ESPN ANNOUNCES INITIAL BROADCAST DATES FOR FREESTYLE WORLD CUP AND USA VS. IRAN WORLD DUALESPN has notified USA Wrestling of the first airdates for two of its major wrestling events, the World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling 2000 and a USA vs. Iran World Dual meet.
The World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling 2000, the international dual meet championship, will be aired on ESPN 2 on Friday, March 3 from 2-3 p.m. EST.
The event was originally held at George Mason Univ. in Fairfax, Va., Feb. 5-6. The show will feature the final dual meet of the event, the USA vs. Russia matchup. The broadcast team for the show includes USA Wrestling Executive Director Jim Scherr and veteran athlete and coach Larry Nugent.
The United States team featured a number of World medalists including 1997 World Champion Les Gutches (187.25), as well as two-time World medalists Cary Kolat (138.75) and Lincoln McIlravy (152). Russia, the 1999 World Champion team, includes a number of international stars such as 1997 World Champion Kouramagomed Kouramagomedov (213.75).
The USA vs. Iran World Dual meet will be aired on ESPN2 on Friday, April 14, from 2-3 p.m. EST.
This dual meet between traditional world powers continues the exciting series of competition between the nations in recent years. It was orginally held at the Univ. of Tulsa in Tulsa, Okla., Feb. 8. The broadcast team for the event includes Nugent and 1996 Olympic champion Kendall Cross.
The U.S. team features a number of star athletes with connection to Oklahoma, including 1998 World Champion Sammie Henson (119) and 1999 World team member Eric Guerrero (127.75). The Iranian team is led by 1998 World Champion Ali Reza Dabir (127.75) and Ali Reza Heidari (213.75).
USA WRESTLING EVENTS ON NATIONAL TELEVISION
World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling, ESPN2, Friday, March 3 from 2-3 p.m. EST
USA vs. Iran World Dual Meet, ESPN 2, Friday, April 14 from 2-3 p.m. EST