THE BEST FREESTYLE WRESTLERS IN THE NATION TO COMPETE IN FREESTYLE WORLD TEAM TRIALS IN SEATTLE, WASH., JUNE 18-19The best freestyle wrestlers in the nation will travel to Seattle, Wash., to compete in the 1999 Freestyle World Team Trials at Mercer Arena, June 18-19.
The winners at each weight class from the World Team Trials will qualify for the U.S. team at the 1999 World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Ankara, Turkey, Oct. 8-11.
In addition, the champions will also compete on the U.S. team at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, July 24-28.
The top three placewinners in each weight class at the World Team Trials qualify for the 1999-2000 Freestyle Team USA, and are eligible for training and subsistence funds.
Leading the field is 1997 World Champion Les Gutches (Corvallis, Ore./Sunkist Kids) at 187.25 pounds. Gutches was seventh in the 1996 Olympic Games, and has won four straight U.S. Nationals titles. Gutches, a two-time NCAA champion for Oregon State Univ., is one of the best wrestlers ever produced in the Pacific Northwest.
Two-time World Champion Terry Brands (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) claimed his third career U.S. Nationals title at 127.75 pounds. Brands was a 1993 and 1995 World champion, and also boasts World Cup and Pan American Games gold medals.
Cary Kolat (Bethlehem, Pa./Dave Schultz WC), a 1997 World silver medalist and 1998 World bronze medalist, claimed the top spot at 138.75 pounds.
1998 World bronze medalist Lincoln McIlravy (Iowa City, Iowa/Gateway 2000) claimed the national title at 152 pounds. McIlravy, who has won three straight U.S. Nationals freestyle titles, was a three-time NCAA champion at the Univ. of Iowa.
Other 1999 U.S. Nationals champions included 1996 Olympian Lou Rosselli (Edinboro, Pa./New York AC) at 119 pounds, plus first-time U.S. Nationals champions Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) at 167.5 pounds, Dominic Black (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 213.75 pounds and Stephen Neal (San Diego, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) at 286 pounds.
Qualifying for the Freestyle World Team Trials are the top six place winners from the 1999 U.S. Nationals, which was held in Las Vegas, Nev., April 30-May 1. A number of other athletes may be added to the field through a petition process.
The first day of the World Team Trials on Friday, June 18, features the "Mini-Tournament," including all of the athletes except the U.S. Nationals champion. One athlete in each weight class will win the Mini-Tournament, and earn the right to advance to the next day. The session times for the Mini-Tournament are 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
The final day of the event, Saturday, June 19, is the Championship Finals Series. The 1999 U.S. Nationals champion in each weight class will battle the winner of the Mini-Tournament in a best-of-three series. Session times for the Championship Finals Series are 12:00 noon and 7:00 p.m.
The price for individual tickets are $8 for sessions 1 and 2, $12 for session 3, $16 for session 4 or $30 for an all-session pass. For groups of 10 or more, tickets cost $6 for sessions 1 and 2, $10 for session 3, $14 for session 4 or $27 for an all-session pass. Tickets may be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling 206-628-0888.
The tournament will be held alongside the 1999 Veterans National Championships, which includes athletes 35-years old and above competing in four age divisions.
QUALIFIERS FOR 1999 FREESTYLE WORLD TEAM TRIALS at Mercer Arena, Seattle, Wash., June 18-19
(with U.S. Nationals place finishes listed)
119 lbs./54 kg
1999 U.S. Nationals champion - Lou Rosselli, Edinboro, Pa. (New York AC)
Mini-Tournament qualifiers - 2. Eric Akin, Overland Park, Kan. (Dave Schultz WC); 3. Chris Bollin, Weston, Mo. (Sunkist Kids); 4. Mike Mena, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC); 5. Tim Dernlan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NW Indiana WC); 6. Jeff Prescott, Bellefonte, Pa. (New York AC)
127.75 lbs./58 kg
1999 U.S. Nationals champion - Terry Brands, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
Mini-Tournament qualifiers - 2. Tony Purler, Clarion, Pa. (Sunkist Kids); 3. Eric Guerrero, San Jose, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) ; 4. Jeff Bedard, Monroe, Ga. (Team Excel); 5. Kerry Boumans, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC); 6. Yero Washington, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
138.75 lbs./63 kg
1999 U.S. Nationals champion - Cary Kolat, Bethlehem, Pa. (Dave Schultz WC)
Mini-Tournament qualifiers - 2. Shawn Charles, Mt. Pleasant, Mich. (Sunkist Kids); 3. Bill Zadick, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC); 4. Troy Steiner, Madison, Wis. (Team Excel); 5. Mark Ironside, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC); 6. John Fisher, Ypsilanti, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)
152 lbs./69 kg
1999 U.S. Nationals champion - Lincoln McIlravy, Iowa City, Iowa (Gateway WC)
Mini-Tournament qualifiers - 2. Chris Bono, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids); 3. John Giura, New York, N.Y. (Dave Schultz WC); 4. Pat Santoro, Bethlehem, Pa. (New York AC); 5. Terry Steiner, Madison, Wis. (Team Excel); 6. Alan Fried, Beachwood, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
167.5 lbs./76 kg
1999 U.S. Nationals champion - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
Mini-Tournament qualifiers - 2. Sean Bormet, Madison, Wis. (Wisconsin WC); 3. Steve Marianetti, Urbana, Ill. (New York AC); 4. Brian Dolph, Ridley Park, Pa. (Dave Schultz WC); 5. Frank Trigg, Noble, Okla. (Sunkist Kids); 6. Trevor Lewis, Malvern, Pa. (Dave Schultz WC)
187.25 lbs./85 kg
1999 U.S. Nationals champion - Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
Mini-Tournament qualifiers - 2. Derek Jones, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm); 3. Charles Burton, Bloomington, Ind. (Sunkist Kids); 4. Ray Brinzer, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC); 5. Lee Fullhart, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC); 6. Dan St. John, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
213.75 lbs./97 kg
1999 U.S. Nationals champion - Dominic Black, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Armed Forces)
Mini-Tournament qualifiers - 2. J.J. Mc Grew, Stillwater, Okla. (Sunkist Kids); 3. Joel Sharratt, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm); 4. Jason Robison, Greenville, Pa. (New York AC); 5. John Kading, Evanston, Ill. (Wildcat WC); 6. Chad Lamer, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
286 lbs./130 kg
1999 U.S. Nationals champion - Stephen Neal, San Diego, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC)
Mini-Tournament qualifiers - 2. Tom Erikson, W. Lafayette, Ind. (Sunkist Kids); 3. Kerry McCoy, State College, Pa. (New York AC); 4. Airron Richardson, Cleveland, Ohio (Team Excel); 5. Tolly Thompson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids); 6. Angelo Borzio, Stroudsburg, Pa. (New York AC)
Other World-class athletes expected to be added to the field through the petition process. Additional athletes will be announced at a later date.