IOWA CITY, Iowa – Advanced all-session ticket sales for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials to be staged at the University of Iowa’s Carver-Hawkeye Arena in April have surpassed 7,500, University of Iowa and USA Wrestling officials announced today.

Ticket sales have been brisk in January and early February, as the college wrestling season has progressed. 

“We are encouraged by the impressive early ticket sales for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. This is by far the strongest ticket demand in the history of this event,” said USA Wrestling National Events Director Pete Isais. “We are aware that many people who plan to attend the event have not yet bought their tickets. We strongly encourage fans from across the nation to purchase their tickets and finalize their travel plans in order to be part of this historic competition.”

“We continue to be pleased with the pace of ticket sales,” said Josh Schamberger, president of the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.  “Wrestling fans recognize this is a unique event that’s taking place in a passionate environment. I encourage those fans that don’t yet have tickets to move quickly because, though things are really starting to fill up, there are still great seats available.” 

All-session tickets cost $70 for an adult and $40 for boys and girls high school age and younger.  They gain the ticket holder admission to the two sessions of wrestling scheduled for both Saturday, April 21, and Sunday, April 22. The Trials will determine the United States’ representatives at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London next August.

Six former University of Iowa wrestlers have already qualified for participation in the Trials: Three-time All-American Phil Keddy (84 kg), Todd Meneely (66 kg), three-time All-American Brent Metcalf (66 kg), two-time All-American and 2008 Olympian Steve Mocco (120 kg), two-time All-American Ryan Morningstar (74 kg), and three-time All-American and 2008 Olympian Mike Zadick (60 kg).

The aforementioned former Hawkeyes are attempting to follow in the footsteps of 17 Hawkeyes who have participated in the Olympic Games.  That list includes gold medal winners Ed Banach (1984), Lou Banach (1984), Tom Brands (1996), Randy Lewis (1984), and Terry McCann (1960).

A total of 175 athletes from across the nation have already qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials. The field is expected to grow to over 200 competitors when the Olympic Trials qualification process is completed.

Fans can order their all-session tickets by visiting iowacitytolondon.com, the official website of the 2012 United States Olympic Team Trials for wrestling, or by visiting the Athletics Ticket Office inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on the University of Iowa campus.