Top American men's freestyle wrestlers set to compete at Golden Grand Prix event in Azerbaijan

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Craig Sesker (USA Wrestling)
06/20/2006


Five members of the United States World Team for men's freestyle will compete in the season's final Golden Grand Prix event this weekend in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The tournament is scheduled for June 23-25 with all seven men's freestyle weight classes being contested on Sunday, June 25. Wrestlers from 30 countries are registered to compete in this event.

U.S. World Team members Sammie Henson (55 kg/121 lbs.), Bill Zadick (66 kg/145.5 lbs.), Donny Pritzlaff (74 kg/163 lbs.), Andy Hrovat (84 kg/185 lbs.) and Tolly Thompson (120 kg/264.5 lbs.) are expected to compete. All five of those wrestlers will compete at the World Championships on Sept. 26-Oct. 2 in Guangzhou, China.

Henson and Thompson compete for the Sunkist Kids, Zadick is with the Gator Wrestling Club, and Pritzlaff and Hrovat compete for the New York Athletic Club.

Henson is a 1998 World champion and 2000 Olympic silver medalist. Thompson is a 2005 World bronze medalist.

Mo Lawal, a 2005 World Team member, also will compete in Azerbaijan this weekend. Lawal, who competes for the Gator Wrestling Club, placed third at 84 kg/185 lbs. at the U.S. World Team Trials last month.

Champions in each weight class in Azerbaijan will receive $5,000 apiece with $3,000 awarded to each silver medalist and $1,000 apiece going to the two bronze medalists in each division.