Pat Short of Inver Grove Heights, Minn. has been named the 2002 Woman of the Year by USA Wrestling, the national governing body for amateur wrestling. This award recognizes an outstanding woman for her contributions to the sport of wrestling.    Short is respected as one of the most talented and experienced pairing officials in the nation, as well as a supporter of wrestling at all levels.    She became involved in wrestling in high school, as a wrestling cheerleader. She married her high school sweetheart, wrestler Jim Short, who went on to become the head coach at nationally respected Simley High School in Minnesota for 30 years.    Her four sons were all Minnesota state high school wrestling champions, winning a combined seven state titles between them. Sons John, Chris, Will and Wade all excelled at wrestling, and Pat became an active wrestling parent and pairing official as her sons moved through the wrestling ranks.    She began pairing in Minnesota in 1973, and began working national-level events in 1979. She holds the highest rankings for pairing officials, the FILA-E on the international level and the P1-E on the national level. She and husband Jim were among the leaders who helped build Minnesota/USA Wrestling into one of the most active and successful state organizations.    Short served as the National Pairing Director for two years in the early 1990's, and also served on the USWOA Board of Directors. She was the winner of the 1999 Bernie Norris Award as the Pairing Master of the Year, presented by the U.S. Wrestling Officials Association. She worked the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga., as well as the World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling in Toledo, Ohio, along with every national championship hosted by USA Wrestling on all of its levels.    Within Minnesota/USA Wrestling, she has served as the State Pairings Director on and off for 25 of the last 30 years. She has attended every ASICS Junior National Championships except one since she began working the competition in 1980. She is also creates the annual Junior Nationals quilt, made from state wrestling t-shirts, which is raffled off each year during the Junior Nationals.    Short works as the Head Boutmaster of the Minnesota state high school championships, with includes three classes, and holds competition for individuals and dual meet teams. She was the first woman to work on the floor at the Minnesota state meet when she became involved with the competition.    She has also run the Minnesota Christmas Tournament since its inception, one of the most respected high school tournaments in the entire nation. Short is also head pairing official for the Ninth Grade state wrestling championships in Minnesota.     Short owned and operated a respected dance studio for 17 years. She is now working at a local middle school and still serves as a dance instructor.    USA Wrestling will be honoring its Man and Woman of the Year during a special reception in Fargo, N.D. on Wednesday, July 23, where they will be recognized by their peers at the ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet National Championships.    PAST USA WRESTLING WOMAN OF THE YEAR WINNERS  2002 - Pat Short  2001 - Paula McGahee  2000 - Sandy Stevens  1999 - Sue Siar  1998 - Nancy Schultz  1997 - Tricia Saunders