The 2012 Dave Schultz Memorial International Wrestling championships will feature some of the world’s top wrestlers.  The event is slated for Feb. 2-4 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. 

Several of the athletes expected to compete are World and Olympic medalists in all three Olympic styles of wrestling: men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. 

Greco-Roman stars include 2008 Olympic champion Andrea Minguzzi of Italy at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Greece’s Xenofon Koutsioubas, a 2001 World bronze medalist at 120 kg/264 lbs.  In addition, U.S. stars include 2002 World champion Dremiel Byers at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. and World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. The Greco-Roman competition is on Saturday, Feb. 4.

Two  World champions in men’s freestyle will also be on hand, competing Friday, Feb. 3. Wrestling for the United States is 2011 World champion Jordan Burroughs at 74 kg/163 lbs. and India’s Sushil Kumar, the 2010 World champion at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. 

Headlining the women’s field is 2008 Olympic champion Carol Huyhn of Canada at 48 kg/105.5 lbs and 2005 World champion Iris Smith at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. from the U.S.  Also from Canada, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist and 2008 bronze medalist, Tonya Verbeek at 59 kg/130 lbs. and 2010 World silver medalist Ohenewa Akuffo at 72 kg/158.5. Adeline Gray, the 2011 World bronze medalist will also compete for the U.S. at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.The women’s freestyle will begin Thursday, Feb. 2. 

World/Olympic Medalists
Greco-Roman (Competes Saturday, Feb. 4)

Dremiel Byers, United States, 120 kg – 2002 World Champion, 2009 World Silver medalist, 2007 World Bronze medalist.
Xenofon Koutsioubas, Greece, 120 kg – 2001 World bronze medalist
Andrea Minguzzi, Italy, 84 kg – 2008 Olympic Champion
Justin Ruiz, United States, 96 kg- 2005 World bronze medalist

Men’s Freestyle (Competes Friday, Feb. 3)

Jordan Burroughs, United States, 74 kg – 2011 World champion
Sushil Kumar, India, 66 kg – 2010 World champion

Women’s Freestyle (Competes Thursday, Feb. 2)

Ohenewa Akuffo, Canada, 72 kg – 2010 World silver medalist
Adeline Gray, 67 kg – 2011 World bronze medalist
Carol Huynh, Canada, 48 kg – 2008 Olympic Champion, 2000, 2006, 2010 World bronze medalist, 2001 World silver medalist.
Iris Smith, United States, 72 kg – 2005 World Champion
Tonya Verbeek, Canada, 59 kg – 2004 Olympic silver medalist, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, 2005 and 2009 World bronze medalist; 2011 World silver medalist.

In addition to these Senior World and Olympic medalists, there are dozens of past Junior and University World medalists in the field, both from the USA and the international teams. A number of past Olympians are also in the field.

The U.S. field is expected to be large and very competitive, as the event has U.S. Olympic Team Trials qualification implications. In men’s freestyle, the top placing American in each weight class, who must place in the top six, qualifies for Iowa City. In Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle, U.S. athletes who win gold medals at the event will qualify for the Olympic Team Trials. The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for wrestling will be held in Iowa City, Iowa, April 21-22.

The results from the Dave Schultz Memorial International on Feb. 2 will be used to determine the U.S. women's freestyle team for the 2012 Pan American Championships, which will be held in Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 24-26. U.S. wrestlers who win the Schultz Memorial will make the Pan Am team. In weights where the U.S. does not win, there will be a wrestle-off on Feb. 4 between the top two Americans, with the winner competing at the Pan Ams.

The U.S. Greco-Roman National Coaches will also look at the results from the Dave Schultz Memorial in making their decision on which athletes will represent the USA at the Pan American Championships.
The tournament received preliminary entries from 16 countries: Bulgaria, Canada, Ecuador, Finland, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, United States and Uzbekistan. 

The event is sponsored by the "Experience Colorado Springs" Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation. 

TheMat.com will provide live webcast coverage of all of the action from the event all three days, with commentary during the semifinal and final rounds.

2012 Schultz Schedule of Events

Thursday, February 2
Weights Contested
Women’s Freestyle: 48 kg, 51 kg, 55 kg, 59 kg, 63 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg
Session I: 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Session II: 4:00 p.m. – Conclusion

Friday, February 3
Weights Contested
Men’s Freestyle: 55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg, 84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg
Session I: 9:00 a.m. – 2:15 p.m. Freestyle
Session II: 4:00 p.m. – Conclusion

Saturday, February 4
Weights Contested
Greco-Roman: 55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg, 84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg
Session I: 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.  
Session II: 4:00 p.m. – Conclusion