Wayne and Kay Renneisen never stepped on the mat as competitors, coaches, or officials, but they have been incredible boosters and supporters of our great sport for over 50 years.

Wrestling came into their lives in 1975 when their son, John, began to wrestle in middle school. John was an average wrestler, a varsity starter in high school, and at a Division III college until his junior year when a rib injury ended his career. Wayne and Kay saw enough wrestling to understand it’s benefits to John and his teammates.

In 1982, they attended the Olympic Trials at Grand Valley State in Michigan. They described “Six full days of watching wrestling, sitting on bleachers, intense and fascinating. The wrestlers and coaches were approachable and willing to answer questions.”

In 1988, Wayne and Kay attended the Olympic Trials in Pensacola, Florida, and they were invited to join a group of longtime wrestling supporters. They later learned that three members of the group were Distinguished Members of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame while another was John Graham, honored as an Outstanding American by the Hall of Fame in 2017 and a member of its Board of Governors. Graham later invited Wayne and Kay to attend the 1989 Virginia Duals, beginning a new and more involved connection with wrestling.

The couple has supported wrestling at Lower Merion High School, Williams College, Bloomsburg University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Wayne authored a book about the 2006 season and the history of Penn Wrestling. They supported the Virginia Duals for nearly 20 years and the Dave Schultz Wrestling Club for 10 years, until it ended. Wayne and Kay support the Penn Regional Training Center, and since 1993, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, including serving on the Board of Governors and as Governor's Associates. 

The Renneisens have traveled the world to follow wrestling, including attending the Henri Deglane Challenge in Nice, France four times. The couple began attending the NCAA Championships in 1990 and has also attended the National Duals four times and the EIWA Tournament more than 20 times. They have been to the World Championships in Atlanta, New York City and Las Vegas while also attending the Sunkist Open multiple times with the Dave Schultz Wrestling Club.

The Renneisens split their year living in New Jersey, and wintering in Florida.