Our Mission
Our mission is to unite wrestling officials in a shared commitment to charitable giving that directly strengthens the wrestling community. We lead initiatives that provide scholarships for dedicated wrestlers and grants for recognizing officials with years of distinguished service, ensuring that they receive the support and recognition they deserve.
Our Vision
We envision a wrestling community where generosity builds lasting legacies. By fostering a culture of giving, we honor the values of hard work, perseverance and sportsmanship that wrestling instills while inspiring future generations to carry these traditions forward.
Our Initiatives
We create opportunities that give back to the wrestling community by reinvesting in the people and programs.
We empower wrestlers with scholarships to pursue academic and athletic success.
We provide grants to celebrate officials with decades of service, dedication, and leadership in shaping the sport.
WOU Executive Director Tim Shiels recognizes Clark Conover as the first recipient of the Service Leadership Award at the ICWOA Conference in October, 2025.
Clark Conover, ICWOA President, Awarded Inaugural WOU Service Leadership Award
WOU Honors Clark Conover with Inaugural Service Leadership Award
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — October 4, 2025 — Veteran wrestling official and current ICWOA President Clark Conover has been named the first-ever recipient of the Service Leadership Award by Wrestling Officials United (WOU). The honor was presented during the annual Intercollegiate Wrestling Officials Association (ICWOA) Conference held in St. Louis, Missouri.
Selected unanimously, Conover was recognized for over 20 years of outstanding and selfless contributions to collegiate wrestling and to the professional development of wrestling officials both on and off the mat.
Conover, who modestly describes himself as “only slightly better than a .500 wrestler in high school,” credits Division I Championship official Del Hughes and National Wrestling Hall of Fame official Mike Hagerty as two of the most positive influences in his career.
“Del gave me my first opportunity as an official working a kids’ tournament while I was still in high school, and Mike invited me to be one of the founding members of the ICWOA twelve years ago,” Conover said. “They’ve been great mentors and advocates for me throughout my career.”
Off the mat, Conover has dedicated more than two decades of service as a Supervisor for the Department of Health and Human Services in Iowa and Missouri. He resides in Liberty, Missouri, with his wife Meri, and is the proud father of twins, Gabe and Sophie.
Wrestling Officials United Scholarships and Grants
Individual Scholarships
The WOU Individual Scholarship recognizes a wrestler who demonstrates exceptional dedication, leadership, and potential both on and off the mat. It supports athletes who have overcome challenges, excelled in wrestling and contributed positively to their community, helping them pursue their academic and athletic goals.
Community Impact Grant / Scholarships
This is awarded to an individual team or organization that aims to make significant, positive impact on the wrestling community by addressing an unmet need. The grant supports efforts to enhance accessibility, inclusivity, education, or support systems within wrestling, fostering growth and opportunity for underserved or overlooked groups.
Official Grants
These grants are awarded to officials who are being recognized for decades of officiating service
A scholarship was awarded to the Highlands High School (San Antonio, TX) wrestling team. They used the funds to send 15 of their wrestlers to summer wrestling camp. Over 92% of the students at Highlands High School are economically disadvantaged and less than 30% of the students demonstrated proficiency in reading, math and science.
“The generosity of the WOU provided an opportunity for my wrestlers to attend a camp they never would have been able to attend on their own. This was the very first wrestling camp for many of them and it completely changed how they saw themselves as athletes and wrestlers. Camp lit a fire in our wrestlers - they returned with new skills, new goals, and most importantly, the sense that people outside of our program believe in them. That kind of support goes a long way.” - Coach Aaron Samia
Scholarships
Highlands High School -San Antonio, Texas
Our Impact
Wrestling Officials United awarded two grants to longtime officials Brian Manzi (front left) and Kenny Daws (front right), both of whom were inducted into the Division III Wrestling Hall of Fame in August 2025 at the NWCA Convention. In addition to decades spent on the mat as longtime wrestling officials, both are still active in the sport today. Manzi serves as the officials’ assignor for the Ivy League Conference and Daws serves as the Head of Evaluations for NCAA Wrestling.
“It was a great honor to be inducted into the Division III Wrestling Hall of Fame. Wrestling Officials United completely supported me during this process and will continue to be a productive force for the wrestling community.” - Brian Manzi
Officials’ Grants
2025 Division III Hall of Fame Ceremony
2025 Wrestling Officials United Scholarship Award Winners
Avery Hall, Sophomore
University of Lynchburg
Hall, a sophomore at the University of Lynchburg, is a business major, is a President’s List scholar and boasted a 4.0 GPA last year. A three-time state qualifier and state runner-up in Virginia, Hall is an inspiring student-athlete whose unwavering determination, resilience, and dedication to the sport of wrestling has enabled him to overcome significant financial challenges as he attends school with minimal parental support.
Balancing rigorous academics with a demanding athletic schedule, Hall has demonstrated exceptional discipline, leadership, and perseverance. Now, with the support of the Wrestling Officials United scholarship, Hall is able to pursue taking the next step toward a brighter future—completing his degree and competing as a wrestler for the University of Lynchburg.
Margaret Jordan, Junior
Baker University
Jordan, currently a junior at Baker University, is not your average student-athlete. A junior college All-American wrestler, she is a standout in both the classroom and on the mat, building her success through grit, discipline, and an unshakable work ethic. Despite growing up in a difficult family environment, she has not allowed her circumstances to define her future.
Margaret works in her school cafeteria to help support herself and cover her educational expenses—paying her own way through school without financial support from her family. She declined a meal plan to help pay for school and even with a full workload, she has never missed a workout or team practice, consistently showing up with focus, drive, and leadership.
“Overcoming her history with zero parental involvement or support, she is a GREAT kid. Everyone loves her….she doesn’t drink, doesn’t party. [She] just does all the things to be successful in life, school, and wrestling.”
- Kit Harris, Head Wrestling Coach, Baker University
Wrestling Officials in Hall of Fame
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Coming Soon!
List of Officials Inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma
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Coming Soon!
List of officials inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Official’s name, State Chapter, and Year of Induction.
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Coming Soon!
Officials who have been awarded a grant from Wrestling Officials United.
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Coming Soon!
Make an impact today
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Wrestling Officials United is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization. All donations are deemed tax-deductible absent any limitations on deductibility applicable to a particular taxpayer. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your contribution.