Shawn Bunch celebrates after winning 2009 U.S. World Team Trials at 60 kg. Larry Slater photo

The U.S. Freestyle World Cup Wrestle-offs will be at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Friday, January 22.

This competition will determine five of the positions on the 2010 U.S. Freestyle World Cup Team. The Wrestle-offs will be held at Gym 9 of Sports Center II at the U.S. Olympic Training Center campus.

The Freestyle World Cup Wrestle-offs will begin at 10:30 a.m. 

Competition will be held in five weight classes: 55 kg/121 lbs., 60 kg/132 lbs., 66 kg/145.5 lbs., 74 kg/163 lbs. and 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Each weight class will have either two or three wrestlers.

The winners in each weight class will earn a spot on the U.S. team which will compete in the Freestyle World Cup in Mahachkala, Russia, March 6-7. The World Cup is the annual international dual meet championships, and features the top eight nations in the world.

The two 2009 World medalists for the United States have already secured a spot on the World Cup team: Jake Herbert (Evanston, Ill./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Two other members of the 2009 U.S. World Team will be competing for spots on the World Cup Team: Shawn Bunch (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Trent Paulson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. Paulson is wrestling up one weight class from where he competed at the World Championships in Denmark, where he was down at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

Another veteran star in the competition is 2008 Olympian and 2006 World Team member Andy Hrovat (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

"The opportunity for more Americans to wrestle-off for the World Cup team is good for us," said National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones. "We are building our pipeline. The World Cup is a step in the process. The World Cup is also an event we are keying on. We want to do very well there. With this Wrestle-off, we have an opportunity for our best athletes to represent our nation."

The weight class with two entries will be completed in one match. Weight classes with three athletes will have a roundrobin.

A broadcast of the competition will be provided by TheMat.com on a taped-delayed basis. Check TheMat.com for specific details.

U.S. FREESTYLE WORLD CUP WRESTLE-OFFS
At Colorado Springs, Colo., Jan. 22

Expected entries for the competition

55 kg/121 lbs.
Obe Blanc, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids)
Paul Donahoe, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)

60 kg/132 lbs.
Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC)
Coleman Scott, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
Derek Moore, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Teyon Ware, Lock Haven, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
Corey Jantzen, Shoreham, N.Y. (Lehigh Valley AC)
Josh Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)

74 kg/163 lbs.
Trent Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
Mike Poeta, Champaign, Ill. (Lehigh Valley AC)
* Winner to face Travis Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) at later date

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Bryce Hasseman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Andy Hrovat, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC)

Note: 2009 World medalists have already secured a spot on the World Cup team 
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jake Herbert, Evanston, Ill. (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)