My name is Aksel Albertsen and I am from Bountiful, Utah. I began my wrestling career in 2009 and wrestled for Viewmont High School and have developed a great love and passion for the sport. After concluding my competitive wrestling career, I have since become a coach for several programs, including the Sanderson Wrestling Academy. I now stay busy with coaching as well as officiating.

I began officiating in 2016 and have loved this new channel of helping build the sport. Having worked events across the state of Utah, I have learned immensely from these experiences. I am excited to work in the Rocky Mountain National venue and hope to be an effective advocate in the progression of this sport. I’m grateful for the opportunity to wrestle and be involved in wrestling!

Wrestling is something that I have been very passionate about since an early age. I grew up watching my father as a head coach and wrestling began to be a part of who I am. Some of my favorite childhood memories take place at high school wrestling tournaments. Officiating has given me an opportunity to give back to a sport that I love and that helped define me as a person. I started officiating in college as a side gig to make a few extra bucks on the weekend and immediately fell in love with the sport all over again.

I started as a JV official and by the end of second year was doing varsity matches. My third year and first year as a full varsity official I was voted in to do the state tournament. I moved up in ranking each year in my District and by my third year as a varsity was voted as the top official in the area. I have been fortunate enough to do the state tournament in both Idaho and Utah. Another great accomplishment is when I was invited to do the High Schools Nationals in Virginia. My latest accomplishment took place last year when I was invited to work at my first RMN event in Las Vegas. I had such a great experience at that tournament that I knew I needed to become a regular with RMN.

The sport of wrestling had the largest impact in my young life. I learned the principles of integrity, self-dedication, and hard work. It helped me gain confidence in who I was as a person. Wrestling helped me become a great leader and taught me the importance of making sacrifices. I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to the sport that made me into a better person.

19th year officiating high school wrestling
15th year officiating Utah state finals
15th year officiating Rockwell Rumble
Fifth year officiating Christmas Clash
Fifth year officiating Freak Show
Officiated Virginia Beach NHSCA national finals
Fourth year officiating college wrestling

“This is a sport (wrestling) that has turned many boys into men and many men into leaders. And it is a sport in which you can be a giant regardless of how big you are.” -- Carl Albert … Chris has been involved with wrestling for over 30 years: competing for 16 years; coaching high school folkstyle, freestyle and Greco for 18 years; officiating those styles for 9 more. He has coached individual state and national champions along with state championship teams. Officiating has allowed him to continue to give back to the sport for many years to come.

His goal has always been “to be the official that I always wanted as a coach; consistent and impartial.” Based out of Las Vegas, Chris has officiated tournaments all over the country such as Disney Duals, Grand Nationals, Reno Worlds, Rocky Mountain Nationals, UFC Ultimates, Freak Show, Aztec, Bigfoot, Rumble in Reno, High School and USAW State Championships in multiple Western states. He states: “RMN Events definitely puts on the best show and provides the competitors with unforgettable memories. Not to mention, wrestlers have the opportunity to win the best-looking belt the sport has to offer.”

Originally from Wyoming, Chris Tognoni began officiating while wrestling at The University of Wyoming to make extra money. After a 12-year stint as a Head Coach in AZ, Chris once again started officiating when he and his wife moved to Las Vegas in 2000. This season will be Chris' 22nd season as a wrestling official. Chris has officiated 9 Nevada State Championship Tournaments. This will be Chris's 3rd Freak Show.

Chris officiates various tournaments around the country but says his favorite tournament each year is The Pat Weede Memorial Tournament in Gillette, WY. This tournament is in honor of his high school wrestling coach. Officiating is Chris's way of giving back to the sport of wrestling. Chris states: "Wrestling has provided me with most of the positive things that have happened in my life to date.” Wrestling teaches life lessons on a daily basis, whether it's through practice or competition. Wrestling teaches its combatants the work ethic they will need to be a success in anything they do throughout the rest of their lives.

ournaments officiated:

Super 32 – Beast of the East – Doc Buchanan

Utah State Tournament

NHSCA High School Nationals

Rocky Mountain Nationals (Denver) – Freak Show

Reno Tournament of Champions – Disney Duals

Officiating the sport of wrestling is one of the greatest privileges of my life. I strive to hold myself accountable to the highest level, so that each young man or woman who dedicates him or herself to this sport, may compete in the arena of fairness, where his or her preparation decides the outcome.

Wrestling Philosophy: “Wrestling is the one true sport, everything else is a game.” Wrestling is the greatest sport in the world. It has been in existence since the beginning of time. It has roots in every major culture and civilization. It is the essence of pure combat. Wrestling Background: 2X Zone Champion, 2X Nevada State Champion, High School All-American, NCAA competitor, Police Olympics Greco Roman Champion (1987), 2X Police Olympics Freestyle Champion (1987,2004); studied Judo and currently studying Ju-Jitsu.

Favorite Wrestling Moment: Going in as an underdog and beating top-ranked Melvin Douglas in a University of Oklahoma and UNLV dual meet in 1983. Wrestling Experience: 15 years as a high school and youth team coach; 14 years as a high school official in multiple sports. Tournament Officiating Experience: Nevada Regional Tournament 13X; Nevada State Tournament 9X (Head Referee 2011); Freak Show 5X; Sierra Nevada Classic 5X; Reno Worlds 5X; Beehive Nationals 6X; Disney National Duals 2X.

I realize that a female wrestling referee is a bit of a novelty. I began my officiating career as a soccer referee in 1996 and discovered that I was passionate about the challenge of honoring both the sport and athletes by endeavoring to give my utmost to keep the game safe and fair so that the athletes can have the best experience possible. Because of my love of officiating, in 2008 I decided to take on a second sport, and wrestling seemed to be a natural choice.

Although girls simply did not wrestle when I was growing up, I lived in a town where wrestling wasn’t just a sport, but part of the town’s culture and identity. My high school won state titles not only every year that I attended, but 12 of 13 years through the 1970’s and 80’s. I watched a lot of wrestling from the time I was a grade schooler as my family attended every meet and tournament in our town and many where our team traveled – that’s where my passion for the sport took root. I have officiated high school wrestling for 9 years, working tournaments in Nevada, California, New Mexico and Washington. I’ve also worked at many youth tournaments in Northern Nevada.

Wrestling is the truest of sports; I love that wrestling not only produces amazing athletes but develops fine human beings who know that hard work, endurance and pursuit of excellence is a responsibility of the individual who strives for success. This is my second time officiating at the Reno Rumble; I feel privileged to be part of such a terrific event.

Initially, I had it rough as a youth wrestler, where I had the same partner for three years in grades 2-5. We wrestled in an elementary school gym which had fluorescent pink hats that said: “Bo knows” after Bo Jackson. My partner was three years older and would choke me because he didn’t like me beating him. My dad said I could quit when the season was over.

I didn’t wrestle again until jr. high intramurals, which was only few days each year, then I joined the wrestling team in high school. After high school, I realized how much I loved wrestling! After a few years working out with my local high school team, I found out how to be a high school official. I have wrestled for fun in the U.S. Open on the senior and veteran/masters level. I have volunteered for the Utah high school state championships and the NCAA Division 1 wrestling tournament since at least 2011.

I became an official in 2010-11 and want to be the best official I can be. In the past 8 years, I have officiated youth, high school, and college tournaments. Wrestling truly shows where talent and hard work can take you. The most important thing is respecting the wrestlers on the mat by making the best call possible and being at my best. Always look to improve each day and have fun!

A happily married man of 8 years, we have 6 children together. I am also an Army Veteran of 9 years. I started my love affair with the sport of wrestling in Missouri in 2005. Growing up in rural Tuskegee, Alabama, we didn't have many sports from which to choose. I have worked in Missouri, Hawaii, Nevada, Alabama, Texas and Colorado over my career.

I began officiating wrestling 12 years ago, finding a whole new aspect of the sport of wrestling to fall in love with. I strive to improve myself every year in the sport of wrestling. I'm a high school official as well, having officiated 6 Regionals and 4 State Tournaments in Hawaii and Texas. I love officiating as a way to help kids, coaches and parents see the sport in a better aspect. Once I step on the mat, I take wrestling very seriously. I give everyone who loves the sport the best that I have.

Michael Clark wrestled varsity for Palmdale High School (CA) during the years of 1995 to 1999. He began officiating in 2006 and has officiated in many tournaments across Utah including the State Tournament several times. He has officiated for RMN events for the past 3 years.

Over 25 years of Officiating Experience at Folkstyle, Freestyle, and Greco-Roman Wrestling. Officiated over 25 USA Wrestling National Events ranging from Kid's Nationals to Senior Open. Head Official at Kid's Nationals, University Women's, and Veterans/Masters National Championships.

Numerous Doc B Tournament in Clovis, California. CIF Central Section Masters, Girls California CIF State Championships. Nevada NIAA State Championship Official. UFC Ultimates, Freak Show, and Rocky Mountain Nationals events.

This is my 29th year in the sport of wrestling, starting in middle school, high school, college, and most recently 21 years as a referee. Starting my officiating career in Washington, and working in several associations throughout the West, I have had the privilege of working with, watching, and learning from some of the best referees in the country. Like every person involved in this sport, I continue to learn from those around me every year. My goals as a referee have changed over the many years. Starting out as someone who wants to be in charge on the mat, I am now a ref who only wants to be invisible on the mat. Making the right calls, while prioritizing keeping the kids safe, continues to be what I strive for in every match. As I continue my career as a referee, I want to always be approachable, understanding, and fair.