U.S. to Battle Turkey in World Freestyle Meet  in Sioux City, Iowa on Wednesday, May 9    SIOUX CITY, IA, April 25, 2001 - Some of the world's best freestyle wrestlers will go head-to-head as a formidable U.S. team takes on the National Team of Turkey in the inaugural Two Worlds - One Mat dual wrestling meet, Wednesday, May 9.     This clash between continents will take place in the Newman Flanagan Center on the campus of Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa, beginning at 7:00 p.m. It will mark the first time a wrestling competition of this magnitude has been held in northwest Iowa.     Many of the athletes on both squads have extensive experience on the national and international freestyle scene. The dual is sponsored by the Siouxland Amateur Wrestling Council, which plans to make this an annual event.     The U.S. contingent will be led by Mark Manning, head coach at the University of Nebraska and the 2001 World Team Coach.      "Turkey is consistently one of the top two or three teams in the world. We are working to pull together a very talented lineup that will compete well against an experienced Turkish group," said Manning. "The Turks, fresh from the World Cup, will be very strong."     Manning led the team champion U.S. team against the same Turkish national team at the 2001 World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling, May 5-6, in Baltimore, Md.     The U.S. assistant coach will be Olympic bronze and World Championships  silver and bronze medalist Lincoln McIlravy. He was a three-time NCAA champion at the University of Iowa and a four-time U.S. Nationals champion. McIlravy was also the 1999 Pan Am Games and the 1998 Goodwill Games champion. He is currently an assistant coach Iowa.     The U.S. wrestler competing have extensive international experience.     Heading the list is 2001 U.S.Nationals 119-pound champion Eric Akin. Akin was a four-time NCAA All-American at Iowa State. He was an Olympic Team alternate in 1996 and 2000. Akin is now the volunteer assistant coach at Nebraska.     1998 U.S. Nationals Champion Tolly Thompson will wrestle for the U.S. at 286 pounds. He finished second at this year's U.S. Nationals and was a world team member in 1997. Thompson, a native of Janesville, Iowa, was a three-time NCAA All-American for Nebraska and is currently the strength and conditioning coach at his alma mater.     At 213.75 pounds for the Team USA is 2001 U.S. Nationals runner-up Chad Lamer. He is a two-time Manitoba Open Champion and was champion of the University Worlds in 2000. Lamer, who attended Tri-Valley High School in South Dakota, was a three-time NCAA Division II National Champion at South Dakota State and currently trains in Iowa City, Iowa.     Representing the U.S. at 138.75 pounds will be South Sioux City, NE native and local favorite Tony DeAnda. He placed third at the 1997 Dave Schultz International. DeAnda placed seventh at the 2001 U.S. Nationals. He was an NCAA Division II All-American at Augustana (SD) College before transferring to Nebraska where he was a two-time NCAA Division I National Tournament qualifier.      Brandon Eggum will represent the U.S. at 187.25 pounds. Eggum is a former three-time all-american for the Univ. of Minnesota. He currently lives in Minneapolis, Minn. and trains with the Minnesota Storm.       Three wrestling stars from the 2001 NCAA National Championships complete the lineup for Team USA.     Two-time NCAA Champion Donny Pritzlaff of Wisconsin and All-Americans Bryan Snyder of Nebraska and Jody Strittmatter of Iowa will be competing in the dual.  Pritzlaff, who won his titles in the 165-pound division, will represent the USA at 167.5 lbs./76 kg. He was a four-time All-American for the Badgers. In 1998, Pritzlaff was both a Junior World Freestyle and FILA Junior National Champion at 154 pounds.     At 152 lbs./69 kg. for the USA will be Snyder, a 2001 NCAA runner-up. He is a junior from Easton, PA and is a three-time All-American and three-time Big 12 Conference Champion for the Huskers.     A two-time NCAA Division I All-American and two-time NCAA Division II National Champion, Strittmatter rounds out Team USA at 127.75 lbs./58 kg. He was a runner-up at this year's NCAA tourney after placing third in 2000. Before transferring to Iowa, Strittmatter was a two-time national champion for Division II Pitt-Johnstown. He was also a 1999 Midlands Open champion.     Tickets for the event are $10 and will be available at the door. Advance purchases are recommended and can be made through the Sioux City Auditorium Box Office at 712-279-4850 or any Ticketmaster outlet. All seats are general admission. Contact Event Director Tim Tushla with any questions at the Siouxland Amateur Wrestling Council, 712-253-0661.    Clinic also slated    Lincoln McIlravy will also hold a wrestlers and coaches informational clinic prior to the dual, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Tickets for both the clinic and dual are $20.