The 2010 U.S. Greco-Roman World Team will compete in the respected Pytlasinski International Tournament in Raciborz, Poland, July 31 – August 1.

This is a very strong competition, which many nations use a tuneup for the World Championships, which will be held in Moscow, Russia in September.

The team features three-time World medalist Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Byers was a 2002 World champion, 2009 World silver medalist and 2007 World bronze medalist. He also competed on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.

At 96 kg/211.5 lbs., 2005 World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz (Boise, Idaho/New York AC) will also compete. Ruiz is on his fifth U.S. Senior World Team.

2008 Olympian Spenser Mango (St. Louis, Mo./New York AC) will wrestle at 55 kg/121 lbs. Mango was also a 2009 U.S. World Team member.

Competing on their second U.S. World team are Jeremiah Davis (Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) at 60 kg/132 lbs., Faruk Sahin (Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Jake Clark (Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force) at 84 kg/185 lbs. Clark was on the 2006 U.S. World Team, while Davis and Sahin competed at the 2009 World Championships.

Wrestling on his first U.S. World Team is Jake Fisher (Boise, Idaho/New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs.

“We use the Poland tournament as a test and tuneup event, to see where we are at and what we have to refine during the last month of training,” said National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser. “It will kick everybody into that competition mode. Everybody must get down to weight. Most importantly, they will get a feel for some more international competition.”

At the 2009 Pytlasinski International, the U.S. won a pair of silver medals, from Byers as well as R.C. Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Four weight classes will be contested Saturday, July 31, with U.S. entries Mango (55 kg), Sahin (66 kg), Clark (84 kg), Byers (120 kg). The final three weight classes are set for Sunday, August 1 with Davis (60 kg), Fisher (74 kg) and Ruiz (96 kg).

PYTLASINSKI INTERNATIONAL
at Raciborz, Poland, July 31 – August 1

U.S. Greco-Roman roster

55 kg/121 lbs. – Spenser Mango, St. Louis, Mo. (New York AC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Jeremiah Davis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Faruk Sahin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jake Fisher, Boise, Idaho (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Jake Clark, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Justin Ruiz, Boise, Idaho (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Coaches – Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach Momir Petkovic, Colorado Springs, Colo. Rob Hermann, Pensacola, Fla.; Dan Hicks, Camp LeJeune, N.C.
Team Leader – National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser