Bunch, Ruiz to seek Olympic qualification for their weights in China this weekend

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
04/25/2012


The United States will enter two talented athletes in the World Olympic Games Qualifying Tourmament in Taiyuan, China, April 27-29.

Up first for Team USA is 2009 World Team member Shawn Bunch (Columbus, Ohio/Gator WC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. in men’s freestyle. He will weigh in on Thursday, April 26 and compete on Friday, April 27.

2005 World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz (Orem, Utah/New York AC) will wrestle at 96 kg/211 lbs. in Greco-Roman. Ruiz will weigh in on Saturday, April 28 and will compete on Sunday, April 29.

At this event, an athlete must place in the top three of their weight class to qualify their nation for the London Games. Only athletes whose weights are not yet qualified for the Olympics may enter.

Bunch is ranked No. 2 at 60 kg/132 lbs. on Freestyle Team USA. He placed second in both the 2011 U.S. Open and the 2011 World Team Trials. He was a member of the 2009 U.S. World Team and has won two U.S. Open titles. He was a two-time All-American for Edinboro and hails from Leavenworth, Kan.

Ruiz was a 2005 World bronze medalist, and has competed in the World Championships for the United States six times. He was also a 2007 Pan American Games champion. Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, he was an NCAA All-American for the Univ. of Nebraska.

The U.S. has 16 of the 18 weight classes qualified for the London Games and these are the only two weight classes left to be qualified. The U.S. determined the members of the U.S. Olympic Team in those 16 qualified weights during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling in Iowa City, Iowa, April 21-22.

If the USA does not qualify in either or both weight classes in China, the final opportunity will be in Helsinki, Finland, May 4-6. At that event, an athlete must place in the top two of their weight class to qualify their nation.

If the USA does not qualify at 96 kg in Greco-Roman in China, the current plan is to send Ruiz to Finland to compete. Freestyle Team USA has not yet chosen its entry for Finland if Bunch is unable to qualify at 60 kg in freestyle in China.

If the USA does qualify one or both of these weight classes, a Secondary Olympic Trials in those weight classes will be held at a date and location to be determined, which will decide what athlete will represent the nation at the London Games at that weight class.

For more information about the event in China, click below
Event information

For list of entries in the event in China, click below:
Event entries

WORLD OLYMPIC GAMES QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
at Taiyuan China, April 27-29

Event Schedule

Friday April 27
1:00-5:00 p.m. – Freestyle 55, 60, 66, 74, 84, 96 kg, qualification rounds and repechage
5:00-6:00 p.m. – Opening Ceremony
6:00-8:00 p.m. – Freestyle Finals 55, 60, 66, 74, 84, 96 kg and Awards Ceremony

Saturday April 28
1:00-5:00 p.m. – Freestyle 120 and Greco 55, 60, 66, 74, 84 kg Qualification rounds and repechage
6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. - Freestyle Finals 120 and Greco 55, 60, 66, 74, 84 kg and Awards Ceremony

Sunday April 29
1:00- 5:00 p.m. – Women’s Freestyle 48, 55, 63, 72 kg and Greco 96, 120 kg qualification rounds and repechage
6:00-8:00 p.m. – Finals Women’s Freestyle 48, 55, 63, 72 kg and Greco 96, 120 and Awards ceremony

U.S. entries
60 kg/132 lbs. freestyle – Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. Greco-Roman – Justin Ruiz, Orem, Utah (New York AC)