Abel Estrella
Abel Estrella was a talented wrestler and football player at Coconino High School in Flagstaff, Arizona, graduating in 1971.
When he finished high school, he became a certified wrestling official and trainer.
Among his many officiating highlights was being named the head official for the 1978 NCAA Big Sky Regional tournament.
Estrella was named the 1996 and 1999 National Federation of Wrestling Arizona Official of the Year and was honored as the 1991 Arizona State Wrestling Tournament's Outstanding Official.
He established two officials training programs, one in Northern Arizona and the other a statewide program. Prior to these programs, the state interscholastic organization had never had an training program for officials.
It was 1972 when Able Estrella began what would truly be a lifetime of devotion to the sport of wrestling and Arizona’s youth. He didn’t stop officiating for the AIA until 2013. Aside from officiating he has shown leadership in recruiting and developing officials for Arizona. He delivered the first formal wrestling officials training program in Northern Arizona and cofounded the Arizona Wrestling Officials Committee to bring officials state wide together for work on consistency and professionalism. Able officiated the State Tournament for 30 years, head official for 14 years and Outstanding Official in 1991, officiated 38 State Regional Tournaments, Big Sky NCAA Regional Tournament Head Official, 2xs National Federation Arizona Official of the Year, and officiated many tournaments state wide returning to some for 15 and 20 years. Able remains involved in training officials and officiating middle school.
Awards:
Year
2019
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Award
Lifetime Service to Wrestling
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Chapter/Region
Arizona
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