USA WRESTLING FORMS USA SPORTS BROADCAST PRODUCTIONS INC.; MAJOR COLLEGE AND INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING EVENTS PLANNED 
   USA Wrestling, the national governing body for amateur wrestling in the United States, has announced the creation of USA Sports Broadcast Productions Inc. as a new division within the organization. 
   "USA Sports Broadcast Productions Inc. has been created to provide USA Wrestling an outlet to produce wrestling events for television," said Jim Scherr, Executive Director of USA Wrestling. "In addition, USA Sports Broadcast Productions will work to produce major events in other sports." 
   A number of exciting wrestling events have already been secured during 1998. The first events scheduled include NCAA Division I college dual meets from the Big 10 and Big 12 conferences, as well as the Big 12 Conference Wrestling Championships. 
   USA Wrestling events scheduled for production include the 1998 U.S. Nationals in Orlando, Fla., the 1998 Freestyle World Cup in Stillwater, Okla. and a USA vs. Russia freestyle dual meet to be held in Waterloo, Iowa. All three events are scheduled to be aired nationally by ESPN2. 
   Funding for the college wrestling events has been provided from a joint U.S. Olympic Committee and NCAA grant program. 
   In addition, USA Sports Broadcast Productions Inc. will contract its services to produce television shows for other amateur sport organizations. USA Sports Broadcast Productions will also produce instructional videotapes for various sports including wrestling. 
   Longtime wrestling broadcaster Dr. Dave Bennett formerly of Kennewick, Wash. has assumed the position of Director of Broadcasting and will handle the day-to-day duties of the division. Bennett has been involved in producing wrestling television broadcasts and videos during the past two decades. 
   "Dave Bennett brings a working knowledge of both the sporting world and the television industry," said Scherr. "His many years of experience allows us to immediately produce top quality products for television." 
   USA Wrestling has secured air time on many different regional sport networks which exposes each broadcast to an audience of at least two million households. The Midwest Sports Channel, which is seen in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Iowa, has agreed to air at least three dual meets. 
   At the time of release some air dates were not secured. USA Wrestling will release the dates and times as soon as they become available. Information will also be posted in the Recent Results section of USA Wrestling's website at www.usawrestling.org. 
   For more information, contact USA Wrestling Communications at 719-598-8181. 
  USA SPORTS BROADCAST PRODUCTIONS INC. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 
  NCAA College Wrestling 
  Univ. of Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State Univ. at Stillwater, Okla., Airdate: Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 8:00-9:30 p.m. CST on Ch. 71 & 78 in Oklahoma City, Okla. and Ch. 9 in Tulsa, Okla. 
  Penn State Univ. vs Ohio St. Univ. at Columbus, Ohio, Airdate: February 18 at 8:00-9:00 p.m. CST on Ch. 29 in Dayton, Ohio, Ch. 69 in Columbus, Ohio, Ch. 20 in Cinncinati, Ohio and Ch. 35 in Wilkes Barre, Pa.; * Additional stations to be announced in Pennsylvania. 
  Univ. of Minnesota vs. Northwestern Univ. at Evanston, Ill.; Competition date: February 20, *One hour show to be aired on Midwest Sports Channel (check local listings)., *One hour show to be aired on Media One Network in Chicago, Ill. area (check local listings). 
  Michigan St. vs. Univ. of Oklahoma at Norman, Okla., Airdate: Wednesday, Mar. 4 at 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. CST on Ch. 71 & 78 in Oklahoma City, Okla.and Ch. 9 in Tulsa, Okla.; *One hour show to be aired on Midwest Sports Channel (check local listings). 
  Big 12 Conference Championships at Univ. of Oklahoma; Airdate: Wednesday, Mar. 11 at 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. CST on Ch. 71 & 78 in Oklahoma City, Okla.and Ch. 9 in Tulsa, Okla.; *One hour show to be aired on Midwest Sports Channel (check local listings). 
  USA Wrestling Events - ESPN2 
  1998 World Cup at Stillwater, Okla.; Air date: June 1 on ESPN2; Time: TBA 
  USA vs. Russia World Dual Meet at Waterloo, Iowa; Air date: June 7 on ESPN2; Time: TBA 
  1998 U.S. National Champiosnhips at Orlando, Fla.; Air date: July 6 on ESPN2; Time: TBA