Aug. 18, 2010
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COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — Former Hawkeye NCAA champion and All-American Mark Reiland has been named Junior Person of the Year by USA Wrestling, the national governing body for amateur wrestling in the United States. This award goes to a nationally respected leader who works with athletes and programs on the Junior level (grades 9-12).
Reiland is the head coach for Iowa City West High School, one of the nation’s top prep programs. He has served as head coach there for 12 years. His teams have won four state dual meet titles, two traditional state team titles and eight MVC Conference Tournament titles. Reiland and his staff were named Coaches of the Year in the conference three times (01, 07′ and ’10) and were also named the Southeast Iowa District 3A Coaches of the Year in five times.
The athletes from Iowa City West have been extremely successful in USA Wrestling age-group competitions. He has had five Junior National champions and 18 Junior All-Americans in Fargo over the past eight years. During the same time, he has coached six Cadet National champions and 19 Cadet All-Americans in Fargo.
Previously, he served as head coach for Solon High School for two years, and an assistant coach at Iowa City West High School for five years.
Reiland is respected for his hard work and dedication to wrestling in his state, and his willingness to do whatever he can to provide quality opportunities to young people within the sport.
“This biggest thing is that we do this for the kids. It is rewarding for that purpose. You don’t get into this for awards or to be recognized by your peers. It is the athletes who are driving me to do more for the sport,” said Reiland.
Reiland has served eight years as the state chairperson for Iowa USA Wrestling. He also served previously as Iowa’s Junior Director for four years. He has served on USA Wrestling’s Board of Directors for five years, and as a member of the Executive Committee for two years. Reiland has been on the Junior Olympic Wrestling Committee for five years, and a member of the Junior Division Executive Committee for six years. He served as Co-Chair of USA Wrestling’s National Coaches Council for five years, and has been a member of the Coaches Council for seven years.
Iowa has been successful as a state within USA Wrestling’s major competitions. During his years as state chairperson, Iowa has won the National Junior Duals in freestyle, and has won Junior National team titles in Fargo in both styles, as well as a Cadet National team title in Greco-Roman.
As an athlete, Reiland was a NCAA champion and two-time All-American for the University of Iowa, competing from 1989-92. He also won two state titles for Eagle Grove High School in Iowa, and was a Junior National double champion.
USA Wrestling Junior Person of the Year
1997 – Tom Lehman, Michigan
1998 – Don Murray, New York
1999 – Bob and Sue Siar, Pennsylvania
2000 – Al Billings, Iowa
2001 – Gene Krebs, North Dakota
2002 – Ed Gould, New York and Pete DiBiase, New Jersey
2003 – Sam Harnsongkram, Louisiana
2004 – Patricia Fox, New Jersey
2005 – Mike Dowden, Indiana
2006 – Chris Curtis, New Jersey
2007 – Sue Siar, Pennsylvania
2008 – Mike Juby, Kansas
2009 – John Carlson, Arizona
2010 – Mark Reiland, Iowa