Keck worked with USA Wrestling to found the Preseason Nationals in 2008, a major early season national folkstyle wrestling event for athletes of all ages. The first event was held in Des Moines, then spent nine years in Cedar Falls, Iowa, before returning to Des Moines in 2018. During its 12 years with Keck's involvement, the competition grew in size and prestige.
Keck tragically passed away at the age 48 during a trip to Mexico in November, 2019.
"Brian Keck provided the vision and passion to establish USA Wrestling's Preseason Nationals as a premier competition for talented and motivated wrestlers from across the nation. It is appropriate that as this tournament continues to grow and improve, his contribution to the sport is recognized on an annual basis," said Pete Isais, USA Wrestling Director of National Events.
A native of Parma, Ohio, he was an Ohio state champion for Padua Franciscan High School. Keck won a Junior College national title for Cuyuhoga CC and went on to Bloomsburg, where he was a two-time NCAA qualifier for the Huskies. Keck competed for a decade as a Senior-level athlete in both Greco-Roman and freestyle, spending many years as a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete. Keck was just one of two athletes to qualify for the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, and he wrestled in three Olympic Trials events.
Brian Keck competing in Real Pro Wrestling (Photo/Danielle Hobeika)He served as an assistant coach for Cleveland State, and the wrestling coach for Xtreme Couture, an MMA gym owned by wrestling and MMA legend Randy Couture. He was also with Alliance MMA, where he trained MMA fighters. One of Keck's biggest contributions to wrestling was as an event organizer. In addition to the Preseason Nationals, Keck also directed a number of other wrestling competitions.
The final schedule for the 2020 USA Wrestling Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals is being completed at this time. A website will soon be posted with complete information on the tournament. It will be conducted using USA Wrestling's Return to Events Guidelines and following the regulations of the state and local health authorities in Iowa.
Wrestlers, parents, coaches and clubs are asked to Save the Date of October 30 - November 1 and make plans to attend this year's USA Wrestling Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals. Registration will open on August 20, coinciding with the launch of the new 2020-21 USA Wrestling membership year.
The event will be broadcast live on Trackwrestling.
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