IOWA CITY, Iowa – USA Wrestling’s National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner will conduct a training camp for many of the top Olympic hopefuls in women’s freestyle wrestling at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on the campus of the University of Iowa from Nov. 28 – Dec. 4.

Steiner, who was a 1993 NCAA champion at Iowa and three-time All-American, is returning to his alma mater as the leader of the U.S. women’s wrestling program. 

The athletes who are participating in the training camp are expected to compete at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, which will be held at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, April 21-22.

Among the community activities which the U.S. women freestyle wrestlers will participate in while visiting Iowa are:
• Olympic Trials/Iowa City and Coralville business luncheon, Thursday at 11:30 a.m. 
• Special recognition at Iowa vs. Illinois dual meet, Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. 
• Iowa Women’s Foundation meeting, Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa at 9 a.m.

“I want to thank Tom Brands, the head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes, for allowing us to come in and train. We have been thinking about this for a while,” said Steiner. “There are multi purposes for the trip. It will be a great trip. I am looking forward to it and the women are as well. It will be a change of pace, a change of scenery. It will be insightful for them, and they should be able to get a lot out of it.”

“We’re obviously very enthused to have Terry Steiner and the women’s national team make a training visit to Iowa City,” said Iowa head coach Tom Brands. “I think the Iowa City business leaders and the entire wrestling community will enjoy a first-hand look at some world class performers as they promote the upcoming Olympic Trials. Everyone from the college wrestlers, Olympic hopefuls, coaches, sponsors and fans will benefit from this visit.”

The women athletes on the trip will include a number of past World medalists and World Team members, all who are expected to do well in the upcoming Olympic Trials process.

Among the participants are 2008 World champion Clarissa Chun (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., two-time World bronze medalist Tatiana Padilla (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs., 2010 World silver medalist Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and 2011 World bronze medalist Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Gator WC) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.

Chun and Bernard placed fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

There are six past age-group World champions among the athletes. Bernard won two Junior World titles and a University World title, while Pirozhkova won two University World titles. Others include two-time Junior World champion Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach, Calif./New York AC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., 2007 Junior World champion Whitney Conder (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., 2011 Cadet World champion Haley Augello (Lockport, Ill./New York AC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and 2008 University World champion Katherine Fulp-Allen (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Steiner has specific goals for the week in Iowa City.

“First, our Olympic Trials will be held there in April. It is always beneficial if an athlete can see and visualize and get a sense and feel for the arena they will be wrestling in. Second, the University of Iowa, Iowa City and Coralville are using this as a kickoff week to promote the Olympic Trials. We will be involved in a few events to help promote the Olympic Trials and to expose the Iowa people to women’s wrestling,” said Steiner.

“Third, it is to get in there and have a good training camp. Carver-Hawkeye Arena is a great training facility. I want to put the women through workouts, not only in the wrestling room but in the arena. It is a great training environment. Fourth, I want them to see the intensity of the Iowa wrestling room and the intensity of coaches Tom and Terry Brands. Everybody can learn from walking into that room,” he said.

WOMEN’S TEAM USA TRAINING CAMP
At Iowa City, Iowa, Nov. 28 – Dec. 3
Women freestyle athletes
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif. (New York AC)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Candace Workman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Team OTC)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Rachel Bernardes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Team OTC)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Sara Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Haley Augello, Lockport, Ill. (New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Tatiana Padilla, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Trinity Plessinger, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Katherine Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Kelsey Campbell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozkhova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Veronica Carlson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Gator WC)

Coaches
National Freestyle Coach Terry Steiner, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Assistant National Freestyle Coach Izzy Izboinikov, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Erin Tomeo, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Keith Wilson, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Kevin Black, River Falls, Wis.