Cuban lineup boasts three World Champions for the Second Annual Dave Schultz Memorial International Wrestling Tournament, presented by AdvoCare, in Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 11-12Three World Champions will headline the Cuban team for the Second Annual Dave Schultz Memorial International held at the Olympic Trainin Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 11-12.
The World Champions on the Cuban squad include 1997 World Champion Wilfredo Garcia at 119 pounds, 1998 World Champion Alexis Rodriguez at 286 pounds and 1999 World Champion Yoel Romero at 187.25 pounds.
In addition to his 1997 World title, Garcia claimed a gold medal at the 1998 Pan American Championships and the 1999 Pan American Games.
Along with his 1998 World title, Rodriguez won silver medals at the 1997 World Championships and the 1997 Junior World Championships. He placed second in the 1999 Pan American Games and was second in the 1997 and 1999 World Cups.
In addition to the 1999 World gold medal, Romero placed third in the 1998 World Championships. He was a 1998 World Cup champion and placed second in the 1999 World Cup.
1996 Olympians Yosmany Sanchez (152 ) and Wilfredo Morales (213.75) will also compete.
Sanchez placed fourth in the 1996 Olympic Games, and was a 1997 World Cup silver medalist. He won the gold medal at the 1998 Pan American Championships and was second in the 1999 Pan American Games.
Morales placed ninth in the 1996 Olympic Games. He won gold medals at the 1994, 1996 and 1998 Pan American Championships, as well as the 1995 Pan American Games.
Rounding out the Cuban lineup is Rene Montero at 119 pounds, Yoendris Albear at 127.75 pounds, Yandro Quintana at 138.75 pounds and Daniel Gonzales at 167.5 pounds.
USA Wrestling and the Dave Schultz Wrestling Foundation have worked together to create the Dave Schultz Memorial International. The event honors the memory and achievements of Olympic Champion Dave Schultz, who was tragically killed in 1996.
AdvoCare, The Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, Budweiser, 24-Hour Fitness, Asics and Texaco are supporting this historic competition by assisting in the promotion and coordination of the event.
Tickets are available at the door. They are $4 for Session I and II and $6 for the finals. There is an all-session ticket available for $10.
Session I competition is Friday, Feb. 11 at 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Session II is Saturday, Feb. 12 with start times of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The parade of finalists will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and the finals will be at 6:30 p.m.
Top U.S. athletes from wrestling clubs across the nation are expected to participate in the tournament as well. The quality of the competition should be spectacular.
Dave Schultz won an Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling at 163 pounds in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Calif. Before that, he was a World Champion in 1983. Schultz won an outstanding seven World/Olympic medals during his career, in addition to titles at the Pan American Games, the World Cup and the Goodwill Games. He was a national champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman.
For more information, contact Heather Folks of USA Wrestling at 719-598-8181.
DAVE SCHULTZ MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL
Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 10-12
Cuba lineup
54 kg/119 lbs. - Wilfredo Garcia
54 kg/119 lbs. - Rene Montero
58 kg/127.75 lbs. - Yoendris Albear
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Yandro Quintana
69 kg/152 lbs. - Yosmany Sanchez
76 kg/167.5 lbs. - Daniel Gonzales
85 kg/187.25 lbs. - Yoel Romero
97 kg/213.75 lbs. - Wilfredo Morales
130 kg/286 lbs. - Alexis Rodriguez