Top international wrestlers expected at Dave Schultz Memorial International
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Josi Carlson (USA Wrestling)
01/21/2005
The Dave Schultz Memorial International Tournament brings top Olympic-caliber wrestlers to test their skills Feb. 5-6, 2005, in Colorado Springs, Colo. This major international competition, hosted at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Sports Center I, will feature elite Senior-level athletes in men's freestyle, men's Greco-Roman and women's freestyle wrestling. The tournament will utilize the new international wrestling rules that were implemented following the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Some of the major rule changes include: - Each weight category will start and end in one day. The weigh-in for each category takes place the day before the start of competition. - Matches are divided into three periods of two minutes each, with a break of 30 seconds. A wrestler must win two periods to win the match. The total score of all three periods does not matter. Each period starts with a 0-0 score. - If a wrestler wins the first two periods, the match is over. - A wrestleback, or a "repechage," will be held, allowing an athlete who has lost a match to compete for a bronze medal. Athletes that lose to a wrestler who makes the gold-medal finals are entered into the repechage round. To date, the countries expected to compete are Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Columbia, Egypt, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Spain, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Many of the top American wrestlers are also expected. U.S. wrestlers who are champions at the Dave Schultz Memorial International tournament will qualify for the Challenge Tournament at the 2005 World Team Trials in Ames, Iowa, June 18-19. On Friday Feb. 4, the participating athletes will have medical control and weigh-ins. On Saturday, Feb. 5 the following weight classes will be featured and the schedule is as follows: Men's Freestyle: 60 kg/132 lbs., 74 kg/163 lbs., 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Greco-Roman: 55 kg/121 lbs., 66 kg/145.5 lbs., 84 kg/185 lbs., 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Women's Freestyle: 48 kg/105.5 lbs., 55 kg/121 lbs., 63 kg/138.5 lbs., 72 kg/158.5 - Preliminaries, quarterfinals and consolations 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Semifinals and consolations 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Finals 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Sunday, Feb. 6 the following weight classes will be featured and the event is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to about 4 p.m. (All times are subject to change) Men's Freestyle: 55 kg/121 lbs., 66 kg/145.5 lbs., 84 kg/185 lbs., 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Greco-Roman: 60 kg/132 lbs., 74 kg/163 lbs., 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Women's Freestyle: 51 kg/112 lbs., 59 kg/130 lbs., 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Tickets are available at the door. Adult all-session tickets are $15 or $5 per session on Saturday and Sunday. For medals and finals matches only, adult tickets are $8. High school students with an I.D. and senior citizens over 62 are $5 per day and youth are $4 per day. Coaches get in free with five paid wrestlers. USA Wrestling and the Dave Schultz Wrestling Foundation have worked together to create the Dave Schultz Memorial International. The event honors the memory and achievements of Olympic Champion Dave Schultz, who was tragically killed in 1996. Champions of the 2004 Dave Schultz Memorial International tournament Men's Freestyle 55 kg/121 lbs. - Stephen Abas (USA/Sunkist Kids) 60 kg/132 lbs. - Danny Felix (USA/Sunkist Kids) 66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Eric Larkin (USA/Sunkist Kids) 74 kg/163 lbs. - Joe Heskett (USA/Gator WC) 84 kg/185 lbs. - Lee Fullhart (USA/Gator WC) 96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Tim Hartung (USA/Minn. Storm) 120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steve Mocco (USA/New York AC) Men's Greco-Roman 55 kg/121 lbs. - Mukesh Katri (India) 60 kg/132 lbs. - Glenn Nieradka (USA/U.S. Army) 66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Faruk Sahin (USA/U.S. Army) 74 kg/163 lbs. - Darryl Christian (USA/New York AC) 84 kg/185 lbs. - Brad Vering (USA/New York AC) 96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Genadiy Chhaidze (Kyrgyzstan) 120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Rulon Gardner (USA/Sunkist Kids) Women's Freestyle 48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Patricia Miranda (USA/Dave Schultz WC) 51 kg/112.5 lbs. - Carol Huyhn (Canada) 55 kg/121 lbs. - Tina George (USA/U.S. Army) 59 kg/130 lbs. - Erin Tomeo (USA/Sunkist Kids) 63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Kristie Marano (USA/New York AC) 67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Shannon Samler (Canada) 72 kg/158.75 lbs. - Anita Schaetzle (Germany)