This annual publication is dedicated to the pursuit and use of the knowledge surrounding the noble and timeless sport of wrestling. Each year, an annotated bibliography of the scientific research, published in English, during the year in review, will be compiled and shared with those who work in the wrestling community. It is my hope that this work will spark further research, along with helping to educate those who are in a position to apply this knowledge. I am proud to be affiliated with this great sport. Thanks to our national governing body - USA Wrestling. Thanks to the National Coaching Staff for the support that they have given to me. Rich Bender, Mitch Hull, Steve Fraser, Momir Petkovic, Ike Anderson, Terry Steiner, Vladislav Izboinikov, Shannyn Gillespie, Anatoly Petrosyan, Zeke Jones, Bill Zadic and Brandon Slay always respond. I am grateful for the chance to work with Ivan Ivanov and Jim Gruenwald and their outstanding wrestlers at the USOEC in Marquette, Michigan. That torch has now been passed to the able hands of Dennis Hall and Willie Madison.

Thanks to my wife Lynne, and my wonderful children, Nicholas, Jacob and Courtney, who have been a big part of my work in the sport, and have patiently supported me. Tony Rotundo has provided the action photographs found on the cover. These are American medalists from the 2009 World Championships: Jake Herbert (Freestyle Silver at 84 kg), Tervel Dlagnev(freestyle Bronze at 120 kg) and Dremiel Byers (Greco-Roman Silver at 120 kg).

Some great research was published and I commend the sport scientists cited in this publication. I want to draw your attention to the opportunities for collaboration among the researchers involved with wrestling. Towards that end, please go to the article describing the formation of an International Network of Wrestling Researchers. Please register! Please visit my website at www.curbywrestling.com for the previous four years of this review. At my site there I have sections for Sport Science and Testing of Athletes containing many articles of interest for the sport scientists and coaches in wrestling. The Sport Science section contains the Reviews of Wrestling Research that have been published since 2005, and also a wrestling bibliography of over 2,200 articles relating to wrestling sport science research that I have collected in my office. Please visit!

I have recently joined the Overtime School of Wrestling in Naperville, Illinois. I will be continuing my sport science work with Sean Bormet focusing on the testing and evaluation of his athletes.

Wrestling Research Review 2009

David G. Curby EdD