Paul Defosse of West Warwick, R.I. has been named 2001 USA Wrestling Kids Person of the Year by USA Wrestling, the national governing body for amateur wrestling in the United States.    Defosse has been active as a coach, pairing official and club leader for more than a dozen years in the state. He first got involved in 1988 as the director of West Warwick Youth Wrestling. He currently serves as the Vice President for West Warwick Youth Wrestling.    He became the State Pairing Director for Rhode Island in 1991. He has served as a pairing official at USA Wrestling Regional and National events since 1994. He is currently a P1C member of the U.S. Wrestling Officials Association.    Defosse has set up a web site for tournament postings for all of New England. This web page allows each state to post information on freestyle, Greco-Roman, folkstyle and women's tournaments from across the region. This service has helped increase participation in these wrestling events.    In recent years, Defosse has worked hard to help increase participation in Kids Division folkstyle and international style events for both boys and girls. He has also assisted in helping increase Rhode Island's participation levels as USA Wrestling Regional and National tournaments. He has volunteered to serve as the Women's Director in the state, and is working to encourage more females to wrestle across New England.    Local tournaments in Rhode Island have also grown in size and prestige as a result of Defosse's leadership. In the past, local events had just over 200 participants, but did not complete until 6:00 p.m. During the current folkstyle season, the number of entries had increased at events up to 340 participants, yet the tournaments are being completed by 2:30 p.m. Rhode Island events are now drawing athletes from neighboring states Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York because of the level of competition and the efficiency of the tournament operations.    Defosse is recognized by his peers as a tireless worker on the local, state and regional levels of USA Wrestling. The state association in Rhode Island has grown and improved due to the efforts of this talented and dedicated leader. For this, USA Wrestling recognizes Paul Defosse as its Kids Person of the Year.    USA Wrestling Kids Person of the Year  1978 - Bill Knapp, New York  1979 - Ken Coover, Kansas  1980 - Gary Hoyt, Nebraska  1981 - Pat Alexander. Washington  1982 - Dave Gliniecki, Washington  1983 - John Spencer, Idaho  1984 - Jerry Opbroek, South Dakota  1985 - Joe Edmonson, Nebraska  1986 - David Rudrud, Wisconsin  1987 - Virgil Moon, Oregon  1988 - Ron Wagner, North Dakota  1989 - Paul Corder, Missouri  1990 - Ron Reichert, Illinois  1991 - Randy Staab, Washington  1992 - Dan Drinkwine, Minnesota  1993 - Mike McCoy, Florida  1994 - Roger Hanson, Idaho  1995 - Norman Osteen, North Carolina  1996 - Kathy Hopkins, Wyoming  1997 - Steve Wachal, Iowa  1998 - Virgil Moon, Oregon  1999 - Frank Rader, North Carolina  2000 - Sue Siar, Pennsylvania  2001 - Paul Defosse, Rhode Island