Steve Knight and the Excel board of directors began Excel Wrestling in Colorado with a mission of improving wrestling at all levels as well as impacting the lives of wrestlers wherever possible. Twelve years later, Excel Wrestling has  been designated as an official US Junior Olympic Program under the auspices of the USOC and wrestling's national governing body, USA Wrestling.  Team Excel's Year Round Junior Olympic Programs have expanded  now to several states.  The programs run throughout the school year in Colorado, Wyoming, Iowa and Wisconsin.  The Excel Summer Camp series runs in Colorado, Iowa and Hawaii each summer, as well.  Most importantly, the Excel Coaching Staff is touching the lives of hundred's of young men each and every year.

T he Colorado based advisory board for Excel Wrestling is made up of Arno Niemand, Eric Swanson, Dan Havens, Scott Neitenbach and Paul Katz.  It's a combination of wrestling and life experience Team Excel is very fortunate to have.  "They have been irreplaceable to me as a coach within the organization", commented Steve Knight, Team Excel's Head Coach and Executive Director.

Steve Knight is blessed to have some great mentors in his life and the same was true with his own career on the mat.  Steve was mentored as an athlete by some of the very best in the sport and now works along side some of the very same coaches. He has been quoted as saying, "You can't grow up in Iowa and not develop a physical style, but what we've tried to add to this within the framework of Excel Wrestling is high level skills. We want our wrestlers to look like college wrestlers when it comes to timing, finesse, and finishes".

Steve was an NCAA All American and Big  12 Champion for Iowa State before becoming an assisant coach at ISU and training for the 1992 Olympics. Knight wrestled in 14 competitions internationally including several international duals and tournaments , compiling  nearly 100 matches abroad.  He won the Pan American Championships in 1992 defeating  the Cuban Olympic Bronze medallist and travelled as an alternate/training partner to the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. "The tough part was coaching and competing while I was still going to school. It was a lot to juggle, but I really believe it was worth it. If I could do it again, I don't think I would change much."  Knight completed both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at Iowa State University.

Since retiring from competition, Knight has spent much of his time in Colorado, not only developing Team Excel, but also working with athletes at the US Olympic Training Center. Knight's Olympic level Team Excel wrestlers competed through two Olympic cycles from 1997 - 2004. Many of these athletes won several championships abroad and were US National Freestyle All Americans and National Champions.

On the high school level, many of the Team Excel Year Round program wrestlers have achieved Cadet/Junior National All American status in Fargo and also at the prestigious Reno Tournament of Champions. Over the years,  Colorado Team Excel wrestlers won the Reno "Tournament of Champions" twice (Scott Frohardt,  later an Air Force  Academy NCAA All American and Tommy Clum, University of Wisconsin 2 x NCAA All American) and reached the Fargo finals six times claiming two titles, (Tony Mustari, now competing at the University of Northern Colorado and Tyler Graff, still competing in high school.)

In Colorado and Wyoming, well over 60  Team Excel wrestlers have become High School State Champions with many going on to compete on the college level. "All of our programs have been blessed with some top notch coaches and loyal families who have really supported the Excel Year Round Junior Olympic Programs. Many of our Year Round Training Program coaches have had outstanding careers themselves, but more importantly, they really know how to teach the sport. They are awesome role models for our kids and do an exceptional job", said Knight.

The future for Knight and the Team Excel Program is bright. Excel Wrestling's Year Round Training Programs are gravitating to the midwest. Steve has recently begun the newest Excel program in Central Iowa and 2 x NCAA All American Tommy Clum continues his Wisconsin Excel Program in Madison.

Steve commented, "Our goal to wrestle throughout the entire school year has paid off for many  wrestlers in our programs. We work with their high school coaches and help get them to college. That's important to us. We feel strongly about the college wrestling experience and completing a college education. It is a goal of our organization to see these guys continue training after college at the US Olympic Training Center or at one of the top regional training sites in the country, but regardless, with a college education, they're prepared for what the rest of life will bring".

Steve Knight has been a member of the US National Team Coaching Staff for the past 1 2 years. He has  coached in two World Champiionships, served on the US Olympic Coaching Staff and has coached several  other US teams in international competition.  He lead the 2004 US Pan Am Team to a Gold Medal finish at the 2004  Pan American Freestyle Championships in Guatemala and  was also one of the coaches for the US World Cup team  at the 2005 World Cup Freestyle Championships in Uzbekistan. In addition to the Team Excel Junior Olympic Programs, Steve continues to coach  on the US Senior Freestyle circuit for the New York Athletic Club , which carries a roster of several former Team Excel wrestlers.