ASICS UNIVERSITY & FILA CADET NATIONALS RETURN TO AKRON
Over 1,200 wrestlers to participate in tournament and Youth Olympic Games Qualifier

AKRON, OH â€" March 8, 2010 â€" USA Wrestling and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission will host the ASICS University & FILA Cadet National Championships for the fourth consecutive year at the Louis and Freda Stile Athletic Field House at the University of Akron, April 8-11, 2010. This tournament is estimated to bring over 1,200 male and female athletes from across the nation. 

The deadline for discounted online registration for all divisions has passed. 

Wrestlers may still register onsite. For more information about onsite registration, as well as other event details, visit the official website by clicking here.

TheMat.com will provide webcast coverage from the ASICS University Nationals with the Greco-Roman finals on Friday and the freestyle finals on Saturday. TheMat.com will post numerous other videos from the competition.

ASICS University athletes are 18 to 24 years of age (born 1986-1992) and will feature some of the nation’s top wrestlers from college wrestling programs and the U.S. Military team. FILA Cadet Nationals will feature many of the best high school wrestlers in the United States ages 15 to 17 years old (born 1993-1994 and 1995 with a medical certificate).  Both age divisions will compete in the Olympic-styles of Greco-Roman and Freestyle. 

The top seven placewinners in the University Nationals in both men’s styles in the seven Olympic weight classes qualify to participate in the University World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 28-29. 

The finalists in all three University divisions qualify for the U.S. Senior Team Trials in Council Bluffs, Iowa scheduled for June 11-12. 

The top three place winners at the FILA Cadet Nationals qualify for their state’s Cadet Nationals team above the state limit and will adhere to all state policies.

Among the 2009 University Nationals champions in freestyle who became NCAA Div. I All-Americans in 2010 were: Zach Sanders of Minnesota, Jordan Oliver of Oklahoma State, Reece Humphrey of Ohio State, Mack Lewnes of Cornell, Clayton Foster of Oklahoma State and Zack Rey of Lehigh.

Among the 2009 University Nationals champions in Greco-Roman, Humphrey and Nikko Triggas of Ohio State became 2010 NCAA All-Americans.

In certain weight classes, the FILA Cadet National Championships is also a U.S. qualifying event for men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG). 

The Youth Olympic Games is a brand new event hosted by the International Olympic Committee. It will be held in Singapore from August 14-26, 2010 and will bring together 3,600 young athletes to compete for medals in 26 sports. Athletes from all 205 nations who compete in the Olympics are eligible to try out for the Youth Olympic Games. 

Competing in the FILA Cadet Nationals is the first step in making the U.S. team for the Youth Olympic Games. The champions must also compete in a Pan American Qualifier in Mexico to qualify for Singapore.

The weight classes which are YOG qualifiers are the following:

Greco-Roman: 42 kg, 50 kg, 58 kg, 69 kg, 85 kg
Freestyle: 46 kg, 54 kg, 63 kg, 76 kg, 100 kg

For fans to attend the ASICS University & FILA Cadet Nationals, tickets can be purchased at the door and start at just $5. 

2010 ASICS University & FILA Cadet Nationals Schedule: 

Thursday, April 8th:
6:00PM â€" 8:00PM:  University GR & FILA Cadet GR Registration
8:00PM â€" 8:30PM:  University GR & FILA Cadet GR Medical Check/Weigh-ins

Friday, April 9th:
9:00AM â€" 1:30PM:  University GR & FILA Cadet GR Preliminaries
3:00PM â€" Conclusion:  University GR & FILA Cadet GR Preliminaries through Finals
6:00PM â€" 8:00PM:  University (Men) FS & FILA Cadet FS Registration
8:00PM â€" 8:30PM:  University (Men) FS & FILA Cadet FS Medical Check/Weigh-ins  

Saturday, April 10th:
9:00AM â€" 1:30PM:  University (Men) FS & FILA Cadet FS Preliminaries
3:00PM â€" 8:30PM:  University (Men) FS & FILA Cadet FS Preliminaries
7:00PM â€" 8:00PM:  University (Women) FS Registration
8:00PM â€" 8:30PM:  University (Women) FS Medical Check/Weigh-ins

Sunday, April 11th:
9:00AM â€" Conclusion:  University (Women) FS Preliminaries through Finals
9:00AM â€" Conclusion:  University (Men) FS & FILA Cadet FS to Completion

2009 ASICS University & FILA Cadet National Champions:

University Greco-Roman Champions
55 kg - Bernard Futrell of Illini WC; 60 kg - Nikko Triggas of Ohio State; 63 kg - Reece Humphrey of Ohio State; 66 kg - Ben Sanchez of USOEC; 70 kg - Donnie Vinson of Binghamton/Shamrock; 74 kg - Aaron Briggs of USOEC; 79 kg - Andrew Bisek of USOEC; 84 kg - Chad Hemerson of USOEC; 96 kg - Robert Smith of New York AC; 120 kg - Peter Kowalczuk of USOEC

University Men's Freestyle Champions
55 kg - Zach Sanders of Minnesota Storm; 60 kg- Jordan Oliver of Gator Wrestling Club; 63 kg - Reece Humphrey of Ohio State; 66 kg - Mario Mason of Minnesota Storm; 70 kg - Brett Robbins of Panther WC; 74 kg - Lloyd Rogers, unattached; 79 kg - Mike Benefiel of unattached; 84 kg - Mack Lewnes of Cornell; 96 kg - Clayton Foster of Gator WC; 120 kg - Zack Rey of Lehigh Valley AC

University Women's Freestyle Champions
48 kg - Nicole Woody of OCU STARS; 51 kg - Gabrielle Henry of Univ. of Cumberlands; 55 kg - Michaela Hutchison of OCU STARS; 59 kg - Schuyler Brown of USOEC; 63 kg - Melissa Apodaca of USOEC; 67 kg - Lauren Knight of Univ. of Cumberlands; 72 kg - Kendra Lewis of Univ. of Cumberlands; 77 kg - Emma Randall of Lock Haven

FILA Cadet Greco-Roman Champions
42 kg - Max Rogers of New Jersey; 46 kg - Christopher Bostic of Arizona; 50 kg - Brandon Jeske of Virginia; 54 kg - Jesse Thielke of Wisconsin; 58 kg - Tyler Liberatore of Florida; 63 kg - Matthew Nereim of Florida; 69 kg - Sam Brooks of Illinois; 76 kg - Jahwon Akui of Illinois; 85 kg - Ben Brooks of Illinois; 100 kg - John Acors of New York; 125 kg - Donovan Green of Florida

FILA Cadet Freestyle Champions
42 kg - Brad Perkins of Missouri; 46 kg - Freddie Rodriguez of Michigan; 50 kg - Joey Dance of Virginia; 54 kg - Nico Megaludis of Pennsylvania; 58 kg - Jason Tsirtsis of Indiana; 63 kg - Dylan Ness of Minnesota; 69 kg - Taylor Massa of Michigan; 76 kg - Jahwon Akui of Illinois; 85 kg  - Kyven Gadson of Iowa; 100 kg - Matthew Loew of New York; 125 kg - Donovan Green of Florida