Olympic medalist Rodney Smith assistant wrestling coach at his alma mater, Western New England Colle

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
11/16/2001


Western New England College, a Division III university located in Springfield, Mass., has named 1992 Olympic bronze medalist Rodney Smith as an assistant wrestling coach.    Smith captured a bronze medal in Greco-Roman wrestling at 149.5 pounds in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. He also represented the United States in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga., placing ninth at 149.75 pounds.    He placed second in 1995 World Military Games. He was a 1992 and 1996 U.S. Nationals Greco-Roman champion, and won a silver medal at the 1994 Pan American Championships.    Smith will be working with head wrestling coach Bob Skelton, who started the Western New England College (WNEC) wrestling program in 1975 and has served as head coach of the Golden Bears for the past 26 years. Smith competed for Skelton during his college career at WNEC prior to joining the U.S. Army.     Smith placed fourth in the 1987 NCAA Div. III National Championships and fifth in the 1988 NCAA Div. III National Championships. He studied sociology and criminal justice at WNEC. Smith also attended high school in Springfield, placing second in the Massachusetts state meet for Putnam Vocational Tech High School in 1984.