The Amateur Wrestling Alliance Convention concluded a week of busy wrestling business with its closing banquet, featuring moving addresses from Div. III National Champion Nick Ackerman of Simpson College and Dave Schultz WC founder Nancy Schultz.    The convention featured the three member organizations of the Amateur Wrestling Alliance: USA Wrestling, the National Wrestling Coaches Association and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. It was held in the Sheraton Northshore in Northbrook, Ill., a Chicago suburb.    Ackerman, who received fame when he won the national title as a senior, in spite of the challenge of being a double below-the-knee amputee. Ackerman talked about how his coaches, family and teammates provided the support and opportunity for him to achieve great things.    "What my coaches did was give me an opportunity," said Ackerman. "I encourage you to give the kids on your program who aren't necessarily gifted an opportunity."    Ackerman explained how his high school coach gave him a chance, even when he first started and was not winning much. He went on to place sixth in the Iowa state meet and was recruited to compete at Simpson College in Iowa.    "In college, coach Peterson gave me the same opportunity," he said. "Coach Peterson and I talked about my goals. My goals were to be national champion. I believe in myself and thought I could do it."    "In my first few years, I'd go 0-4 in tournaments, and come back black-eyed and beaten," he said. "Coach gave me the opportunity to improve. He kept pushing me, and did the same things for me as for those who were more talented. The things that changed in my career was a belief in myself. I'd look in the mirror and say 'national champion.' I was saying it every day. Soon I was believing it. If you say it enough, you believe it."    Ackerman upset defending national champion Nick Slack of Augsburg in the NCAA finals, in a wide open and memorable match.     "It all comes from believing in yourself, and having the opportunities my coaches, parents and teammates gave me. They all gave me the opportunity to be the best I could be. Whether you are less talented, or are perceived to be disabled, you just never know. Give them the same opportunity, all the way through. It worked for me," said Ackerman.    After answering questions from the audience, and telling a few good jokes, Ackerman received a standing ovation from the hundreds in attendance.    Schultz founded the national powerhouse Dave Schultz Wrestling Club after the murder of her husband, 1984 Olympic Champion Dave Schultz. She gave an emotional address about how wrestling helped her and became her extended worldwide family.    "On January 26, 1996, Dave Schultz was killed," said Nancy Schultz. "On January 27, the world of wrestling came to my doorstep. The united forces of wrestling came to my rescue. You loved my children. You came with me to the police station, to the morgue, to the court trials. Together we formed a family. Wrestling is all that is good and strong and right about life."    "We need to be pulling in the same direction," said Schultz. "We are now working together, on the convention, with the AWA, with the World Championships coming to New York. Together, we need to encourage women's wrestling, stand up for our college programs, contact the media and promote the sport, demand integrity and fairness. Together, we can do this."    "I am so thankful to be a part of this family," she concluded. "You are the very best people in the world. I look forward to wokring with you to make the sport better and stronger."    The Amateur Wrestling Alliance Convention featured a number of different functions, all brought together in a full week of activities. It combined the NWCA Convention with the USA Wrestling Board of Directors meetings and the USA Wrestling State Leaders Summit. The convention also featured a trade show, as well as technique clinics from legends Tom Brands, John Smith, Bill Scherr, Bobby Douglas, Grey Simons and T.J. Williams.    NWCA Scholastic Director Jack Holloway announced its high school award winners for the year. The Scholastic Head Coach of the Year is Dan Zotterelli of Kent County High School in Maryland. The Scholastic Assistant Coach of the Year is Robert Nelson of Flowing Wells High School in Arizona. The Wrestler of the Year is Steve Mocco of Blair Academy in New Jersey.    The NWCA also recognized its College Coaches of the Year. The Head Coach of the Year was J Robinson of the Univ. of Minnesota. The Assistant Coach of the Year was Jim Heffernan of the Univ. of Illinois.    The banquet ended a busy day of wrestling activity. The USA Wrestling Board of Directors held its semi-annual meeting, which featured the approval of the 2001-02 annual budget as well as Committee elections. The USA Wrestling State Leaders Summit concluded with a focus on volunteers, presented by Lesley Baker. The NWCA Convention featured its final technique sessions, as well as its annual scholastic and NCAA meetings.    Bruce Baumgartner, USA Wrestling's President, was upbeat about this year's convention in his address during the banquet.    "We will see a lot of good things come out of this in the future," said Baumgartner. "It is bringing the people in our sport who really care together. We are finding ways to grow and preserve our sport."    "The great thing about the sport of wrestling is that it continues to teach lessons," said Roger Reina, the NWCA President. "That is what keeps me involved and passionate. The techniques keep expanding; the sport is constantly changing. It is a mosaic, where we learn from so many sources and influences, and share it with others in our own way."    After an outstanding meal, moving speeches and a weekend of goodwill and learning, the 2001 AWA Convention was concluded. Next year, the AWA Convention is scheduled for Stillwater, Okla., June 5-8, to be held alongside the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Honors Weekend.    "It has been a wonderful opportunity for the leaders of the NWCA and USA Wrestling to get together, share ideas and improve the sport," said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. "We are excited to move forward on joint projects, such as the AWA Convention, which will increase the efficiency of wrestling organizations and help us to make wrestling better."    "We have taken another giant step towards a true AWA Convention," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "It created every opportunity to foster dialogue on how to improve the sport."