Drive and Night of Champions to celebrate Olympic spirit

The wrestling community is often described as a family. No matter what level of success a wrestler has had, or when a person participated in the sport, there is bond between wrestlers that makes the sport special. Wrestling people can get together anywhere and have a great time sharing their passion for the sport.

Some of the greatest moments within wrestling happen off the mat, when wrestlers get together to celebrate the sport. These special occasions, where the greats of wrestling history mix with others who love the sport, are often cherished memories for those who are involved.

USA Wrestling is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for the wrestling family to celebrate wrestling’s Olympic legacy and provide support for a worthy cause, the Olympic dream.

Partnering with the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) , USA Wrestling has developed a special day, The Drive and Night of Champions at the fabulous Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, N.J., May 8. Proceeds from this event benefit USA Wrestling along with U.S. Olympic and Paralympic programs.

This day-long celebration will include two different activities. First is the Drive of Champions, which features a putting contest, brunch, round of championship golf and a cocktail reception during the day.

In the evening, the Night of Champions will feature an Awards Banquet, Roast and Auction, with celebrity guest Rulon Gardner, the 2000 Olympic gold medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling. Gardner shocked the sports world with his victory over previously unbeaten superstar and three-time Olympic champion Alexander Kareline of Russia in Sydney, Australia.

Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert will serve as the honorary chairman of The Drive and Night of Champions. Hastert is a former wrestling coach and college wrestler and a strong supporter of USA Wrestling.

The schedule for the day is full of fun activities. There are a limited number of spots available for both programs, so those who would be interested in participating should check their calendars and make their plans soon.

The setting for the program is spectacular. Hamilton Farm is a new private golf club situation on an elegant, historic country estate. The club was designed to set new standards for quality, service and enjoyment of the golf experience. Hamilton Farm Golf Club was selected to host the 2005 HSB Women’s World Match Play Championships, which provides the highest check to the winner in the history of the LPGA.

The Roast during the Night of Championships will be something for all to enjoy. Rulon Gardner will hear stories and jokes from many of his friends and colleagues. It is destined to be a tremendous night of fun, as Rulon’s peers roast their friend for the amusement of all.

There is a lot of material for these people to work with. Gardner has become a major public figure, a Wyoming farm boy who overcame a learning disability to become an Olympic and World champion athlete. His carefree personality is one of the reasons that he became a beloved figure within the sports world.

The Rulon Gardner story has many strange twists. He survived an evening lost in the bitter cold of the Wyoming mountains in 2002, fighting for his life, and ultimately lost a toe to frostbite. After a long rehabilitation, Gardner returned to the mats and went on to win an Olympic bronze medal in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. He left his ASICS shoes on center mat after his final match, a traditional retirement tradition within wrestling and one of the lasting images of the entire Athens Games. There were also some other mishaps that year including a motorcycle crash and a basketball injury that could be fair game for the roast.

Rulon’s coach, Olympic gold medalist Steve Fraser, who was America’s first Greco-Roman Olympic champion in 1984, will participate in the Roast, as will USOC Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr, a member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic team. Award-winning actor William Baldwin, a former wrestler, will also be among the speakers.

A special achievement award will be given to a successful wrestling leader from the region, Jeff Buxton, the head wrestling coach at Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J. Buxton has coached Blair for two decades, developing the nation’s most successful high school program. Buxton’s team has been declared national champions among high school teams numerous times, and many of his student-athletes have gone on to become champions and all-Americans in college. Buxton is active in the state association, USA Wrestling New Jersey, serving as a coach for the Cadet and Junior National Teams, and serving on its Coaches Council.

There are numerous partnership levels where corporations and individuals can participate in the Night and Drive of Champions, with gold, silver and bronze levels of support. In addition, there are opportunities for groups or individuals to only attend the Night of Champions and participate in the festivities that evening.

For information on the Drive and Night of Champions, contact:

This is the kind of celebration that will be remembered for a long time within wrestling circles. Please spread the word to others that might be interested, and join other wrestlers as they share their unique passion and commitment to the sport we all love.

Gary Abbott is the Director of Communications and Special Projects for USA Wrestling and is a founder of the National Wrestling Media Association and is a 2005 recipient of the NWCA Meritorious Service Award.

Gary Abbott