Wince and Smith named FILA Junior/University Persons of the Year
<< Back to Articles
John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
08/20/2003
Dick Wince of Boiling Springs, N.C. and P.J. Smith of Pembroke, N.C. have been named the FILA Junior/University Persons of the Year by USA Wrestling, the national governing body for the sport of amateur wrestling. This award goes to a leader(s) who works with athletes and programs on the FILA Junior (ages 17-20) and University (ages 18-24) levels. Wince has served for the past 14 years as the head wrestling coach at Gardner-Webb Univ. He was instrumental in helping to coordinate the North Carolina Junior National Team's first-ever trip to the National Junior Duals in Enid, Okla. this year. Wince has consistently served as a coach with North Carolina's Junior National teams and has also coached at the developmental camps that prepare Junior-level wrestlers for the Junior National Championships in Fargo, N.D. He also has established the Bulldog Wrestling Club, which provides monetary and developmental support to youth wrestlers throughout the state. He is also a Category 1 official with the U.S. Wrestling Officials Association. Smith is currently the North Carolina State Coaches Chairman. He is also the head wrestling coach at UNC-Pembroke where he has served for 21 years. He has previously served as President for USA Wrestling-North Carolina and has been a member of the state's Board of Directors for North Carolina Wrestling for 20 years. Smith has hosted a major USA Wrestling-North Carolina tournament for the past 20 years at UNC-Pembroke, including playing host to the freestyle and Greco-Roman state championships for the past four years. He is also a Junior National Team coach. Smith, a NCEP Silver-level coach, is also active with the American Red Cross as a volunteer and board member. Both have been active working with FILA Junior and University age athletes in their state programs. FILA Junior/University Person of the Year 1994 - Bill Crum, New Jersey 1995 - Brad Traviola, Illinois 1996 - Rich Estrella, Colorado, Rob Hermann, Florida, Dan Mello, Virginia and Tony Thomas, Georgia 1997 - Doug Paulson, Minnesota 1998 - Ginny Errett, Indiana 1999 - Joe Russell, Minnesota 2000 - Mike Hess, Washington 2001 - Norm Osteen, South Carolina 2002 - Chris Horpel, California 2003 - Dick Wince, North Carolina, and P.J. Smith, North Carolina