Sara Levin named Director of Development and Special Events for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Sara Levin has been named as the Director of Development and Special Events for the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Okla.
Levin joins the Hall of Fame after working for seven years in a variety of management positions for USA Wrestling, the national governing body for amateur wrestling, based in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Levin’s primary duties for the Hall of Fame will include managing fundraising programs, coordinating special events and developing promotional and marketing materials for the organization. She will also assist in all aspects of the daily operations of the Hall of Fame business.
“Sara’s experience working with USA Wrestling and within the sport will be extremely valuable to the Wrestling Hall of Fame,” said Lee Roy Smith, Executive Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. “She is going to bring much-needed skills to our efforts to broaden awareness of the Hall of Fame, increase our revenue sources and promote the sport of wrestling. She will have an immediate impact here.”
“USA Wrestling appreciates Sara’s outstanding efforts on behalf of the organization and the sport,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director. “We look forward to continuing to work with her, and we expect great things from her at the Wrestling Hall of Fame.”
Levin previously served as the Manager of Marketing and Promotions for USA Wrestling, working in its Development Department. Levin managed numerous marketing and promotions projects for the organization. She was responsible for fulfillment of sponsor contracts and assisted in the creation of sponsor acquisition and promotional campaigns. In addition, she managed numerous graphic design responsibilities for the organization.
Prior to that assignment, Levin was Manager of National Events for USA Wrestling, where she was involved in managing and improving USA Wrestling’s national and regional event programs. She worked to help in the development, promotion and staging of USA Wrestling events across the nation.
Levin joined USA Wrestling’s staff as Coordinator of State Programs in March 1998. She worked within the State Services Department acting as a liaison between the national office and USA Wrestling State Associations, Chartered Clubs and Sanctioned Events Directors. She helped expand the athlete appearance program, and managed USA Wrestling’s involvement with the D.A.R.E. program, an anti-drug education program, held in association with local police departments in elementary schools.
She was chosen by the U.S. Olympic Committee to attend the 42nd International Session for Young Participants of the International Olympic Academy (IOA), held in Greece in the summer of 2002. The IOA brings together a diverse group of students, Olympic athletes and others involved in sports, educators, and individuals active in the Olympic family. In 1927, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, father of the modern Olympic Games, gave birth to the idea of founding an institution devoted to the study of Olympism. The academy, built in Olympia, Greece, teaches the history of the Olympic Games and propagates the ideals of peace and brotherhood.
Levin came to USA Wrestling from Phoenix, Ariz., where she served as Co-Tournament Director of the Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open for one year.
Levin was a 1997 graduate of Indiana University, where she was the Wrestling Manager for the Div. I Indiana wrestling program from 1992-97. She was responsible for the day-to-day management and promotion of the Hoosier program. In addition she assisted in coordinating team travel, event management and summer camp administration.
Levin has been involved with the sport of wrestling on all levels for many years including volunteer positions at the 2000 Olympic Games, the 1995 Freestyle World Championships, the 1995 Big Ten Wrestling Championships and at the Midlands Tournament for a decade.
Levin graduated from Parkway North High School in St. Louis, Mo., where she was an active member in the wrestling program. She was also an active volunteer at many local and state tournaments in Missouri.
“I am very happy to continue working for the sport of wrestling and to grow professionally in a new capacity,” said Levin. “Working at the Hall of Fame is an honor. Lee Roy Smith and I have a long working relationship going back to when I was with the Sunkist Kids International. I am pleased to work with him again. The Hall of Fame and USA Wrestling are working together to unite the wrestling community. This is an opportunity for me to have even more impact on the sport which I have such great respect for.”
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