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Gregory and Leanna Grater named USA Wrestling Kids Persons of the
Year 7/31/2004 John Fuller/USA Wrestling Gregory and Leanna Grater of Green, Kan. have been named Kids Persons of the Year by USA Wrestling. The award annually honors a leader who has to made great contributions to Kids wrestling in the United States. The Graters served as tournament directors for the Kids/Cadet National Folkstyle Championships for six years (1998-2003) and the Southern Plains Regional for the past two years. Gregory currently serves as a Board Member on the Corporate Board of USA Wrestling Kansas and has served as the state’s Kids Director since 1998. In 1985, Gregory re-organized the Kansas Kids Freestyle/Greco-Roman camp held annually prior to the Southern Plains Regional. Gregory has also held the offices of State Director Elect (1984), State Kids Director (1985) and State Tournament Director (1987-1998). He is a bronze-level certified coach. In 1972, Gregory founded the Clay County Wrestling Club, one of the state’s largest youth wrestling clubs. He remains as the Club Director and head coach. Leanna is a pairing official, representing the state of Kansas at numerous USA Wrestling regional and national events. She is currently the State Secretary, a position she has held since 1998, as well as the co-State Tournament Director, a position she has held since 1987. Along with Gregory, she has served as the co-tournament director for the Kids/Cadet National Folkstyle Championships (1998-2003) and the Southern Plains Regional (2003-04). Leanna also serves as the secretary for the Clay County Wrestling Club. Gregory was selected as the USA Wrestling State Person of the Year in 1997, and Leanna was named the USA Wrestling State Person of the Year in 2002. Gregory and Leanna have four sons, all who have wrestled: Danny, Gavin, Courtney and Jacob. Gregory was a high school wrestler, and Leanna first got involved in the sport as a high school wrestlerette. Kids Person of the Year |