Some of the new FILA rules to be in effect for 20th annual Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open in Te

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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
10/18/2004


International wrestlers will get their first taste of FILA's new rules at the Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Ariz., Oct. 28-30.    The Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open is the longest standing international tournament in the United States with over 300 entries in all three Olympic styles, men's and women's freestyle and Greco-Roman.    This is the 20th year that the Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open will be held.    All seven Olympic weight classes will be competed in men's freestyle and Greco-Roman, and all seven international weight classes will be competed in women's freestyle.    It is important to note that there will be two modifications to the new FILA competition rules for this event only. The tournament will be a double-elimination format, with all losing wrestlers going into a consolation bracket.    Also, competition for men's freestyle and Greco-Roman will be held over two days, instead of the one-day competition format implemented by FILA.    To view all of the new FILA rules, click here.    Many U.S. Olympic Training Center residents plan to compete in this event, as do the residents at the U.S. Olympic Education Center in Marquette, Mich. Most of the top women's college wrestlers are also expected to compete.    This event qualifies for the NCAA Waiver for Outside Competition, so college wrestlers may compete. In past years, a number of talented college athletes and teams have participated to kick off their new season.    This is also a prize-money event, as part of USA Wrestling's national teams program. Champions in the men's freestyle and Greco-Roman divisions receive $1,000 and the champions in the women's division receive $750. U.S. citizens in men's freestyle and Greco-Roman will be eligible to receive prize money for second and third-place finishes. U.S. citizens in women's freestyle will be eligible to receive prize money for second-place finishes. Foreign athletes are eligible for first place prize money only. Awards will be given to the Outstanding Wrestler in each division.    Athletes from Canada, Colombia and Macedonia have indicated that they will attend this year. There has also been interest from Albania, Brazil, Denmark, Niger, Nigeria, Russia and Sudan.    Last year, the United States won all seven gold medals in men's freestyle, six gold medals in Greco-Roman and five gold medals in women's freestyle. Overall, four 2004 Olympic medalists won gold medals at last year's Sunkist Kids International Open. They were Greco-Roman Olympic bronze medalist Rulon Gardner (Wellsville, Utah/Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs., Greco-Roman Olympic gold medalist Karam Gaber of Egypt at 96 kg/211.5 lbs., women's freestyle Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda (New Haven, Conn./Dave Schultz WC) at 105.5 lbs. and women's freestyle Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.    In addition to the wrestling action, the 2004 Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open Wrestler and Coaches Clinic will be held Oct. 29-30. Two-time Olympic medalist Rulon Gardner and 1992 Olympic silver medalist Zeke Jones will join the current Arizona State coaching staff of Thom Ortiz, Aaron Simpson and Eric Larkin at the clinic that will be offered in conjunction with the annual Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open.    For more information on all of the activities at the Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open, contact tournament director Tim Gressley at (480) 483-2907 or visit the tournament website at www.sunkistkids.org.    Complete coverage of the Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open will provided on TheMat.com.    SUNKIST KIDS INTERNATIONAL OPEN SCHEDULE  Thursday, October 28  9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - FILA Officials Clinic, Session #1 (WFA)  2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. - FILA Officials Clinic, Session #2 (WFA)  2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. - FILA Pairing Clinic, Session (SDL)  4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. - FS & GR Registration (WFA)  5:50 p.m.-6:00 p.m. - FS & GR Medical Check (WFA)  6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m. - FS & GR Weigh-in, + 2KG (WFA)    Friday, October 29  8:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m. - New FILA Rules Clinic Men's Freestyle & Greco-Roman (WFA)  9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. - Mens' FS & GR Prelims & Consolations  3:00 p.m.-finish   - Mens' FS & GR Prelims & Quarterfinals & Consolations  6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. - Womens' Registration (WFA)  6:50 p.m.-7:00 p.m. - Womens' Medical Check (WFA)  7:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. - Womens' Weigh-in + 2KG (WFA)  7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. - Sunkist/Sun Devil Coaches & Wrestling Clinic    Saturday, October 30  8:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m. - New FILA Rules Clinic Womens' Freestyle (WFA)  9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. - Womens' Prelims Quarterfinals & Consolations, FS & GR Semi Finals & Consolations  2:30 p.m.-4:15 p.m. - Womens' Semifinals & Consolations, FS & GR 3rd Place  4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. - Womens' 3rd Place & All Finals (FS, GR & WM)  6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. - Sunkist/Sun Devil Coaches & Wrestling Clinic  *Schedule Subject to Change    2003 SUNKIST KIDS INTERNATIONAL OPEN CHAMPIONS  Men's Freestyle   121 - Jeremy Hunter (USA); 132 - Michael Lightner (USA); 145.5 - Doug Schwab (USA); 163 - Ramico Blackmon (USA); 185 - Lee Fullhart (USA); 211.5 - Dominic Black (USA); 264.5 - Steve Mocco (USA)     Greco-Roman  121 - Joe Espinoza (USA); 132 - Joe Warren (USA); 145.5 - Faruk Sahin (USA); 163 - Ken Cook (USA); 185 - Kenny Owens (USA); 211.5 - Karam Gaber (Egypt); 264.5 - Rulon Gardner (USA)    Women's Freestyle  105.5 - Patricia Miranda (USA); 112.25 - Malinda Ripley (USA); 121 - Tonya Verbeek (Canada); 130 - Alaina Berube (USA); 138.75 - Sara McMann (USA); 147.5 - Kristie Marano (USA); 158.5 - Christine Nordhagen (Canada)