Enthusiasm High As Freestyle Olympic Team Begins Second Training Camp

<< Back to Articles
Andre Gibson (USA Wrestling)
08/23/2000


Camp Photos    The 2000 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team will hold its second segment of Training Camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., August 21-September 6.    Training camp is mandatory for all U.S. Olympic team members, the first of which was held for U.S. Freestyle team members from July 20-30.      Training camp will be conducted by the U.S. Olympic co- head coaches  Dan Gable of Iowa City, Iowa, Greg Strobel of Bethlehem, Pa., and John Smith of Stillwater, Okla.    USA Wrestling's Freestyle coaching staff are very pleased so far after two days of the second training camp.  National Freestyle Coach Bruce Burnett was impressed with the early reporting of most of the team.  "seven of the eight came early to acclimate themselves to the altitude here in Colorado and better prepare themselves for their performance in Sydney.  We will be going through individual workouts in the morning, with the evening practices set aside for technique and tactical situations," said Burnett.      Freestyle Resident coach and former Olympic and World Champion Kevin Jackson feels the U.S. squad is ahead of schedule, but not in danger of peaking too early.  "Everybody looks great, and the enthusiasm shows as we are ahead of schedule individually.  Right now we are focusing on defensive skills, and of course all other situations which might occur in a match" he said.    Expectations are high as the U.S. squad has three former World Champions and two former World Medalists on the squad.  The Freestyle wrestling competition in the Sydney Olympics will be from September 28-October 1.     2000 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team Roster  54 kg/119 lbs. - Sammie Henson, Norman, Okla., (Sunkist Kids)    58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Terry Brands, Lincoln, Neb., (Hawkeye)    63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Cary kolat, Morgantown, W.V., (Dave Schultz WC)    69 kg/152 lbs. - Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa, (Gateway)     76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Brandon Slay, Amarillo, Texas, (Dave Schultz WC)    85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Charles Burton, Bloomington, Ind., (NYAC)    97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Melvin Douglas, Mesa, Ariz., (Sunkist Kids)    130 kg/ 286 lbs. - Kerry McCoy, Longwood, N.Y., (NYAC)    Co-Head Coaches:  Dan Gable, Iowa City, Iowa                     Greg Strobel, Bethlehem, Pa.         John Smith, Stillwater, Okla.    National Freestyle Coach:  Bruce Burnett, Colorado Springs, Colo.     Team Captain:  David Pottruck, San Francisco, Calif.    Team Leader:  Scott Beck, Boulder, Colo.