A special Olympic-caliber exhibition match will be held during the intermission of the No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 2 Oklahoma State college dual at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, this Saturday. 

In the Olympic Trials promotion bout, former Hawkeye star Brent Metcalf (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC/Hawkeye WC), a 2010 U.S. World Team member, will face Canadian star Haislan Garcia at 66 kg/145 lbs. Both stars are contenders to win an Olympic medal in London.

Current college rankings have the Hawkeyes ranked at No. 1 and the Cowboys ranked at No. 2 in the nation. A capacity crowd is expected to attend this very important college dual meet, which begins at 7 p.m. 

Metcalf, a two-time NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner for the Hawkeyes continues to train in Iowa in his quest for Olympic gold. He most recently won the Olympic Test Event in London, England, facing a number of top international competitors in the tournament.

Garcia placed a strong fifth at the 2010 World Championships, and represented Canada at the 2008 Olympic Games. He is a two-time Pan American Championships silver medalist and two-time Pan American bronze medalist. Garcia has won gold medals at the Dave Schultz Memorial International two times. He recently won the Canadian Olympic Trials at his weight.

Fans can expect a very competitive match, with two highly skilled athletes looking to gain an edge over a worthy opponent. Both the United States and Canada have not yet qualified this weight class in the Olympics, so this exhibition battle will have some additional meaning moving forward.

“I am excited about this,” said Metcalf. “It is an opportunity to do a lot of things. I get a chance to wrestle in front of the Carver-Hawkeye fans once again. I get a chance to avenge a loss to him at the Pan Am Championships in 2009. He is also the guy we are going to have to beat to get the USA qualified for the Olympics at this weight. There is a lot going on with this match.”

The 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will be held in Iowa City, April 21-22. With the Trials a major focus within the wrestling community, the hosts of the competition in Iowa City organized this match to promote the event in their community and around the nation.

“I feel real good, confident and am continuing to build. He is a tough opponent. He is very stingy and defensive. I will have to continue to attack and attack to get to him. He is a very worthy opponent,” said Metcalf. “Anytime Oklahoma State wrestles Iowa and its No. 1 against No. 2, there will be a lot of people there. This is a great platform to promote the Olympic Trials, which is the reason we are doing this match.”

In addition, past University of Iowa and Olympic team members will be special guests at the dual meet and will be signing autographs on the concourse prior to the dual. Among those expected to appear are Olympic champions Randy Lewis, Ed Banach and Lou Banach, Olympic medalist Lincoln McIlravy and Olympians Chuck Yagla and Joe Williams.

Tickets to the Oklahoma State dual are available for purchase through the UI Ticket Office at hawkeyesports.com or over the phone at 800-IA-HAWKS.

For more information on the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, visit:
IowaCitytoLondon.com

METCALF/GARCIA GRUDGE MATCH BIOGRAPHIES
At 66 kg/145.5 lbs. in men’s freestyle

Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC/Hawkeye WC)
2010 U.S. World Team member… 2011 Olympic Test Event champion (England)… 2011 Takhti Cup runner-up (Iran)… Fifth in 2011 Ivan Yarygin Memorial Grand Prix (Russia)… Third in 2010 FILA Golden Grand Prix Finals (Azerbaijan)… Third in 2009 Pan American Championships… 2006 Junior World Team member… Third in 2011 U.S. Open… Second in 2009 U.S. Open… Fifth in 2008 U.S. Open… 2008 and 2010 NCAA champion for the Univ. of Iowa… 2009 NCAA runner-up for Iowa… 2008 Dan Hodge Trophy winner as nation’s top college wrestler… Also attended Virginia Tech… Four-time Michigan state champion for Davison High School… Six-time Junior Nationals champion, tying national record… Born: July 14, 1986… Age: 25

Haislan Garcia, Canada
Fifth in 2010 World Championships… 2008 Olympian… 2012 Canadian Olympic Trials champion… 2009 and 2011 Canadian World Team member… 2010 and 2011 Dave Schultz Memorial champion… Second in 2008 and 2009 Pan American Championships… Third in 2010 and 2011 Pan American Championships… Second in 2010 Tbilisi Tournament (Georgia)… Born: March 4, 1983… Age: 28