Arno Niemand to Receive USA Wrestling Lifetime Achievement Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) May 17, 2011 -- BOULDER, CO – May 17, 2011 - Arno Niemand, longtime wrestling proponent, historian and member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, and author of “The Dream Team of 1947” will join Scott Beck as a recipient of the USA Wrestling Lifetime Achievement Award during the Colorado Night of Champions taking place at the Denver Athletic Club on May 20.

“Arno Niemand has greatly contributed to the sport of wrestling, from his early days as a wrestler to his current role as author and historian, and he is deeply respected and admired by the wrestling community,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling executive director. “Plus, his leadership has helped the United States become a world power in women’s freestyle wrestling.”

“I am tremendously pleased be a USA Wrestling Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and delighted to be sharing this experience with Scott Beck,” commented Mr. Niemand. “To be recognized by this esteemed organization is truly an honor for which I am very grateful.”

The Colorado Night of Champions benefits the missions of USA Judo, USA Wrestling and Excel Wrestling. The Honorary Chairman of the event is Honorable U.S. Senator Hank Brown of Colorado. Brown, a former wrestler, also served as the president of the University of Colorado system for a number of years. 2011 NCAA Div. I wrestling champion Anthony Robles will be the keynote speaker. Leonard “Buck” Wessell and Dr. Dennis McGuire will also receive USA Judo Lifetime Achievement Awards during the event.

About Arno Niemand

Mr. Niemand is a 1956 graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca NY, where he was on the wrestling team. He was later inducted into the Cornell Hall of Distinguished Wrestling Alumni. He went on to earn his MBA in 1958 from the Darden School of Business, University of Virginia. Throughout his life, Mr. Niemand has continued to support the sport of wrestling, and in 2008 received the FILA Gold Star, which is the highest award given to an individual by the world governing body of wrestling. In 2009, he was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, earning the Order of Merit. In 2011 he was named Honorary Cornell College Alumnus.

Mr. Niemand’s book, “The Dream Team of 1947” chronicles the extraordinary story of the 1947 wrestling team of Cornell College. It is the true story of a dedicated and talented coach named Paul Scott, a nurturing small college and town, three young superstars fresh out of high school, and five service veterans who all bonded as a team to defeat all comers. The team was the first school outside the state of Oklahoma to win the NCAA team championship, and two weeks later went on to win the equally prestigious National AAU championship, winning the “grand slam” of amateur wrestling, something no other private school before or since has accomplished, The Great Depression, World War II, the GI Bill, struggles with scholastic achievement and a serious car crash all affect the team’s future in this real-life drama.

More details can be found at (http://dreamteam47.com). The book is available at (www.Amazon.com) and select book stores.

As previous owner and chairman of Body Bar Inc., Niemand has sponsored the USA Wrestling Women's National Team since 2003.

More information can be found online at http://dreamteam47.com/blog/

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