Event Schedule

About the Presenters

State Admin Tools

• Dave Mathews,  Director of Application Development and the developer behind USA Wrestling’s membership system, will lead a training session for new state leaders on effectively using their state admin permissions. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to gain confidence and master the tools you need to succeed as a state administrator!

Building a Wrestling Nation: 37 Years of Service and Storytelling

• After an extraordinary career dedicated to the sport and spirit of wrestling, Gary Abbott will soon be retiring from USA Wrestling. As a cornerstone of our organization and the wrestling community at large, Gary has played an instrumental role in shaping the voice and vision of USA Wrestling. We are thrilled to celebrate his incredible journey and look forward to hearing him share reflections on his career, the milestones he’s witnessed, and the legacy he leaves behind. Thank you, Gary, for your decades of service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to the wrestling family. You will always be a champion in our hearts.

Growing Together: Women’s Grassroots and Collegiate DI Wrestling

• Katie (Downing) Kriebel is a decorated wrestler with a Junior World Silver (1999) and two Senior World Bronze medals (2005, 2007). She broke barriers by wrestling on a boys' high school team in Indiana. She later joined the first college to offer women’s wrestling, training at the Olympic Training Center under Terry Steiner. With coaching experience spanning youth to national levels, she now serves as the Manager of Athlete Career Transition and Women’s Inclusion. At the summit, Katie will discuss building strong ecosystems between high school and collegiate women’s wrestling, the needs of new college clubs, and practical steps to help grow programs, including how to start one at your alma mater. She will also highlight upcoming initiatives like the 2026 USAW Women’s Collegiate Freestyle Club Nationals.

Tournament Experience & Efficiency

• Matt Njos lives in Anoka, Minnesota, with his wife Mandy and is a proud father of four and grandfather of four. With over 15 years of involvement in Minnesota USA Wrestling, including serving as Executive Director since 2020, Matt has focused on growing the organization by improving tournament operations. His expertise includes the benefits of reformatting tournaments, how to run session-based tournaments effectively, and strategies for increasing profitability from events.

USA Bracketing 101

• Dave Mathews, developer of USA Bracketing, a leading platform in tournament and event management, will personally guide you through the effective use of the event management software, sharing his extensive expertise and insights gained from years of experience in the industry.

It’s BEACH Wrestling: Sand, Sun, and FUN

• This session will cover key topics such as the basics of beach wrestling events, organizing grassroots beach programs, opportunities for all wrestlers, and the future of the sport. Ed Duncan is the current State Chair of North Carolina and serves on multiple USA Wrestling committees, including the JOWC, Youth Development Council, and Folkstyle Committee. With a lifelong commitment to grassroots event organization, Ed has directed the Beach Nationals in Carolina Beach for over a decade and founded the USA Beach Wrestling Tour of America in 2022. Ed represents the U.S. on the UWW Beach Wrestling Committee and led Team USA as coach at the 2019 ANOC World Beach Games. Jaimie McNab and Gary Abbott will also be sharing insights into this movement within the sport of wrestling.

Competing with other In-State Leagues

• Steve Richardson, State Director of Michigan USA Wrestling, will discuss the challenges posed by multiple leagues and wrestling opportunities in the state, as well as the initiatives underway to maintain the program’s leadership. Over the past decade, Steve has helped grow MUSAW from a few hundred members to over 8,000. He is also the Head Coach and Founder of the Michigan Matcats, one of the five largest wrestling clubs in the nation, and coaches at Brighton High School, a top-ranked Division 1 program in Michigan.

Growing Clubs and Cultivating a Positive Sport Experience

• Heath Eslinger, Co-Founder and CEO of A Better Way Athletes, brings over 20 years of distinguished coaching experience at both the high school and NCAA Division I levels. His passion for developing wrestling clubs and cultivating positive sports environments is both inspiring and impactful. Through his dynamic platform, Heath empowers individuals, teams, and organizations to embrace continuous improvement and pursue excellence. Currently traveling the country, he equips coaches and parents with practical, proven strategies to foster healthier, more positive youth sports experiences. We are excited to learn from Heath’s insights and look forward to the valuable takeaways his presentation will provide.

Transitioning to Freestyle for the Girls High School Season

• Kris Harrington, New York USAW State Chair, brings over two decades of coaching experience and has led Tioga Central High School to multiple individual and team state championships. He also serves as Director of the Finger Lakes Wrestling Club and has been a driving force in the advancement of high school wrestling across New York State. Eric Mullen has been the Varsity Wrestling Coach at Canandaigua Academy for 17 years. He currently serves as Assistant Coach at St. John Fisher University, Section V Girls Wrestling Coordinator, and Treasurer for NY/USAW. This session will highlight how New York USA Wrestling partnered with NYSPHSAA to support the transition to freestyle for the girls’ high school season. The presentation will focus on common challenges and practical strategies for overcoming them.

Arkansas USA Wrestling: Three Styles, One goal; Olympic Champions!

• Kristi Mann and Robert Moore will share about their Folkstyle series and how it translates to growth, development, and opportunities for Olympic styles integration. This session highlights Arkansas USAW’s tremendous growth through youth Folkstyle and the immediate impact on Freestyle and Greco participation and success. Kristi Mann, State Chair, has been the driving force of wrestling growth in Arkansas since it began in 2009. Kristi was recognized as the 2025 USAW State Chair of the Year. Robert Moore, Director of Folkstyle/Youth, led Arkansas youth wrestling's move from independent clubs to a fully sanctioned USAW state. Robert was recognized as the USAW Youth Development Person of the Year.