Top international wrestlers in the three Olympic wrestling styles will be showcased at the American Airlines/New York Athletic Club Holiday International Championships on Saturday, November 18 and Sunday, November 19.

The competition will be held at the legendary New York Athletic Club in Manhattan, New York City. Talented wrestlers from the United States will compete against stars from a number of other countries in men's freestyle, men's Greco-Roman and women's freestyle wrestling.

Leading the field in men's Greco-Roman will be 2006 World bronze medalists Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Harry Lester (Akron, Ohio/USOEC/Gator WC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Both won New York AC Holiday International titles last year.

Other U.S. Greco-Roman competitors expected to wrestle include 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.

The women's freestyle field will feature two members of the 2006 U.S. Women's World Team, Mary Kelly (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Downing was a World bronze medalist in 2005, and is a defending champion at the New York AC Holiday International.

Among the others who are expected to attend are 2005 World champion Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs., 2003 World bronze medalist Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and 2006 U.S. Nationals champion Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. Wong was the Outstanding Wrestler in the women's division at last year's New York AC Holiday International.

The men's freestyle field will feature 2006 U.S. World Team member Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. Hrovat was among the individual champions at last year's New York AC Holiday International.

Other top freestyle athletes who may compete include 2005 U.S. World Team member Mo Lawal (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and 2004 Olympic Team Trials runner-up Jared Lawrence (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Among the athletes who were runners-up at the 2005 World Team Trials who are expected in freestyle include Jared Frayer (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Clint Wattenberg (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Damion Hahn (Ithaca, N.Y./Minnesota Storm) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Among the nations who have indicated that they may enter athletes include Canada, Russia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, India and Japan.

Canada, which placed third in the 2006 Women's World Championships, traditionally has a strong turnout for this event, including a number of strong club teams. Last year, two Canadian women won gold medals in this event, Breanne Graham at 130 pounds and Megan Dolan at 138.75 pounds.

Among the talented international stars expected to enter is 2006 Junior World champion Djamel Otarsultanov of Russia at 55 kg/121 lbs.

The tournament will be a double-elimination bracket, with wrestlebacks to third place. National Team bonus money will be available in all three divisions, as part of USA Wrestling's National Teams athlete support program. Only tournament champions from foreign nations will receive prize money.

The competition will be held in the sixth floor gymnasium at the New York Athletic Club, which is located near Central Park South. There is a dress code for the lobby of the New York Athletic Club, which men must wear a sports coat and slacks and women must wear casual business attire, with no sneakers or jeans. 

For more information, print off the PDF version of the event flier at:
http://www.themat.com/eventfliers/2006/06NYAC.pdf

AMERICAN AIRLINES/NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB HOLIDAY INTERNATIONAL
At New York, N.Y., Nov. 18-19

Competition Schedule

Saturday, November 18
9:00 a.m. - Men's Greco-Roman and men's freestyle competition
1:00 p.m. - Men's Greco-Roman and men's freestyle competition

Sunday, November 19
9:00 a.m. - Men's Greco-Roman, men's freestyle and women's freestyle competition
1:00 p.m. - Men's Greco-Roman, men's freestyle and women's freestyle competition
4:00 p.m. - Championship finals for all three styles

New York AC Holiday International individual champions

Men's freestyle champions
55 kg/121 lbs. - Henry Cejudo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Travis Lee (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Lawrence (Minneapolis, Minn./Minn. Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Kakhabez Khubezhty (Russia)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) 
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Nick Preston (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids)

Women's freestyle champions
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Breanne Graham (Calgary, Canada/UCWC) 
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Megan Dolan (Calgary, Canada/UCWC) 
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Tabitha Golt (Chesapeake, Va./Cumberland) 

Men's Greco-Roman champions
55 kg/121 lbs. - Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Warren (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Harry Lester (Akron, Ohio/USOEC/Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Sasa Petkovic (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) 
84 kg/185 lbs. - Noumouvi Melonin (Rosny, France)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Adam Wheeler (Lancaster, Calif./Gator WC/USOEC) 
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)