Proceeds to benefit families of Toni Copeland and Cass Huckaby

MARQUETTE, Mich. - The United States Olympic Education Center will host the 2nd Annual Olympic Challenge - International Edition at 7 p.m., Feb. 20, in the Superior Dome.  

"This will be a great opportunity for adults, students and children to see our USOEC athletes in action against international teams while raising money for a good cause," USOEC Assistant Director Mike Fields said. "All ticket revenue will be donated to the families of former USOEC athlete Toni Copeland and Northern Michigan University student Cass Huckabee, who tragically drowned in Lake Superior last fall."

The event will showcase athletes from the four summer Olympic sport teams that train at the USOEC: boxing, Greco-Roman wrestling, women's freestyle wrestling and weightlifting.  

On the mat, the women's freestyle team is scheduled to take on the Czech Republic team while the Greco-Roman wrestlers go up against the U.S. Army team.  Weightlifters will participate in an intrasquad competition. 

In the ring, the USOEC boxers are expected to battle Canada.  USOEC assistant boxing coach Larry Nicholson is excited that his team will have the opportunity to compete in front of the NMU and Marquette communities. 

"This event will be especially exciting for our athletes, mainly because their friends and the USOEC staff will get to see them in action as they take on a team from another country," Nicholson said. 

Tickets are available at the USOEC office, located in the Superior Dome, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday, and at the door the night of the event.  They are $1 for students and $3 for adults.  

Rosters for the competition will be published when available.