Numerous international wrestling stars expected to compete at Dave Schultz Memorial International

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Josi Carlson (USA Wrestling)
01/26/2005


Some of the top Senior-level international wrestlers will be in Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 5-6 for the Dave Schultz Memorial International.     The tournament will be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Sports Center I and will feature men's freestyle, men's Greco-Roman and women's freestyle competitors.    A number of Olympic and World medalists are expected to compete.     To date, the countries expected to compete are Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Columbia, Egypt, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Spain and Tajikistan.     The United States will also be well-represented, with a number of the National Team athletes competing. Information on U.S. wrestlers expected to compete will be announced shortly. American 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.    Among the top international wrestlers expected are:    Men's Greco-Roman  66 kg/145.5 lbs. Vitali Zhuk of Belarus (2000 Olympian)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. Kanatbek Begaliev of Kyrgyzstan (2004 Olympian)  74 kg/163 lbs. Ahmed Mohamed Abd El Sadik of Egypt (1st in 2004 African Championship)  74 kg/163 lbs. Alexander Kikinov of Belarus (2004 Olympian)  74 kg/163 lbs. Luis Fernando Izquierdo Martinez of Columbia (2004 Olympian)  74 kg/163 lbs. Daniar Kobonov of Kyrgyzstan (2004 Olympian)  84 kg/185 lbs. Vyatcheslav Makarenko of Belarus (2004 Olympic Bronze medalist, 2000 European Champion, 2000 Olympian)  84 kg/185 lbs. Vladislav Metodiev of Bulgaria (2004 Olympian)  84 kg/185 lbs. Yanarbek Kenyaev of Kyrgyzstan (2004 Olympian)  96 kg/211.5 lbs. Karam Mohamed Gaber Ibrahim of Egypt (2004 Olympic Gold medalist, 2nd in 2003, 2003 World Championship)  96 kg/211.5 lbs. Kaloian Dinchev of Bulgaria (2004 Olympian)  96 kg/264.5 lbs. Gennadi Chaidze of Kyrgyzstan (5th in 2004 Olympics, 2004 Asian Champion, 5th in 2000 Olympics)  120 kg/264.5 lbs. Andrei Chekovski of Belarus (2004 Olympian)  120 kg/264.5 lbs. Sergej Mureiko of Bulgaria (2004 Olympian, 4th in 2001 World Championship, 2000 Olympian, 3rd in 1999 World Championship, 1996 Olympic Bronze medalist, 2nd in 1995 World Championship, 2nd in 1993 World Championship)    Men's Freestyle    55 kg/121 lbs. Jamie Macari of Canada (3rd in 2003 Commonwealth Championship)  60 kg/131 lbs. Saeed Azarbayjani of Canada (2nd in 2002 and 2003 Pan American Championship)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. Evan MacDonald of Canada (2004 Olympian, 8th in 2003 World championship)  74 kg/163 lbs. Edison Hurtado Lerma of Columbia (2000 Olympian)  84 kg/185 lbs. Nicholas Ugoalah of Canada (2002 Commonwealth Games champion, 4th in 2002 World Cup)    Women's Freestyle  48 kg/105.5 lbs. Carol Huynh of Canada (5th in 2002 World Championship, 2nd in 2001 World Championship, 3rd in 2000 World Championship)  51 kg/112 lbs. Lyndsay Belisle of Canada (2004 Olympian, 2003 World Cup champion, 4th in 2002 and 2001 World Championship)  51 kg/112 lbs. Erica Sharp of Canada (3rd in 2004 World Cup, 2nd in 1999 World Championship, 5th in 1997 World Championship, 4th in 1996 World Championship)  55 kg/121 lbs. Tonya Verbeek of Canada (2004 Olympic Silver medalist, 2003 Pan American champion, 5th in 1995 World Championship)  59 kg/130 lbs. Emily Richardson of Canada (2nd in 2004 World Cup, 7th in 2003 World Championship  63 kg/138.5 lbs. Tara Hedican of Canada (2003 Pan American champion, 2001 Junior World Champion)  72 kg/158.5 lbs. Marina Gastl of Austria (2004 Olympian)  72 kg/158.5 lbs. Anita Schaetzle of Germany (2004 Olympian, 2003 European Champion, 2nd in 1999 World Championship)  72 kg/158.5 lbs. Ohenawa Akuffo of Canada (2nd in 2004 World Cup, 10th in 2001 World Championship)    The tournament will utilize the new international wrestling rules that were implemented following the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.    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.