USA Wrestling has announced its 2006 Winter Tour schedule for men's Greco-Roman wrestling. The nation's top Olympic-caliber freestyle wrestlers will compete in three major international competitions this winter, testing themselves against many of the world's greatest wrestlers and teams.

Each year, USA Wrestling sends teams on international tours, which allows top athletes to improve themselves by competing against talented international opponents and gaining experience at the highest levels. The tours also allow the wrestlers to prepare for the major domestic events later in the year, including the U.S. Nationals and World Team Trials.

Five of the seven members of the 2005 U.S. World Team will participate in a training tour to Cuba, Feb. 7-22. The U.S. athletes will train with Cuba's world-class Greco-Roman team and coaches and will participate in informal competition during the trip. There is no international tournament affiliated with this tour, yet U.S. coaches are certain that the athletes will improve tremendously and be prepared for the international season ahead.

Among the stars on the Cuba tour are 2002 World champion Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. and 2005 World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Also participating in the tour is 2004 Olympian Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.

Another U.S. Greco-Roman team will travel to Izmir, Turkey to compete in the Vehbi Emre Golden Grand Prix, Feb. 24-26. This event is one of the new FILA Golden Grand Prix events, which provides prize money to athletes based upon their placement.
2002 World champion Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) will lead the tour, along with 2005 U.S. World Team member T.C. Dantzler (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 74 kg/163 lbs. Also on the tour is two-time U.S. World Team member Keith Sieracki (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 74 kg/163 lbs.

The final U.S. Greco-Roman tour team will compete at two international tournaments, the Polish Open in Chelm, Poland, March 10-12 and the Nikola Petrov Golden Grand Prix in Sofia, Bulgria, March 18-19. 

Among the participants are all seven of the 2005 U.S. World Team members, each ranked No. 1 in the nation at their weight class. Included are are 2002 World champion Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs., 2005 World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and 2004 Olympian Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.

Men's Greco-Roman Tours

Team USA training tour to Cuba, Feb. 7-22
55 kg/121 lbs. - Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Warren, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - James Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Mark Rial, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Keith Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Zac Dominguez, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Russ Davie, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Coach - Shon Lewis, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Coach - Jay Antonelli, Chesapeake, Va.

Vehbi Emre Golden Grand Prix in Izmir, Turkey, Feb. 24-26
60 kg/132 lbs. - James Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Jason Chao, Colorado Springs, Colo.
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Mark Rial, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Keith Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Zac Dominguez, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. - T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jake Clark, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marines)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jeremy Pederson, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marines)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - R.C. Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Coach - Dale Oliver, Stnaley, N.Y.
Coach - Dan Russell, Gresham, Ore

Poland Open International in Chelm, Poland, March 10-12
Nikola Petrov Golden Grand Prix in Sofia, Bulgaria, March 18-19
55 kg/121 lbs. - Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Joe Betterman, Chicago, Ill (USOEC/New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Spenser Mango, Flourissant, Mo. (USOEC/Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Warren, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Willie Madison, Metarie, La. (USOEC/Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Harry Lester, Akron, Ohio (USOEC/Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jacob Curby, La Grange, Ill. (USOEC/Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Sasa Petkovic, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Cheney Haight, Orem, Utah (USOEC/New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. -Chaz Betts, St. Michael, Minn. (USOEC/Minnesota Storm)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Adam Wheeler, Lancaster, Calif. (USOEC/Gator WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Russ Davie, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Coach - Dave Curby, LaGrange, Ill.
Coach - John Matthews, Phoenix, Ariz.