A second Olympic-caliber freestyle wrestling exhibition match has been added to the program during the No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 2 Oklahoma State college dual at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, this Saturday, January 7 at 7:00 p.m. Central.

The first Olympic Trials promotion bout held during the intermission of the dual meet will pit former Hawkeye star Brent Metcalf (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC/Hawkeye WC), a 2010 U.S. World Team member, against Canadian star Haislan Garcia at 66 kg/145 lbs. This was announced earlier this week.

It was announced today that in the second freestyle match during intermission, 2008 U.S. Olympian Steve Mocco (Bethlehem, Pa./New York AC/Lehigh Valley AC) will compete against Nick Matuhin of Germany at 120 kg/264.5 pounds.

Mocco holds a special place in college history, having won a NCAA title for both of the teams competing in Saturday night’s big dual. He was a 2003 NCAA champion for Iowa, then won the 2005 NCAA Championships for Oklahoma State.

Mocco placed seventh in the 2008 Olympic Games. He was a 2009 U.S. Open champion, and has been a six-time U.S. Open runner-up. Mocco also has been a five-time U.S. World Team Trials runner-up. He is one of the few U.S. wrestlers to win the Ivan Yarygin Memorial in Russia, with his title in 2009. Mocco also boasts a 2006 Pan American Championships title. In college, Mocco was as four-time NCAA finalist. He won an NCAA title and runner-up finish for Iowa, then was an NCAA champion and runner-up for Oklahoma State.

Matuhin was fifth at the 2011 European Championships and competed for Germany at the 2011 World Championships. He was third in the 2009 European Championships, and fifth in the 2007 Junior World Championships. Matuhin has had a strong 2011 year, winning international tournaments in France, Romania and Spain during the season. At 21 years old, he is an emerging international talent.

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.

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.

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.

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 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:
www.IowaCitytoLondon.com

INTERNATIONAL FREESTYLE MATCH BIOGRAPHIES
At Iowa City, Iowa, January 7

120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Steve Mocco, Bethlehem, Pa. (New York AC/Lehigh Valley AC)
Seventh in 2008 Olympic Games… 2009 Ivan Yarygin International champion (Russia), one of toughest events in world… 2009 U.S. Open champion… Second in 2011 U.S. Open… 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011 U.S. World Team Trials runner-up… Six-time U.S. Open runner-up (2004-08, 2011)… 2009 Alexander Medved International champion (Belarus)… 2006 Pan American Championships champion… Third in 2007 U.S. Open… Third in 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials… 2005 NCAA Champion for Oklahoma State… 2003 NCAA champion for Univ. of Iowa… Two-time NCAA runner-up, once for Iowa and once for Oklahoma State… Three-time Junior Nationals champion (1999-2001)… Four-time National Prep School champion… 2001 ASICS Tiger High School Wrestler of the Year… Competed for Oklahoma State and Iowa… High Schools: Blairstown, N.J. (Blair Academy) and Newark, N.J. (St. Benedicts Prep)… Born: December 28, 1981… Age: 30

Nick Matuhin (Germany)
Fifth in 2011 European Championships… 2011 German World Team member… 2011 Henri Deglane Challenge champion (France)… 2011 Ion Corneanu Memorial champion (Romania)… 2011 Grand Prix of Spain champion… Third in 2009 European Junior Championships… Fourth in 2008 Dave Schultz Memorial (USA)… Fifth in 2008 European Junior Championships… Fifth in 2007 Junior World Championships… Second in 2007 European Cadet Championships… Fifth in 2006 European Cadet Championships… Born: April 5, 1990… Age: 21

66 kg/145.5 lbs.

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