About Us
The Voice of Wrestling
Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine (WIN) is in its 32nd year as America’s premier amateur wrestling publication. Founded in 1994 by legendary wrestling journalist Mike Chapman, WIN has grown into the most trusted and comprehensive source for wrestling coverage at every level, from youth and high school to college, international, and Olympic competition.
Our History
Mike Chapman created WIN Magazine in 1994, drawing on his 35-year journalism career and unmatched credentials in the wrestling world. A five-time National Wrestling Writer of the Year and member of 10 halls of fame, including the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Chapman built WIN on a foundation of quality journalism and deep respect for the sport. He is the author of more than 30 books, 17 of them on wrestling, all housed in the Library of Congress.
In 1998, Chapman sold WIN to Bryan Van Kley, a former high school and college wrestler from Northwest Iowa. Van Kley, who wrestled at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, purchased the magazine at age 22 immediately after graduation. Under his leadership for more than 27 years, WIN has become what the wrestling community calls “the Voice of Wrestling.”
Van Kley has personally covered every Olympic Games since 1996, seven in total through Paris 2024, along with numerous World Championships. He continues to attend 6-8 major national and international events each year, ensuring WIN’s coverage comes directly from the mat.
The Dan Hodge Trophy
In 1995, WIN introduced the Dan Hodge Trophy, now recognized as “the Heisman Trophy of wrestling.” Created by Mike Chapman to honor the most dominant collegiate wrestler each season, the trophy is named after Dan Hodge, who compiled a 46-0 record at the University of Oklahoma with a 78% pin rate and remains the only amateur wrestler to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
WIN administers every aspect of the Hodge Trophy, from identifying finalists and managing the voting committee to coordinating the presentation ceremony. Past winners include three-time recipient Cael Sanderson (who finished his career 159-0), Ben Askren, David Taylor, Spencer Lee, and 2025 winner Wyatt Hendrickson. The trophy presentation at fall football games has been seen by over one million fans since 1995.
USA Wrestling Partnership
WIN Magazine has partnered with USA Wrestling, the sport’s national governing body, for nearly a decade. In September 2024, the partnership expanded significantly when all 56,000+ USA Wrestling Leader members, including coaches, referees, and club leaders, began receiving free annual digital subscriptions as a membership benefit.
Through state wrestling association partnerships, WIN provides athletes and coaches with national recruiting exposure via monthly state “Notebook” pages. The magazine also produces the USA Wrestling Coach’s Corner feature series and exclusive content for Wrestling Leaders.
Coverage and Archives
WIN publishes 12 full-color issues per year, ranging from 45-90 pages, covering NCAA Division I, II, III, and NAIA championships, women’s college wrestling, high school events like the Walsh Ironman, Beast of the East, and NHSCA Nationals, and international competition including the World Championships and Cadet/Junior Nationals in Fargo.
Our digital archive contains over 150 issues dating back to 2011 and more than 5,000 articles, including athlete and coach features, national rankings, technique analysis, training tips, and exclusive columns.
Our Contributors
WIN features regular columns from some of wrestling’s biggest names, including legendary Iowa coach Dan Gable, Olympic gold medalist and six-time World champion Jordan Burroughs, four-time World champion Kyle Dake, World and Olympic champion David Taylor, and Olympic champion Helen Maroulis.
Recognition
WIN Magazine has been named NWMA Publication of the Year three times (1997, 2006, 2012) and is consistently recognized as the nation’s top wrestling publication. In addition to the Dan Hodge Trophy, WIN administers the Dan Gable Coach of the Year, the Mike Chapman Impact Award, the Wade Schalles Award for top collegiate pinner, and the Junior Dan Hodge Trophy for high school wrestlers.
Our Team
WIN is headquartered in Newton, Iowa, a community 30 miles east of Des Moines that has been home to the magazine since 1998. Today, WIN is led by Bryan Van Kley (Publisher), Tristan Warner (Editor), Gina LeFleur (Office Manager), Peyton LeFleur (Operations Manager), and Chloe LeFleur (Office Secretary).
Byan Van Kley
Publisher
Bryan Van Kley is the Publisher of WIN Magazine, responsible for overseeing the overall direction and strategy of the publication. He has been with WIN Magazine since the fall of 1998 when he purchased the publication. With years of experience in the wrestling industry, Bryan is dedicated to producing a high-quality magazine that provides readers with in-depth analysis and comprehensive coverage of the sport. He brings his passion for wrestling and wealth of knowledge to the magazine, ensuring that we continue to deliver the best possible content to our subscribers.
Mike Finn
Editor
Mike Finn is the Editor of WIN Magazine, responsible for overseeing the content of the publication. He joined WIN Magazine in the fall of 2002 and has been instrumental in the publication’s success ever since. Mike has a passion for wrestling and brings a wealth of knowledge to the magazine. He works tirelessly to ensure that our articles are accurate, informative, and engaging for our readers. Mike is committed to providing the best possible content and is always exploring new ways to enhance the reader experience.
Michelle Worthington
Office Manager
Michele Worthington is the Office Manager of WIN Magazine, responsible for keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. She started with WIN Magazine in the fall of 2016 and is an essential member of our team. Michele handles day-to-day operations and ensures that our office is organized and efficient. Her attention to detail and organizational skills are invaluable to the magazine’s success. Michele’s dedication to her work ensures that our team can deliver the best possible experience to our subscribers.
Trenton Winchell
Social Media Manager
Trenton Winchell is the Social Media Manager for WIN Magazine, responsible for managing and executing our social media strategy. He joined our team in the fall of 2022 and brings a wealth of experience in social media marketing to the magazine. Trenton is passionate about wrestling and uses his creativity and innovation to engage with our followers and promote our brand. He is always looking for new and exciting ways to enhance our social media presence and connect with our readers.
Peyton LeFleur
Marketing Coordinator
Peyton LeFleur is the Marketing Coordinator, Web Operator, and responsible for customer subscription management at WIN Magazine. He started with the magazine in the fall of 2019 and has been an integral part of our team ever since. Peyton works closely with the rest of the team to ensure that our marketing efforts are aligned with our overall strategy and goals. He brings his attention to detail and passion for marketing to the magazine, helping us to grow our subscriber base and raise awareness of our brand. Peyton is also responsible for managing our website operations, ensuring that our website is up-to-date and running smoothly. Additionally, he manages our customer subscriptions, ensuring that our subscribers receive their copies on time and are satisfied with their experience.