Sunkist Kids expands international wrestling program and hires two-time Olympic champion Sergei Belo
<< Back to Articles
Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
10/08/2004
Sunkist Kids Wrestling Facility The Sunkist Kids wrestling club, one of the world's most successful clubs, will expand its complete international wrestling program with the addition of one of the greatest freestyle coaches in the world. Based in Phoenix, Ariz., the Sunkist Kids will support the training of top international athletes in the new wrestling room facility under construction at Arizona State Univ. The club has hired two-time Olympic champion and current USA Wrestling Freestyle Resident Coach Sergei Beloglazov to coach its freestyle program. He will work with elite-caliber wrestlers, as well as the large youth program sponsored by the club. The Sunkist Kids and USA Wrestling are working together to develop another strong freestyle wrestling training center, with the goal of winning more Olympic and World medals for the United States in the future. Beloglazov will continue to be an active and important part of the overall national freestyle coaching program. Beloglazov joined USA Wrestling as the Freestyle Resident Coach over a year ago, and worked with the U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athletes in freestyle wrestling, as well as the nation's elite freestyle wrestlers who visit there for training opportunities. USA Wrestling will initiate a national search for a new Freestyle Resident Coach immediately. A job posting for the position is currently available on TheMat.com and via request from USA Wrestling. Freestyle Resident Coach job listing "I am excited about the opportunity to work with the Sunkist Kids program, and to coach the freestyle wrestlers there," said Beloglazov. "I look forward to this new challenge. The Sunkist Kids have a tradition of excellence in international wrestling. I am committed to helping strengthen the U.S. wrestling program and developing champion freestyle wrestlers for the United States through this coaching position." "We are incredibly pleased to have Sergei Beloglazov come down and be a part of our program," said Sunkist Kids founder Art Martori. "This will be a tremendous training site for USA Wrestling, the Sunkist Kids and Arizona State. I am happy that he is willing to work with us to make this happen. The entire wrestling community will benefit from this new program." "I have been honored to work with Sergei Beloglazov, one of the world's greatest wrestling coaches," said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. "Sergei will continue to have a tremendous impact on our national wrestling program, working with World and Olympic freestyle wrestlers. The Sunkist Kids facility and program is an incredible resource for USA Wrestling." The new wrestling facility, which is currently unnamed, is scheduled for completion in December 2004, through a joint partnership between the Sunkist Kids Wrestling, Inc. and Arizona State. The 9,600 square foot training center will provide the Sunkist Kids athletes and the Arizona State wrestling team a spacious world-class training site. With three full competition mats, spread over 7,200 square feet of mat space, the facility will also have the ability to bring in bleachers for camps and training sessions. The remaining 2,400 square feet will house 40 lockers for men and 25 lockers for women with showers and restrooms. There will be two offices and video areas, as well. It will be one of the premier wrestling training centers in the world. Prior to moving to the United States, Beloglazov served as the Head National Coach for Russia in freestyle wrestling. Beloglazov is considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Competing for the Soviet Union, Beloglazov dominated the 57 kg/125.5 lbs. division during the 1980's. He won Olympic gold medals at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, Russia and the 1988 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. He also claimed six World Championship gold medals (1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987). His amazing gold-medal winning streak was only interrupted in 1984, when the Soviet Union boycotted the Los Angeles Olympic Games. Among the other major achievements of his athletic career were five European Championship gold medals, a 1986 World Cup title and a 1986 Goodwill Games title. He was also a 1979 World silver medalist, and captured a 1975 Espoir World silver medal. Beloglazov served as a Head National Coach for world power Russia for five years, and was also its Technical Director. He also served as the National Freestyle Coach for Japan over four years, and was its 1996 Olympic Coach. For four years, he was the FILA instructor for the International Wrestling Seminar held in Rome, Italy. After his competitive career ended, Beloglazov also coached four years in the United States as an assistant coach for Lehigh University, one of the nation's top Div. I wrestling powers.