Two-time Olympian Spenser Mango, shown at the 2012 London Olympics, is a preliminary entry in Greco-Roman at the NYAC International. John Sachs photo

The new Olympic season kicks off with the first major international tournament held on U.S. soil, the 2012 New York Athletic Club International, set for the famous New York Athletic Club in Manhattan in New York City, Nov. 9-10.

Organizers have notified USA Wrestling that the event will be held as scheduled. Superstorm Sandy hit the New York area on Monday and has caused many challenges in the region. The New York Athletic Club Wrestling Chairman Dave Foxen said that club is prepared to host the tournament and the athletes who made plans to attend should know that the tournament is still on.

A competitve international field is expected again this year, with talented wrestlers from the United States and athletes from other nations, including Russia, Canada, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Moldova, Romania, Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Albania, indicating that they plan to attend. All three international styles will be on display.

Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle action will be held Friday, November 9, with men’s freestyle scheduled for Saturday, November 10.

U.S. athletes can register either online or onsite for the tournament. 

Online registration for the event ends on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time at:
http://www.trackwrestling.com/tw/registration/BasicPreReg1.jsp?tournamentGroupId=52970009

Pre-registration has begun, and many of the U.S. athletes in the expected field have not yet registered, but some of the early entries include 2012 Greco-Roman Olympians Spenser Mango at 121 pounds, Justin Lester at 145.5 pounds and Dremiel Byers at 264.5 pounds, all from the U.S. Army team. 2012 World silver medalist Alyssa Lampe of the Sunkist Kids is registered at 105.5 pounds. 2009 NCAA champion Darrion Caldwell of the Power club is registered at 145.5 pounds in men’s freestyle.

The field was very strong in 2011. In Greco-Roman, among the champions were 2012 Olympians Ellis Coleman at 132 pounds and Dremiel Byers at 264 pounds, plus Poland’s Damien Janikowski at 185 pounds, who went on to win an Olympic bronze medal.

In women’s freestyle, two athletes who went on to win 2012 World titles were champions: Adeline Gray of the New York AC at 147 pounds and Jessica MacDonald of Canada at 105 pounds. Another individual champion was 2005 World champion Iris Smith of the U.S. Army at 158.5 pounds.

The men’s freestyle tournament featured four U.S. champions and three Russian champions. Among the Americans to win were past U.S. World Team members Reece Humphrey at 132 pounds and Dustin Schlatter at 145 pounds.

There will also be a USA vs. Russia men’s freestyle dual meet held the next day at Mack Sports Complex at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. on Sunday, November 11.

A clinic featuring gold-medalists and USA Wrestling National Coaches Zeke Jones, Brandon Slay and Bill Zadick is set for 1:00 p.m., followed by the dual meet at 2:00 p.m. The final lineups for each nation have not been announced, but are expected to include many  talented international competitors. 

Both the New York AC International and the USA vs. Russia dual meet will be webcast live by TheMat.com and its video portal, TheMat.tv.

The New York City region is still dealing with restoring its transportation infrastructure due to Superstorm Sandy, so participants could face some travel challenges next week and should plan accordingly.

New York Athletic Club International website

2012 NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB INTERNATIONAL
At New York, N.Y., November 9-10

Event Schedule

Thursday, November 8 

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. - Greco-Roman registration 
2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. - Greco-Roman skin checks 
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. - Greco-Roman weigh-ins

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. - Women's Freestyle registration 
3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. - Women's Freestyle skin checks 
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. - Women's Freestyle weigh-ins 

Friday, November 9

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. - Greco-Roman and Women's Freestyle Session I (Preliminaries)   
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. - Greco-Roman and Women's Freestyle Session II  
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. - Greco-Roman and Women's Freestyle Medal Matches 

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. - Men's Freestyle registration 
2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. - Men's Freestyle skin checks  
3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. - Men's Freestyle weigh-ins 

Saturday, November 10

9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. - Men's Freestyle Session I (Preliminaries)   
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. - Men's Freestyle Session II (Preliminaries) 
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. - Men's Freestyle Medal Matches 

2011 New York AC International champions

Greco-Roman champions
55 kg/121 lbs. - Jermaine Hodge (U.S. Army) 
60 kg/132 lbs. - Ellis Coleman (New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Glenn Garrison (U.S. Army)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Andy Bisek (Minnesota Storm)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Damien Janikowski (Poland)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - R.C. Johnson (Sunkist Kids) 
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers (U.S. Army)

Women's freestyle champions
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Jessica MacDonald (Canada)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Vanessa Brown (Canada)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Byambatser Sundev (Mongolia)
59 kg/130 lbs. - Michelle Fazzari (Canada)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Alli Ragan (NYAC/King College)
67 kg/163 lbs. - Adeline Gray (New York AC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Iris Smith (U.S. Army)

Men's freestyle champions
55 kg/121 lbs. – Angel Escobedo (New York AC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Reece Humphrey (New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Dustin Schlatter (Minnesota Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Kamal Malikov (Russia) 
84 kg/185 lbs. – Phil Keddy (Hawkeye WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. –Yuri Belonovskiy (Russia) 
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Eduard Bazrov (Russia)