The U.S. freestyle wrestling community is coming together this week to build the National Team Program for the present and the future.

Up to 70 of the nation's top freestyle coaches, leaders and athletes are heading to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the National Freestyle Team Coaches and Wrestlers Summit and Evaluation Camp, Dec. 8-14.

The project has been spearheaded by National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones, and has received considerable support from USA Wrestling, the U.S. Olympic Committee and the top freestyle wrestling club programs in the nation.

"The purpose of this freestyle summit meeting is for National Coach Zeke Jones to get with all the key people in the national freestyle effort in order to do an honest assessment of the U.S. freestyle program," said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. "Once that is established, those who will be stakeholders will have an opportunity to work together to set a path for the program, with the goal of returning the United States to international prominence in freestyle wrestling."

Participants are arriving in Colorado on Monday, Dec. 8, and the hard work begins early on the morning of Tuesday, Dec. 9. 

"The Summit will clearly help us as the first step of setting the plan for the American freestyle wrestling resurgence," said Jones.

As many as 40 coaches and leaders will have an intensive day of meetings all day on Tuesday, and some coaches will remain to assist in the training camp. Included in the group are numerous coaches who have served as U.S. Olympic Team coaches or U.S. World Team coaches. Many of the coaches in attendance lead major Div. I college wrestling programs, and others were World and Olympic medalists as athletes. 

"The opportunity to bring the most brilliant coaching minds together as part of our National Team evaluation camp allows us to focus on our entire program and evaluate all facets of it," said Jones. 

A total of 30 top U.S. freestyle wrestlers will participate in a week of training camp, with a focus on evaluation and assessment. Included in the group will be 2008 U.S. Olympic champion Henry Cejudo, as well as his U.S. Olympic teammates Daniel Cormier, Andy Hrovat, Steve Mocco, Doug Schwab and Mike Zadick.

"Our wrestlers are excited about coming in for their first phase of training, as well as becoming active participants in helping lay out our plan for success," said Jones.

USA Wrestling is committed to working closely with the entire U.S. wrestling community to strengthen the freestyle program, with the goal of winning Olympic and World medals for the United States.

"The new direction is now," said Bender. "USA Wrestling is taking this monumental step towards the podium."

National Freestyle Team Coaches and Wrestlers Summit and Evaluation Camp
At Colorado Springs, Colo., Dec. 8-14

National Team Coaches
Royce Alger	
David Bell
Dave Bennett	
Terry Brands	
Bruce Burnett	
Jim Humphrey	
Kevin Jackson	
Zeke Jones
Jamill Kelly
Mark Manning
Kerry McCoy	
Kenny Monday	
Gordy Morgan	
Thom Ortiz
Chris Owens
J Robinson
Joe Seay
Brandon Slay
Mike McArthur
Joel Sharratt
Bill Scherr
John Smith
Bill Zadick

National Team Wrestlers
Kurt Backes	
David Bertolino
Shawn Bunch	
Micah Burak	
Josh Churella	
Ryan Churella	
Daniel Cormier
Angel Cejudo		
Henry Cejudo	
Zach Esposito
Luke Eustice	
Nate Gallick	
Keith Gavin	
Bryce Hasseman
Andy Hrovat	
Eric Leudke	
Steve Mocco	
Travis Pascoe	
Travis Paulson	
Trent Paulson
DaVaughn Perkins
Tommy Rowlands
Doug Schwab								 
Nick Simmons						 
Sean Stender						 
Brian Stith						 
Michael Tamillow						 
Matt Valenti					 
Mike Zadick				
											
National Team Leaders	 
Alan Ashley		 
Krista Austin		 
Dave Barry		 
Rich Bender	
Stan Dziedzic	 
Mike Favre	 
Steve Fraser
Mitch Hull 
Jaimie McNab	 
Mike Novagratz		 
Kirsten Peterson	 
Jim Scherr 
Terry Steiner	
Van Stokes