The McCormick name is well-known for excellence in officiating. In 1994, Pat McCormick was one of six officials to receive the inaugural Meritorious Official award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Seventeen years later his son, Mike McCormick, would receive the same award for his work as an official.

As a wrestler, Mike was a three-time state champion for Poquoson High School in Virginia, compiling a 75-1 career record. He was also a two-time Atlantic Coast Conference place winner for the University of Virginia. After graduating from college in 1990, McCormick immediately turned his efforts to officiating.

His career as an official began in 1990 with high school and college events. He has the unique distinction of wrestling in the Virginia Duals, and then officiating in the same tournament.

Beginning in 1994, McCormick would consistently be one of the most respected referees in the nation. He was selected to referee the Colonial Athletic Association Championships, the Southern Conference
Championships, and the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star meet three times.

McCormick has officiated every Pac Ten tournament since 1996 and every Big Ten tournament since 1997. He was also selected to officiate at 17 consecutive NCAA Division I tournaments since 1995, including 14 championship finals matches.

He was selected as the liaison by the NCAA to the NCAA Rules Committee in 2007 and 2008 and is an active member of the National Wrestling Officials Association.

In addition to his impressive career as a referee, McCormick has numerous other accomplishments. He has been the college director of the prestigious Virginia Duals National Invitational Wrestling tournament since 1993, and he currently works as a dentist in Poquoson, Virginia.

Mike McCormick’s achievements as an official and his work within the sport of wrestling exemplify the meaning of this prestigious award.