Olympic medalists Jackson and Brands to give free clinic prior to event

AURORA, COLO. - Two U.S. freestyle wrestling teams will battle the national team from Bulgaria in a World Dual meet at Grandview High School in Aurora, Colo. on Monday, Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

The dual meet will feature a number of athletes who have won medals on the international level, and are considered top hopefuls for future Olympic Games.

The first U.S. team includes a number of members of Freestyle Team USA, the national team for freestyle wrestling in the United States. 

Two members of the 2005 U.S. World Team, which represented the nation at the World Wrestling Championships in Budapest, Hungary, will be on the squad, Michael Lightner (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Mo Lawal (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. Lawal was seventh in the World Championships in his division. Both Lightner and Lawal were 2005 U.S. Nationals champions.

Nick Preston (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids), who is currently ranked No. 2 in the U.S. in his weight class, will wrestle at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. 

The second U.S. team consists of freestyle resident athletes at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. These wrestlers train full-time under National Freestyle Resident Coach Terry Brands.

Leading the team is 2001 U.S. World Team member Bill Zadick (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) who competes at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. In addition, Nik Fekete (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), who is ranked No. 4 on the Freestyle National Team, will wrestle at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

The Bulgarian team will be led by 2001 World champion Nikolay Paslar at 74 kg/163 lbs. Paslar also won a bronze medal at the 2005 World Championships. The Bulgarian team is one of the strongest in international freestyle wrestling, placing fifth in the nation as a 2005 World Wrestling Championships.

In addition, all participants are invited to a free clinic and speech by Olympic medalists and U.S. National Coaches Kevin Jackson and Terry Brands at 6:00 p.m. prior to the dual meet. Jackson serves as the National Freestyle Coach for USA Wrestling, and was a 1992 Olympic champion and two-time World champion. Brands is the USA Wrestling National Freestyle Resident Coach, a 2000 Olympic bronze medalist and a two-time World champion.

Tickets cost $5 for adults. Those who are members of USA Wrestling, the Western Suburban League and the Metro League, who show their current membership cards at the gate, will get their tickets for $1 each.

Grandview High School is located at 2050 East Arapahoe Rd. in Aurora.

For more information, contact Pete Isais of USA Wrestling at 719-598-8181 or via e-mail at pisais@usawrestling.org

USA VS. BULGARIA WORLD DUAL MEET LINEUPS
at Grandview High School, Aurora, Colo,. Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m.

Bulgarian National Team
55 kg/121 lbs. - Svetoslav Neichev
60 kg/132 lbs. - Lubomir Kumbarov
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Dimitar Georgiev
74 kg/163 lbs. - Nikolay Paslar
84 kg/185 lbs. - Arkadi Tzopa
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Nikolay Shterev
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Petar Bogaevski
Coach - Simeon Chterev

U.S. National Team
55 kg/121 lbs. - To be determined
60 kg/132 lbs. - Michael Lightner, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Frayer, Cambridge, Mass. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Tyrone Lewis, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Mo Lawal, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Nick Preston, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Mike Irving, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)

US. Olympic Training Center  Resident Team
55 kg/121 lbs. - To be determined
60 kg/132 lbs. - Angel Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Nathan Coy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Cobra WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Tony Gansen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Nik Fekete, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Trey McLean, Colorado Springs, Colo.