Memorials
Bobby Walton, OK
2/3/1938-2/25/2023
1964-2023
Cliff MacGowan, WY
Cliff MacGowan, WY
Ron Hegedish Sr.
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
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.
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.
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
https://memorials.aspenmortuaries.com/donald-sondgeroth/3825508/obituary.php
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.
“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.”
Pending arrangements for David Pelsang Jr.
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.
