SURREY, B.C., Canada - The Fourth Annual Hargobind International Wrestling Championships will be held in two locations near Vancouver, B.C., Canada, November 5-6.

The tournament traditionally features the top competitors from Canada, numerous stars from the United States, as well as competitors from other nations.

The women’s freestyle competition will be held on Friday, Nov. 5 at Simon Fraser Univ. in Burnaby, B.C., Canada. All of the non-Olympic divisions will be completed on Friday. The gold-medal finalists in the four Olympic weight classes will be determined on Friday, and will compete for the title on Saturday. Also held on Friday is a Canadian Men’s Qualifying carding event, as well as the men’s college division.

The men’s freestyle competition at the Hargobind International, as well as the four women’s Olympic weight class gold medal finals, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 6 at Guildford Recreation Center in Surrey, B.C., Canada.

One of the reasons for a strong turnout is the $35,000 in prize money given at the event.

Champions in the seven Olympic weight classes in the men's division win $2,000, the second place finishers earn $500, and the third place finishers win $250. In the women's division wrestlers who win one of the four Olympic weight classes also win $1,000, while second place earns $500, and third place walks away with $250. 

Also included in the format are challenge matches between the men's freestyle winners. The bonus prizes include:
- 96 kg champ against the 120 kg champ - $5,000
- 74 kg champ against the 84 kg champ - $2,000
- 60 kg champion against the 66 kg champ - $1,000

Last year, the winner of the $5,000 match between 96 kg and 120 kg was Les Sigman (State College, Pa./Sunkist Kids), who defeated Bryce Hasseman (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC) in the big showdown. Sigman later qualified for the 2010 U.S. World Team.

Based upon information from the major club programs in the United States, as well as the USA Wrestling National Coaching staff, there are numerous top American wrestlers who are planning to compete in the Hargobind International.

Among those expected are 2010 U.S. Women’s World Team members Jessica Medina (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and Kelsey Campbell (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 59 kg/130 lbs. Medina has been on the last two U.S. World Teams.

Another 2010 U.S. World Team member J.D. Bergman (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. will compete in the men’s division. A member of the 2009 U.S. World Team, Shawn Bunch (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC), is expected to enter at 60 kg/132 lbs. Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids), a 2007 U.S. World Team member, will enter at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Two-time Junior World champion Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach, Calif./New York AC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and two-time Junior World bronze medalist Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. will also compete in the women’s division. Both attend Simon Fraser Univ. in Canada.

There are other members of Freestyle Team USA and Women's Team USA, the national teams for USA Wrestling, who are expected to compete in Canada. Additional nationally ranked American athletes may also compete.

Athletes will be representing their club programs at this event. 

For more information on the event, visit the official website at:
http://www.hargobindwrestling.com/tournament.cfm

Expected United States Men's Wrestlers (preliminary list)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Matt Valenti, Philadelphia, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Teyon Ware, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Cyler Sanderson, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Raymond Jordan, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Wynn Michalak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)

Expected United States Women's Wrestlers (preliminary list)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Sara Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (New York AC)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Jessica Medina, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Kelsey Campbell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)

* Please note that additional U.S. wrestlers may enter this tournament, and this is only a preliminary list provided by club programs.

2009 Hargobind International men's champions
55 kg/121 lbs. - John Pineda (Canada)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Coleman Scott (United States - Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Haislan Garcia (Canada)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Ben Askren (United States - Sunkist Kids)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Travis Paulson (United States - Sunkist Kids)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Bryce Hasseman (United States - New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Lee Sigman (United States - Sunkist Kids)

2009 Hargobind International women's champions
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Ashley McKilligan (Canada)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Babita Kumari (India)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Jillian Gallays (Canada)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Alka Tomar (India)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Justine Bouchard (Canada)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Megan Buydens (Canada)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Stephany Lee (United States - Sunkist Kids)
80 kg/176 lbs. - Hillary Greening (Canada)