Walter "Connie" Powers, III For nearly half a century, Connie Powers has wrestled with wrestling. His attachment to the sport became a torrid love affair, whose embers never lost their glow. Starting in 1959, when he competed as a 119-pound junior at Warwick High School in Newport News, VA, he carved a niche in the very heart of Peninsula wrestling. He has been a competitor, official and eventually the commissioner of the Peninsula Wrestling Officials' Association for 18 years, a group he helped organize in 1969. As commissioner, Connie assigned matches and served as liaison to the Virginia High School League and its member athletic directors and coaches. His presence as official and commissioner has been felt from youth leagues to high schools and colleges. Connie has been an active participant in the prestigious Virginia Duals since its inception in 1981. Those activities have included advertising and promotions to raise funds for the Duals as well as officiating its matches. He has sponsored teams as well as sponsored many youth to wrestling camps and clinics. The very industrious Powers never backed off from setting up rule clinics and assisting with rule interpretations several times a year. He also administered yearly officials' examinations as part of his commissioner's duties. In 2003, Connie was honored by the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Association and received the Distinguished Service Award. A long time member and officer in the Peninsula Sports Club, that group has honored him numerous times. A Vietnam Army veteran, Powers and his wife Joan have been married over 50 years.