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Cliff MacGowan, WY

Cliff MacGowan, WY

Clifford  McGowan, 84, passed away  Monday, November 1, 2021 at Memorial Hospital of  Sweetwater  County in Rock Springs, Wyoming.  He was a resident of  Wyoming for the last 50 years and former resident of Georgia and Texas.
Clifford was born March 9, 1937 in Atlanta Georgia; the son of  Maurice Leonard McGowan and Mildred Garner
He attended schools in Orange, Texas and was a 1956 graduate of  Lutcher Stark High School. He also attended Lamar College in Orange, Texas.
Clifford married  Dolores Schaller on June 28, 1971 in Orange, Texas.
He worked as a Journeyman Electrician for various companies until his retirement.
He enjoyed spending time with his family; hunting; fishing; building rifles; working with mules; watching Farson High School sports; working on cars; and in his younger days, racing motorcycles.
Survivors include his wife Dolores McGowan, of Farson, Wyoming, two sons, Robert McGowan and wife Brandi of Rock Springs, Wyoming; Patrick McGowan of Rock Springs, Wyoming; one daughter, Shaunna Bennett and husband Riley of Pinedale, Wyoming; one brother, Chris McGowan  and wife Glenda of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; one sister, Dr. Dena McGowan of Vidor, Texas; four grandchildren, Victor Drong, Aiden McGowan, Finnian Bennett and Ayla Bennett; as well as several cousins; nieces and nephews.
He was proceeded in death by; his mother, Mildred Pittman and husband Harry; father, Maurice McGowan and wife Audrey; one daughter , Tracy Lynn McGowan; and one brother-in-law, Charles “Buddy” Magee.
Following Cremation, a Memorial Service will be held at a later date.
Condolences may be left at www.vasefuneralhomes.com

 

 

Ron Hegedish Sr.

Longtime USWOA/FILA Official, Ron Hegedish Sr. passed peacefully, 9/13/2021 at the age of 89, surrounded by family. Survived by loving wife, Beverly of 71 yrs. Beloved father of Ron (Marilyn), Bob (Bernie), Terri (Lee), Denise (Doug), grandfather of 13 and great-grandfather of 17; brother of Janet, Mary, Debbie; uncle to many nieces and nephews. Ron was an active member of the Twinsburg community and involved in many sports. He served as a volunteer fireman. Head of the football chain gang for over 30 yrs. and a noted wrestling official. He was inducted into the Twinsburg Sports Hall of Fame. He will be missed and remembered by many. THE FAMILY WILL RECEIVE FRIENDS ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 FROM 3:00 PM UNTIL 8:00 PM. Graveside service will be at Crown Hill Cemetery on Tuesday, September 21, 2021, at 10 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends a donation to the charity of your choice. Online condolences may be left at www.hinefh.com.
Blessing Funeral Home and Cremation at Crown Hill - Twinsburg
8592 Darrow Road
Twinsburg, OH
Graveside service
Sept 21 2021
10:00a.m.
Crown Hill Cemetery

Allicyn Nichole Schuster

Allicyn Nichole Schuster was born October 10, 1999, in Papillion, Nebraska. She graduated from Papillion LaVista High School in 2017 and was currently in her second-year apprenticeship for Local 22 Electricians Union. She had a celebrated wrestling career. She wrestled for 11 years. She was an 8 time All-American and Olympic Cadet Wrestling World Team Member. She was a coach at Papillion LaVista High School coaching the Monarchs, and Omaha Skutt High School coaching the Sky Hawks. She was an inspiration for many young female wrestlers throughout the United States. She enjoyed riding her motorcycle with family throughout the Midwest. She enjoyed spending time with her friends eating Sushi, and eating at Stella’s and the Texas Roadhouse. She was proud of her shoe collection, her Scooter’s addiction, tattoos, and Vera Bradley handbags. She was known by her parents for being messy yet clean. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

MARCIA LASKIN GOULD

Images courtesy of the Gould family. 
Initial thoughts from Gary Abbott of  the USA Wrestling

Although the word was quickly shared through social media over a week ago, USA Wrestling would like to recognize the many contributions that dedicated volunteer and wrestling enthusiast Marcia Gould of Merrick, N.Y. made to the organization and the sport for decades. She was more than a leader in our sport; she was a true friend to so many within the vast wrestling family. 
Marcia, always alongside her beloved husband Ed, served the New York and national wrestling community in many capacities, always with an upbeat attitude and a smile on her face. She was a wrestling mom, not only to her own family but also to all of the kids who came through the ranks in Long Island wrestling, New York USA Wrestling, and even the U.S. national team program. With Marcia, it was not about being in charge of things, nor being the center of attention. Marcia did everything she could do, or whatever was asked of her, to help the wrestlers in any way possible.
Marcia was a dear friend to my wife Pat and I, going far beyond our shared love of wrestling and our work side-by-side within USA Wrestling. She was family to us, somebody who would call at any time to talk about everything and nothing at all. While we already miss spending time with Marcia at wrestling events, over dinner back in New York or all over the country, or over the cell phone, we smile every time we think about her. That is what Marcia was all about, taking care of other people and giving them her love. 
The Gould family had a small funeral service and burial for Marcia shortly after her death, but there is talk of getting her larger wrestling family together sometime soon to celebrate her life and share stories and memories together.
Marcia was mentioned to the crowd at the recent U.S. Olympic Team Trials, and there are plans to present the USWOA Lifetime Achievement Award she had won but never received to Ed when we all get together this summer in Fargo. 
Rather than give more of my thoughts, it makes sense to share what others had to say about Marcia, including her wrestling friends and her children. We also add what Ed Gould wrote about his beloved wife. While Ed provided this as background information for a USA Wrestling story on Marcia, it was so well done that we present it with little or no editing. 
 
MARCIA LASKIN GOULD
1943 – 2021
“A life devoted to Caring and Sharing”
by Ed Gould

She was always about giving to others and her life was of service to others, particularly kids.  
Her legacy would not be complete without delving on what may have been her passion – kids and wrestling. She was a USWOA pairing official for 30+ years, getting here her start like so many others – coming down out of the stands and helping because help was needed to make the event go. She worked hard but never was looking for the spotlight. She did not want to be the General in charge but was content to be a Lieutenant and ensuring that things got done so the event was a success.  
Her wrestling endeavors covered the entire spectrum from the local kids’ tournament to almost the ultimate of wrestling. She worked local, state, regional, and national USA Wrestling events, including NYS Empire State Summer Games, 1998 US-USSR Goodwill Games, the 2003 World Freestyle Championships at Madison Square Garden (MSG), the 2011 International Police and Fireman Games in NYC, the 2016 NCAA DI championships at MSG and several “Grapple at the Garden” collegiate events. She was also part of the pairing crew for more than 20 NYAC Holiday Tournaments (aka Bill Farrell International now). She also found time to serve on both the NY-USA Wrestling Sectional and State boards of directors for many years, always dealing with the kids and coaches as Membership director.
Scholastically, she worked for 20+ years on High School events across Long Island and was part of the three-person crew that has run the Nassau County NYSPHSAA Sectional Wrestling Championships for over 20 years.
She became a surrogate mom to so many young wrestlers over the years. A story she always likes to tell was about a very young Kyle Dake always coming to her at the Head Table of many tournaments in NYS and constantly asking when he would be called to the mat. He was one of her favorite little guys in those days. 
She never had a crossword for anybody who came to see her here at the table and over the years she developed a wonderful camaraderie with them. She gained some fame with the kids for always having homemade cookies when they visited her at the head table, whether it was local or Fargo or somewhere in between. She even sent cookies with a parent to one local kid’s first-ever college match.
She genuinely cared for those she met and always greeted everyone with a smile and her infectious laugh from the littlest of wrestlers to our Olympians such as Kerry McCoy, Shawn Sheldon, and her big friend Rulon Gardner. She was very proud of her photo with Rulon from one of our Fargo trips from a few years ago.
She was an active PTA participant for over 20 years (honored with lifetime membership). She served as PTA president in three different schools locally, going from elementary to Junior High and on to High School as our children moved through the system. She was also about school spirit and actively supported the local high school for many years as a member of the Sports Booster club.
She treasured her relationships nurtured during her own school years and was a charter member of its Alumni Association, serving on its Board of Directors up until the very end. It was all about doing things for the school and thus the kids. She branched from that and was an active member of every class reunion for her class from Calhoun High School for over 50 years.
In line with her support of her own school, she took an active part in assisting with my high school class reunions, doing whatever was needed to make sure things went smoothly and that everyone enjoyed themselves. She further branched out to my college class reunions and was the de facto administrative assistant to the Reunion chairman for almost 20 years. She did all these things because she enjoyed serving people. She was the ultimate people person.
In her spare time, she was very accomplished at doing needlepoint. She was always making a pillow or something similar for someone’s new baby, including many of the local coaches’ kids as they grew up. I think she even made one of the USA Wrestling logos and gave it to Rich Bender and the national office. 
Finally, I would be remiss if I did not speak of her ultimate loves of her life, our children Meredith and Brett along with their spouses, Chris and Lauren, and our three beautiful grandchildren – Marcus, Avery, and Emma. She loved them all unconditionally and there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for them. Marcia was the ultimate grandmother, carrying photos of the three of them wherever she traveled and always showing them to everyone whenever possible, lovingly telling everyone that they were her whole world. While we saw that she loved everyone with whom she came in contact, they were her most precious possessions in this world.
 
Eric Jermaine Dugger of Tulsa, Oklahoma
November 11, 1972 - January 26, 2021
 
Reflections of a Life Well Lived
“Do everything in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:14:
 
On November 11, 1973, a handsome baby boy was born to Thomas Frank Dugger and Doris Marie Williams-Dugger.  They named him Eric Jermaine Dugger and he was their first-born child.  Born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina but raised in a traveling military family, he attended schools as far as Germany and finally finding home in Lawton, Oklahoma.  As the eldest in the family, he named himself “The Oldest and The Boldest” of his brother and sisters.
Eric was an all-around athlete growing up and his first encounter with sports was martial arts.  He later played football, baseball, gymnastics, and eventually wrestling.  His passion and hard work led to a successful wrestling career at Lawton High School and an athletic scholarship from the University of Oklahoma.  While attending college he joined Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity in order to help serve his community better and become a mentor to others.  He then joined the U.S. Army Reserves and served his country for a decade. 
On August 25th, 2001 he was joined in holy matrimony to the love of his life Maria Rebecca Quesada-Dugger.  Eric and “Becky” were blessed with two children, Christopher and Erica Dugger.  They had a special bond with their children through sports, music, and traveling.  Both children participated in the sport of wrestling while Eric was a great father, coach, and role model to them.  Erica is currently a Junior in high school and his eldest son Christopher attends Labette College.  Upon college graduation, Christopher will be attending his father’s alma mater at the University of Oklahoma.
Eric was a great man who loved and cared for many people.  He was a volunteer wrestling coach and one of the most respected referees in the State of Oklahoma.  His passion for competition in the sport of wrestling led to countless memories and success with his youth athletes.  He saw potential in every shape and form of any athlete that came in the room.  He brought the best out of everyone and his positive attitude was contagious.  Known for his big smile, selfies and ability to make light of any situation, he would pop up at any moment to support an event or just to spend time with a friend.
On the weekends Eric kept himself busy being an umpire, coaching, or mostly working as a referee at wrestling tournaments across the country.  Amongst all of that he worked a full-time job and spent quality time with his family.  Eric was known for putting others first and being the most reliable and supportive family member and friend.  In his final days Eric was doing what he loved best, coaching and referring the sport of wrestling.
Our beloved Eric Dugger grew tired and went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 27th.  He was welcomed by his mother Doris Marie Williams-Dugger and many other relatives.  He leaves to cherish his sweet memory:  His wife Maria Rebecca Quesada-Dugger; His son Christopher Dugger, Daughter Erica Dugger; Father Thomas Frank Dugger; Brother Timothy Dugger; Sisters Tamara Dugger and Tasha Dugger-Simmons, and Jameil (Tay) Hughes; his nieces and nephews; the wrestling family; and a host of other relatives and friends.
We will cherish is memory and keep him in our hearts until we see him again one day!
Services for Mr. Eric Jermaine Dugger will be Sunday, February 7, 2021, at 1 PM at The Greenwood Cultural Center in Tulsa.
Friends may visit Eric on Friday from 1 PM until 6 PM in Tulsa. Family & Friends may also send floral arrangements during this time.
Mr. Dugger will be laid to rest at Mars Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Emporia, Virginia under the direction of R.E. Pearson and Son Funeral Home in Emporia Virginia - 434-634-2162.
 

Mike 'Mad Dog" Matlock Passes on 8/1/2020

Author, Rusty Davidson

The USA Wrestling community received and shared word on Tuesday, 8/1/2020 of the passing of Mike Matlock, 72, a longtime volunteer in the USA Wrestling family.
Matlock was found early Tuesday morning in his home in New Bern, N.C. Reports indicate he passed peacefully. Details are pending notification of next of kin.
Mike Matlock was known to many in the wrestling world as “Mad Dog.” “The Dog” wore the nickname affectionately. He was apt to greet students and friends with a friendly “Woof.”
Matlock was known globally as a first category referee. Officiating under the banners of USA Wrestling and its predecessors, along with the current United World Wrestling, Matlock was known as a Teacher of his fellow officials. Many referees mentored by “The Dog” went on to represent several countries at the highest levels.
Matlock most recently served as a non-voting Honorary Board member for North Carolina USA Wrestling. The Board of North Carolina USA Wrestling honored him recently by naming North Carolina’s annual Official of the Year Award as the Mike “Mad Dog” Matlock Award.
“Mad Dog” also contributed as a high school and club coach, mentoring youth in Missouri, Nebraska, Michigan, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Florida, and North Carolina over the last 50 years. Countless youngsters, across multiple generations, credit Matlock for helping them make greater contributions in life through wrestling.
We all know that ‘Wrestling Makes the World Small.’ The quick flow of information and emotions regarding the passing of one of our great grassroots contributors is solid evidence of his impact within the wrestling family. 
For those that knew ‘The Dog,’ please share a story and a smile with those that matter. We lost a good one. “Woof!”
 

Nikenson Bazelas

Nikenson (Nik) Bazelais passed away on July 7th, 2020, after a five year battle with Cancer and a mild case of COVID-19 at NYU Langone Hospital. He was only 49 years old and left behind his wife, Libny and daughter Rachél, two sisters Seurette and Nancy, and brother Gabriel. Nik was a dear friend and colleague to many of us. He was a devoted father, a great friend, a loving brother, and a newlywed beloved husband.

"Big AL" Williams

Albert Peter Williams Jr. age 63, of Riverdale passed away on April 7, 2020. Albert was a very strong and sturdy individual. He dedicated over 40 years of his life to the sport of youth and high school wrestling. Albert loved the Lord and served him faithfully. Beloved husband of Vickie Williams (nee Spilotro), loving son of Isabel (late Albert) Williams.  Services are private. A Celebration of life service will be announced and held at a later date. Albert will be dearly missed by family and friends. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Al Williams’ memory can be made to USA Wrestling, the national governing body of the sport which Al loved. To make a memorial donation, please visit http://donate.usawrestling.org/

 

"Big Al" Williams

Don Sonderoth

Scott Sonderoth has just informed the USWOA about the passing of his Dad, Don. As you all know he was instrumental in bringing the AAU and the USWF together when they became one organization. He was a good leader, good friend and as honest of a  person that you could meet. He always told it like it is and pulled no punches. He passed in his sleep on Friday 5/3/19 with his family surrounding him.
Below is the information about the services on Friday.

https://memorials.aspenmortuaries.com/donald-sondgeroth/3825508/obituary.php

THE PASSING OF MO BABI

TUESDAY 9 APRIL 2019

Sympathy Cards and Memorials should be sent to Mr. Rod Cozzetto, 709 Crystal Lane, Pueblo Co 81006

Mo Babi, from Colorado, passed away after recent struggles with health issues. Mo has been involved with USA Wrestling for many years as a State leader and Mat Official. He served multiple times as the State Director for Colorado and worked for many years as a Mat Official at many Regional and National events. Mo was instrumental in the development of the concepts of Dual competitions. Mo loved the Cadet Duals and started the first Dual event on two mats at a local high school. From that auspicious start it quickly grew to a National level event. The original idea was to get many matches in a short duration competition so younger Cadets could more quickly improve their wrestling skills. At the same time, Mo wanted the Cadet Duals to serve as a training ground for lesser experienced Mat Officials. The original participating States liked the concept and started sending their best Cadets but also demanded the best possible Mat Officials. The Cadet Duals became a National level event; Junior Duals and Schoolboy Duals soon followed suit. Mo’s wife, Pat, is an accomplished pairer and one of their sons, Jason, is an international level Mat Official. Mo’s demise will leave a huge void for all of his many friends. Funeral arrangements will be posted when completed by Mo’s family.


Mo Babi, CO


Tom Clark and his son Hayden

Tom Clark, USWOA Vice President Passes

Thomas G. Clark, 58, of Fishers, a 2008 Olympic referee and longtime leader within USA Wrestling, passed away on Friday, March 10, 2017 at home. 

Abram Ostrovskiy passed away Monday, April 11th, 2016

We are sad to inform you that the USWOA has lost a great official and friend.  Abram Ostrovskiy passed away Monday, April 11th, 2016.  Abram was a great friend to all of us and we are all saddened by his passing.  Abram experienced more in his lifetime than any of us can imagine and yet he was always available to help.  Please take a few moments to reflect on the life and friendship of Abram Ostrovskiy.  Rest in Peace Abram.

Former USWOA official Pat Lovell passes.

Former Olympic wrestler, coach Pat Lovell dies at 81

“He never grew up,” said Duane Morgan, commissioner of the Central Coast Section and a former wrestling official with Lovell. “He saw happiness in everything. He loved the kids. What a great life that is.”

Link to the Obituary

 

David Pelsang JR

Pending arrangements for David Pelsang Jr.

Viewing for Family and Friends
Friday June 8  6-8pm
Saturday June 9 11am-1pm
Jones Funeral Home
Jacksonville NC
 
Funeral/Celebration of Life
6:30pm Monday @ 
Blue Creek Baptist Church 
SR 53
Jacksonville NC
 
More information on David's arrangements and Memorial will follow:

Charlie Bates, JR

Longtime Oklahoma pairing official Charlie Bates passes.

June 8, 1947- August 4, 2017

Jack Stanbro, NY Passes

Jack was longtime pairing official and contributor to USAW and the USWOA.

Alice Riggle

April 22, 2017 

Resided in Jackson, MI

Long time Pairing Official Alice Riggle of Jackson, MI and formerly of Shelby, passed away April, 22, 2017 in Jackson. She was the widow of Richard "Dick" Riggle.

Arrangements are pending, but will be announced on Monday, April 24th.