year term, the maximum term limit. 
  
 "With our capital campaign, which is the joining together of wrestling with USA Wrestling, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and the National Wrestling Coaches Association, it¹s an exciting time to be president," said Baumgartner. "We have a great staff and a great Board of Directors, and it should be a super time for growth for the sport. There are obstacles, as well, but we look forward to taking on the challenges." 
  
 "I am flattered that the organization voted me as president," he said. "Our key to success will be the organization coming together and getting behind our efforts to succeed." 
  
 "I've always said that I wanted to give back to the sport when I stopped competing," he said. "I believe I have done that as a coach, and a USA Wrestling Board member and as a member of NCAA committees. This gives me an opportunity to help the overall organization. We have such a great group of volunteers, from the grass roots to the Olympic level, and to be their president is a great honor." 
  
 USA Wrestling¹s Board of Directors also elected four other officers for the next two years. Duane Morgan of San Jose, Calif. was elected as first vice-president. Van Stokes of Clarksville, Tenn. was elected as second vice-president. Bill Scherr of Evanston, Ill. was re-elected as secretary. Bill Stecklein of Bensalem, Pa. was elected as treasurer. 
  
 Morgan served as second vice-president for USA Wrestling for the last two years. He is the Chairperson of USA Wrestling's Junior Division. Morgan has been an active leader in California USA Wrestling for many years. 
  
 Stokes represents the Armed Forces on USA Wrestling's Board of Directors. He previously served a term as USA Wrestling's treasurer. 
  
 Scherr has been USA Wrestling's secretary for the last two years. He won an Olympic bronze medal in freestyle wrestling in 1988, and was a World champion in 1985. Scherr won medals on the World and Olympic level for five straight years (1985-89), and was recently elected into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He was an athlete representative on the Board of Directors prior to his election as secretary. 
  
 Stecklein serves as chairperson of USA Wrestling's Public Relations Committee, and has been a member of the Finance Committee. He is a world-class wrestling referee, having worked at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games. Stecklein has received the golden whistle award, the highest honor in international officiating. 
  
 USA Wrestling also elected at-large members to the Board of Directors, who will also serve two year terms. They include Scott Beck of Boulder, Colo., Stan Dziedzic of Marietta, Ga., Nancy Schultz of Foster City, Calif., Chuck Elvin of Lenexa, Kan., Fritz Lehrke of Rothschild, Wis. and Jim Ravannack of Kenner, La. 
  
 Two positions on USA Wrestling's Executive Committee were also up for election and went to Rick Tucci of Pembroke Pines, Fla. and Greg Strobel of Bethlehem, Pa. 
  
 Four new members were elected to the USA Wrestling Steering Committee: Afsoon Johnston of Phoenix, Ariz., Mike Hagerty of Blue Springs, Mo., Larry Sciacchetano of Baton Rouge, La. and Bob Bubb of Clarion, Pa.