New Mexico Wrestling - USA

FEBRUARY 27, 2025

TO:       SOUTHERN PLAINS COACHES, OFFICIALS & LEADERS

FR:       RUSTY DAVIDSON

RE:       NATIONAL COACHES’ COUNCIL UPDATE / CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Coaches, Officials and Leaders,

I hope this update finds you well, as our Scholastic season winds down.  Most states have celebrated their High School State Championships and we’re into “Money” month for our men’s and women’s Collegiate programs.

Refer to   themat.com   then click on Events & Results, to plan your spring and summer.  For us, in the Southern Plains, please note changes in both Site and Dates for our Regional Championship.  We will be at the Oklahoma City Convention Center the weekend of May 16 – 18.

This change in schedule pushes our timeline for selecting our region’s Developmental Coach of the Year (DECOY) recipients.  Each year, we go through the process of identifying three coaches from the Southern Plains to be honored at our championship, then forwarded for consideration as National Decoy.

Our region selects our two Men’s DECOY outright (One FS + One GR).  We forward our Women’s DECOY selection to the National Women’s Age Group Committee, who then names award winners.

Our Region takes pride in accomplishing this task On Time and with full transparency.  Please do your part.  First, get with your peers and SEND ME One Name per Style, per State, along with a brief Nomination Bio.   Do this Before April 1st.

Next, I will share all names nominated with the entire Region, along with Bios.  We will accept voting through April 30th.  With oversight from Missouri’s Mike Tuck, I will tabulate votes and announce winners to The Council, to the Region, and to USA Wrestling’s Coach Education Manager, on or before May 3rd, two weeks prior to our event.

Each of our recipients will be honored during our Championship event.  Their names will be forwarded for national consideration.  Our National DECOY recipients are named and celebrated in Fargo.

In Other News…   Please celebrate an addition and a promotion within our National Teams Staff.  Olympic Champion Sarah Hildebrandt joins us, as Coach Steiner’s Assistant and Resident Coach.  Katie Kriebel now has a title that’s about a paragraph long !  Her task is simple, vital and demanding:  She will assist collegiate institutions in the wildfire growth of Women’s programs, as well as developing education and opportunity for our female athletes to make efficient transition into the coaching ranks. 

Katie and Developmental Coach Jessica Medina – Bunker are piecing together Women’s-Specific Regional Training Camps for this spring and early summer.  Keep your ear to the ground for opportunities.

Please get me your nominations / bios for WM and FS Southern Plains DECOY !  Enjoy this final month of the Collegiate Season.  Prepare well for our upcoming Age Group Championships and Team Trials. 

With Love,  Rusty