World champion Hristo Marinov of Bulgaria tosses an opponent at 84 kg/185 lbs.

The Jacob Curby Foundation has announced for the lineup for the international “Dream Team” for the second annual Curby Cup, which will be held at Lyons Township High School in LaGrange, Ill., Saturday, May 21.

International Greco-Roman wrestling stars from seven different nations will compete against U.S. wrestlers in the Curby Cup.

The event is held in honor of the late Jacob Curby, a Greco-Roman Team USA member who unexpectedly passed away at the age of 25 in January 2010.

The international “Dream Team” will include 2010 World champion Hristo Marinov of Bulgaria, who competes at 84 kg/185 lbs.

2008 Olympic bronze medalist Mindaugas Mizgaitis of Lithuania will wrestle at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

A pair of 2010 World silver medalists, Choi Gyu-Jin of Korea at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Ryutaro Matsumoto of Japan at 60 kg/132 lbs., will be on the international team.

Jimmy Lidberg of Sweden, a two-time World medalist at 96 kg/211.5 lbs., is also on the roster.

2008 European champion Peter Bacsi of Hungary will wrestle at 74 kg/163 lbs., and 2008 Junior World silver medalist Aleksandar Maksimovic of Serbia is slated for 66 kg/145.5 lbs. 

“It worked out quite well. We are very pleased with how the process occurred as we formed the international team,” said Dr. Dave Curby, Jake’s father and one of the event organizers. “We had some top stars who could not compete due to injuries and schedule conflicts, but when you add it all together, we have a tremendous international lineup. From top to bottom, any one of these athletes could win a World title in their weight class.”

The U.S. lineup for the Curby Cup was announced on Tuesday. The U.S. team will feature all seven 2011 U.S. Open Greco-Roman champions, including three past World medalists.

The Curby Cup will be held in Vaughan Gym at Lyons Township High School, the school which Jacob Curby attended. There will only be advance ticket sales available for the event, which can be purchased on the official website.

The competition is building upon the success of the first Curby Cup, which was held in Plainfield, Ill. on May 22, 2010. Over 2,000 fans attended the event, witnessing top Greco-Roman challenge matches between American wrestlers on the Senior, Junior and Cadet age levels. There was also one freestyle bout featuring top Junior talents.

For more information and to order tickets for the 2011 Curby Cup, visit:
http://www.curbycup.com/

CURBY CUP
At LaGrange, Ill., May 21

International lineup
55 kg/121 lbs. – Gyu-Jin Choi (Korea)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Ryutaro Matsumoto (Japan)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Aleksandar Maksimovic (Serbia)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Peter Bacsi (Hungary)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Hristo Marinov (Bulgaria)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Jimmy Lidberg (Sweden)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Mindaugas Mitzgaitis (Lithuania)

About the Jacob Curby Foundation

The Jacob Curby Foundation is dedicated to the memory of Jacob, a hard-working U.S. National Greco-Roman wrestling team member from the Chicago area, who passed away at age 25 in January 2010. The foundation annually sponsors a premier international wrestling competition. For information on how you can support the foundation, contact David Curby at: davcurb@gmail.com.