FROM THE NEST | SUMMER 2023 | 21 Confirmed Appointed Richard Verma ’90 as deputy U.S. secretary of state for management and resources Ricky Kirshner ’82 to President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities Valley Wrestling Club as well as the coaches in our men’s program,” Dean of Athletics Joe Sterrett ’76 ’78G ’03P ’05P ’07P ’09P says. “Lehigh's wrestling tradition was built as much by the quality of the participants and coaches throughout our history, as by the specific successes earned by individual wrestlers or teams. The sport demands from its participants unusual dedication and devotion to continuous improvement, and I do see those qualities in the women who are involved in the club program. That bodes well for their futures and the future of their sport.” Gaining Momentum The women’s club began with just three members but quickly grew its roster to 12. “Women’s wrestling is one of the fastest-growing sports in the country,” McGinley says. “In Pennsylvania alone, there [are] almost 100 high schools with women’s wrestling programs.” In the Lehigh Valley, Cedar Crest College already has a varsity women’s wrestling program and Muhlenberg College announced in February that it is adding women’s wrestling as a varsity sport. Muhlenberg’s program will begin dual meet competition in fall 2024. It comes at a time when the popularity of women’s wrestling is growing exponentially at the high school level. Between 1994 and 2022, according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association, the number of women who wrestle in high school has grown from 804 to more than 31,600. And in May, the PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) unanimously voted to sanction girls wrestling, starting with the 2023-24 season, making Pennsylvania the 38th state to do so. “I think we’re gaining a lot of momentum with the club, and I am personally pushing hard to transition into a DI [Division I] program,” Anni Futch ’26 says. “Right now I think our focus is just being able to continue to grow the club, as well as offering the potential for our athletes to succeed in the capacity they chose, either continuing at the club level or aiming to be more competitive.” Next Steps Kerry McCoy, who is with the Lehigh Valley Wrestling Club, which is a Regional Olympic Training Center, has been coaching the club. McCoy competed at the Olympic Games twice and the World Cup Championships four times. He’s also a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. McGinley says McCoy has been mentoring the girls on a voluntary basis, but they’ll have a permanent coach next semester. Along with a permanent coach, having their own training resources and more competition from other schools would greatly benefit the club, according to McGinley. While McGinley is proud of what they have built so far, she’s hoping the club can continue the momentum. “In the future, I hope that more new girls can join the club before my graduation, so that women’s wrestling can flourish at Lehigh.”—Yueyang Yan ’23 and Stephen Gross Kerry McCoy, a former Olympian and Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, has been mentoring the club on a voluntary basis. A leading expert on trade, diplomacy and national security, Verma was confirmed in late March by the U.S. Senate to serve as deputy secretary of state for management and resources, following his nomination to the position by President Biden. Verma, a former Lehigh University Trustee, was the general counsel and head of global public policy at Mastercard. He previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to India from 2014 to 2017, where he is credited for the historic deepening of bilateral ties. Kirshner, an Emmy-winning producer, has been appointed by President Biden to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Chaired by film producer Bruce Cohen and singer/actress Lady Gaga, the committee advises the president on cultural policy. Committee members include prominent artists, scholars and philanthropists who have demonstrated a commitment to the arts and humanities, as well as heads of key federal agencies with a role in culture, including the Secretary of the Smithsonian. MARCUS SMITH '25
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