Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/75912
OLYMPIC TEAM LEADERS MIKE NOVOGRATZ FREESTYLE as Team Leader for the U.S. Freestyle World Team for the last three World Championships in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Novogratz has been an innovative leader Novogratz, of New York, N.Y., has served in promoting wrestling and raising funds for the sport. He is the driving force behind the Beat the Streets Gala events, which raises money for youth and high school wrestling in New York City. Novogratz has developed a wrestling match as part of the Gala. In 2010, an all-star dual was held on the U.S.S. Intrepid aircraft carrier, raising $800,000. In 2011, a USA vs. Russia dual meet was held in Times Square, the first sports event ever held in this famous setting, raising over $1 million. In 2012, a U.S. Olympic Team Wrestle-off was held in Times Square, along with another USA vs. Russia dual, raising over $1.4 million Novogratz is a founder and the Chairman of the Board of the Beat the Streets pro- gram in New York City, which has placed dozens of wrestling programs in high schools and junior high schools in the city. He has been a leader in the development of the Living the Dream Medal Fund, which was launched in 2009, serving as a steward for the program. World and Olympic medalists for the United States receive bonuses from this fund, with a guarantee of $250,000 for any American gold medalist in wrestling at the 2012 Olympics. He was named USA Wrestling Man of the high school wrestler, and competed for Princeton University in college, reaching the round of 12 at the NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships. Professionally, he has been a major suc- Year in 2010. Novogratz was inducted as an Outstanding American by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2007. He was a Virginia state runner-up as a cess in the financial services industry. He is a principal and a member of the board of directors of Fortress Investment Group LLC and Co-Chief Investment Officer of the Fortress Macro Fund and the Drawbridge Global Macro Fund. 2012 USA Wrestling Media Guide - 17