FOUR PAST WORLD CHAMPIONS TO COMPETE FOR THE UNITED STATES AT VETERANS WORLD FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN FREIBURG, GERMANY, AUGUST 4-6Four past Veterans World Champions will compete for the United States at the Ninth FILA Veterans World Freestyle Championships in Freiburg, Germany, August 4-6.
The competition features athletes 35 years old and above in five age divisions. 35 men will represent the U.S. in Germany. The tournament will include entries from nations all around the world.
Five-time Veterans World Champion Russell Cozart of Brandon, Fla. will compete for the U.S. at 152 lbs./69 kg in Div. C (46-50 years). He is the 2000 U.S. Nationals Champion at the same weight. Cozart has claimed Veterans World titles in 1992, 1993, and 1997, 1998 and 1999. He is the only 1999 Veterans World champion returning to compete for the U.S. in 2000.
Three-time Veterans World champion Shirzad Ahmadi of Coventry, Conn. is expected to compete at 138 lbs./63 kg. in Div. D (51-55 years). Ahmadi captured Veterans World titles in 1992, 1997 and 1998 and finished second in 1999. Ahmadi is also a three-time U.S. Veterans Nationals Champion.
Mansour Honarvar of Oceanside, Calif. is expected to compete at 167.5 lbs./76 kg in Div. E (56 years and older). Honarvar was a Veterans World Champion in 1995.
Glenn Clark, an American who currently lives in Flatrock, Newfoundland, Canada, was a 1998 Veterans World Champion. He will compete at 187.25 lbs./85 kg in Div. E (56 years and above).
Ronald Hughes of San Jose, Calif. will compete for the U.S. at 138.75 lbs./63 kg in Div. A (35-40 years). He is a returning Div. A silver medalist. Other 1999 World placewinners that will return this year include Bradley Swartz of Auburn, Wash., Kevin Klemm of Lenexa, Kansas, Paul Vinson of San Diego, Calif., Ron Cole of Auburn, Wash. and Roger Olesen of Redwood City, Calif.
There are five age divisions at the 2000 World Championships: Div. A (35-40 years), Div. B (41-45 years), Div. C (46-50 years), Div. D (51-55 years) and Div. E (56 years and above). There are six weight classes within each division at the World Championships: 58 kg, 63 kg, 69 kg, 76 kg, 85 kg, and 130 kg. There is no prequalification required to participate in the Veterans World Championships.
A total of 15 athletes who were 2000 U.S. Veterans National Champions are scheduled to compete on the U.S. team at the World Championships. The U.S. Veterans Nationals were held in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 20-22.
The U.S. Veterans World Team will be led and coached by 1992 Olympic Freestyle Champion Kevin Jackson of Colorado Springs, Colo. Jackson was the 1991 and 1995 Senior World Champion and claimed World Cup victories in 1993, 1995 and 1997. He works as USA Wrestling's Resident Freestyle Coach.
U.S. COMPETITORS AT THE 2000 VETERANS WORLD FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS at Freiburg, Germany, Aug. 4-6
Div. A (35-40 years)
127.75 lbs./58 kg - Michael Dehart,Bradford, Ohio
138.75 lbs./63 kg - Ronald Hughes, San Jose, Calif.; Jamie Wise, Moses Lake, Wash.
167.5 lbs./76 kg - Bradley Swartz, Auburn, Wash.; Kevius Hodges, Loxahatcher, Fla.; Kevin Klemm, Lenexa, Kansas
187.5 lbs./85 kg - Hank Porcher, Palm Beach, Fla.
213.75 lbs./97 kg -Daniel Chaid, San Jose. Calif.; Dale Porcher, Palm Beach, Fla.
286 lbs./130 kg - Jim Neilsen, Moses Lake, Wash.
Div. B (41-45 years)
127.75 lbs./58 kg - John Henry Smithson, Ventura, Calif.
138.75 lbs./63 kg - Paul Hermann, York, Penn.
167.5 lbs./76 kg - Brad Brosius, Dover, Penn; Bruce Moe, Hillboro, N.D.
187.5 lbs./85 kg - Anthony Wesson, Takoma Park, Md.; Michael Mitrowski, Shrewsbury, Mass
213.75 lbs./97 kg - Steve Goode, Brighton, Mass; Paul Vinson, San Diego, Calif.
286 lbs./130 kg - Tim Rock, Howell, N.J.
Div. C (46-50 years)
152.75 lbs./69 kg - Russell Cozart, Brandon, Fla.; Jim Lucas, Santa Cruz, Calif.
167.5 lbs./76 kg - Steve Whedbee, Fairfield, Calif.
213.75 lbs./97 kg - Ron Cole, Auburn, Wash.; Bradford Rehor, Fort Worth, Texas
Div. D (51-55 years)
127.75 lbs./58 kg - Dwain Burkholder, Woodland Park, Colo.
138.75 lbs./63 kg - Shirzad Ahmadi, Coventry, Conn.
187.5 lbs./85 kg - Paul Stull, Lemoyne, Penn.; Murry Gurfein, Marina Del Rey, Calif.
286 lbs./130 kg - Larry Prosper, San Francisco, Calif.
Div. E (56 years and above)
127.75 lbs./58 kg - Mansour Honarvar, Oceanside, Calif.
187.5 lbs./85 kg - Bruce Bird, Novelty, Ohio; Sonny Boyd, Roanoke, Va.; Glenn Clark, Flatrock, Newfoundland (Canada)
213.75 lbs./97 kg - David Battiste, Arvada, Colo.; Roger Olesen, Redwood City, Calif.
Team leader/coach - Kevin Jackson, Colorado Springs, Colo.
EVENT SCHEDULE - The competition will be held at the Stadthalle Freiburg in Freiburg, Germany
Friday, August 4
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Elimination Round 1
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM - Elimination Round 2
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM - Opening Ceremonies
Saturday, August 5
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Elimination Round 3
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Elimination Round 4
Sunday, August 6
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Consolation Finals
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Semifinals and Finals followed by Victory Ceremony