LARGEST TOUR OF WRESTLING LEGENDS KICKS OFF MARCH 13 IN IOWA CITY    New York, NY (March 8) --  Iowa wrestling legends Dan Gable, Lincoln McIlravy and Joe Williams are just three of many of the American wrestling's greats who are slated to participate in an unprecedented nation-wide Tour of Legends, which kicks off March 13 at 6 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.  At the first stop, Gable, McIlravy and Williams will be on-hand to meet and give wrestling tips to young students and their families participating in the NCAA Division I Wrestling YES clinic, a program designed to teach youngsters how to excel in sports and in life.    The Tour of Legends will visit major wrestling championships and events across the country in a six-month national promotional tour celebrating the sport of wrestling in anticipation of the 2001 World Championships for Wrestling, coming this September 26-29 in New York City.  At the helm of the Tour is the dynamic team of USA Wrestling and NYC2012, the committee behind New York City's bid for the 2012 Olympics.  The four-day event, which will boast over 600 competitors representing nearly 50 countries, will feature both male and female freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Countries with strong teams expected to participate, in addition to the all-star team from the United States, include Russia, Iran, Turkey, Ukraine and China.    Nancy Schultz, whose late husband Dave was a World and Olympic Champion, will serve as the Tour's official spokesperson.  Schultz runs the enormously successful Dave Schultz Wrestling Club, which provides amateur wrestlers with funds, facilities and coaches.    "I'm honored to serve as the official spokesperson for the Tour of Legends," said Schultz.  "Dave served as our nation's wrestling ambassador for many years. It is my hope to continue in his footsteps as we build momentum and excitement, preparing for the 2001 World Championships in New York. This Tour will provide inspiration and role models to young athletes across the country."    The kick-off event in Iowa City will feature wrestling champions who have helped give Iowa a dominant position on the wrestling map.  Gable, one of the greatest wrestlers in amateur history, is perhaps the most successful college coach of all-time, winning 15 NCAA team titles while at the University of Iowa.  Two athletes who excelled under his tutelage, 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist McIlravy and 2000 Freestyle World Cup Champion Williams, will visit with young wrestling fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena as  well.    Iowa City is one of 10 stops the tour will make en route to New York City for the September World Championships.  Other sites include Evanston, IL, later this month at the Cadet and University Nationals, Baltimore, MD, at the World Cup in May, Dayton, OH, in early June for the Women's Jr. Nationals and Cincinnati, OH for the World Team Trials in late June.  The Dayton stop is especially significant since the upcoming World Championships will be the first ever to include the women's competition in conjunction with the men's freestyle and Greco-Roman competitions.    Tickets for the World Championships at Madison Square Garden are on sale now, with single session ticket prices starting as low as $10. All-session passes are priced as low as $99 for the eight total sessions, with family packages starting at just $308. Tickets can be purchased through TicketMaster at 1-866-NYC-2001.