BAKU, Azerbaijan - U.S. teams in Greco-Roman and men’s freestyle will compete at the 2011 FILA Golden Grand Prix Finals this weekend.

The tournament begins on Friday with the Greco-Roman competition.

Four members of the 2011 U.S. Greco-Roman World Team will compete, including 2002 World Champion Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. and 2005 World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz (Orem, Utah/New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

The other two 2011 World Team members competing are 2008 Olympian Spenser Mango (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and 2010 World Team member Jake Fisher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs.

Rounding out the U.S. Greco-Roman lineup are National Team members CP Schlatter (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Jordan Holm (Boise, Idaho/Minnesota Storm) at 84 kg/185 lbs. Schlatter was third in the 2011 World Team Trials. Holm was second in the 2011 World Team Trials and was the 2011 U.S. Open champion.

Byers won a silver medal in this prestigious event in 2009.

The U.S. freestyle team will compete on Sunday, led by 2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert (Evanston, Ill./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. Herbert, who was second at the 2011 World Team Trials, will be joined by two other runners-up from the World Team Trials this year, Sam Hazewinkel (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Andrew Howe (Cedar Lake, Ind./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs.

Also competing is Freestyle Team USA member Dustin Kilgore (Berea, Ohio/Golden Flash WC), who was True Third at the World Team Trials and was a 2011 NCAA champion. Closing out the lineup are a pair of placewinners from this year’s World Team Trials, Philip Simpson (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Jarod Trice (Mount Pleasant, Mich./Gator WC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

The U.S. won six medals in last year’s FILA Golden Grand Prix Finals in freestyle.

The women’s competition will be held on Saturday. Women’s Team USA is not entered in the event this year.

The FILA Golden Grand Prix Finals is the concluding event of the annual FILA Golden Grand Prix Series of major international events held each year.

For updates, visit the official website at:
http://www.fila-wrestling.com/baku2011/

FILA GOLDEN GRAND PRIX FINALS
At Baku, Azerbaijan, July 8-10

U.S. Greco-Roman Team
55 kg/121 lbs. - Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - CP Schlatter, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jake Fisher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jordan Holm, Boise, Idaho (Minnesota Storm)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Justin Ruiz, Orem, Utah (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Coaches – Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach Momir Petkovic of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Shon Lewis of Colorado Springs, Colo.

U.S. Men’s Freestyle Team
55 kg/121 lbs. - Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Phillip Simpson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Andrew Howe, Cedar Lake, Ind. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jake Herbert, Evanston, Ill. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Dustin Kilgore, Berea, Ohio (Golden Pride WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Jarod Trice, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Gator WC)
Coaches: National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Assistant National Freestyle Coach Brandon Slay of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Team Leader: Paul Kieblesz, New York, N.Y.