The WWF had their annual meeting, WWCA held their convention, and the rules meetings are underway; sounds like wrestling season to me.  I’m wishing all of you a good start to the 2013-14 wrestling season; and hoping for good health and success.

The Wisconsin Wrestling Federation has their schedule in place and that information will be available on the website very soon. Our Kids Regional Qualifier has a name change, be looking for Kids State Qualifier in the future. In the past we’ve had members ask why there were kids from different areas competing in other regionals.  It is nearly impossible to manage and control where a member competes in the qualifiers.  By changing the name it fits the purpose of the tournament - better. The qualifiers will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2014 - in the eight districts with Friday night weigh-ins.  Most of the districts are hosting satellite weigh-in sites, those sites and times will be posted on the website. The WWF State Folkstyle Tournament will be held on the 28th and 29th of March at the Aliant Center in Madison.  Looking forward to 2015, there will be a requirement that all current coaches will be required to have a minimum of a Copper Education card in order to be matside. The Copper is the first of four education steps that are available through USA Wrestling.  The Copper Clinic can be taken online at www.themat.com; it is a good program and opens eyes to the sport, the expected conduct  of participants & coaches and offers many good ideas for use in coaching.  The Bronze, Silver and Gold expand on the philosophy, technique, leadership skills and club management. Those levels start with class settings and some expand into required tasks.

USA Wrestling has once again offered the High School Team Membership program to our Wisconsin high schools. The total fee for an entire team is $300.00 annually and that provides a current year membership card to all team members, it provides secondary accident insurance, access to USA products, opportunities to compete in USA sanctioned events and the USA Wrestling magazine.  The fee includes the sanctioning of the program at the school - which is also a benefit for liability coverage. There are a few states in the country that have the privilege to participate in this program, I’d encourage you to consider it for your high school team.  It is as simple as providing athlete information to USA Wrestling.  All eligible athletes need to be on the skinfold roster.

The WWF will having training opportunities next spring for USA members.  Check our website, ask your district directors or communicate with your high school or club coach for details on times, locations and procedures.  Last year was our first introduction to the training plan and it was very successful; the sites will be located throughout the state on four different dates.  One of the members that attended those clinics was Josh Bird from Burlington, he was crowned a Cadet National champion in Fargo last July, he and many others reaped the benefits of those opportunities.  We will be getting information for Regional Tournaments for Cadets and Juniors in other areas of the country.  Those are great opportunities to compete against some of the best in the country.

Yours in wrestling,

Dave Black, Wisconsin Wrestling Federation Chairman