Cleveland, OH – December 9, 2010 - USA Wrestling and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission are pleased to announce that the U.S. Open National Wrestling Championships are returning to Cleveland, April 7-10, 2011 at Cleveland Public Hall. The U.S. Open National Wrestling Championships will feature the nation’s top wrestlers in the three Olympic styles including men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman.

The Men’s FILA Junior National Championships will also return to Cleveland alongside the U.S. Open, which includes the nation’s top athletes who are 17-20 years old, competing in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. 

USA Wrestling and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission are offering an exclusive ticket package for Ohio wrestling coaches and clubs to see the nation’s best wrestlers compete at the U.S. Open Wrestling Championships. 

For $100, USA Wrestling sanctioned clubs and coaches can reserve 20 all-day admission tickets for members ages 18 and under to attend the final championships on Saturday, April 9, 2011. For $150, non USA Wrestling sanctioned clubs will receive the same ticket package in addition to an official USA Wrestling club membership for the 2010-11 season.

To take advantage of this special offer and to reserve tickets, please contact Tim Binder at tbinder@clevelandsports.org. Offer valid through April 1, 2011. Tickets only valid for members ages 18 and under. 

Up to 850 athletes are expected to participate in both the U.S. Open and the FILA Junior National competitions that weekend, with more than $850,000 expected to be infused into the local economy. The competition schedule and ticket price structure will be announced in early 2011. 

The nation’s best international wrestlers are expected to compete. Among those to watch are 2000 and 2003 Women’s World champion Kristie Davis, 2002 Greco-Roman World champion Dremiel Byers and 2008 Women’s Freestyle World champion Clarissa Chun.

Other past World medalists expected in the field include two-time World bronze medalist Tatiana Padilla in women’s freestyle, World silver medalist Jake Herbert in men’s freestyle, World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz in Greco-Roman and World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev in men’s freestyle.

Many local wrestling stars who grew up in Ohio, or live and train in the state, are also expected. Among those who intend to compete are 2008 Olympian Andy Hrovat and two-time Olympian Matt Ghaffari, both Cleveland residents.

For more information on the U.S. Open Wrestling Championships, please visit www.usopencleveland.com