2000 Kids National Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships set for Waterloo, Iowa, July 5-8

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Heather Folks ()
06/28/2000


USA Wrestling Kids National Freestyle and Greco-Roman  Championships set for Waterloo, Iowa, July 5-8     USA Wrestling is excited to host the fourth annual Kids National Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships, held at Young Arena in Waterloo, Iowa, July 5-8.     The best young athletes between the ages of 9-14 will converge in Waterloo, the hometown of wrestling legend Dan Gable. This is the fourth straight year that the event will be hosted in Waterloo.      Competition will be held in three age levels: Midget (9-10 years), Novice (11-12 years) and Schoolboy (13-14). Hundreds of young athletes from USA Wrestling's state association programs will battle for the chance to become national champions and All-Americans.     This is the final leg of the USA Wrestling Kids Triple Crown, which recognizes athletes who win all three USA Wrestling national titles in one year - folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman.      In 1999, ten wrestlers won the prestigious Kids Triple Crown. 1999 Triple Crown winners were: Riley Adamson of New Mexico, Duane Zlatnik of Kansas, Victor Weideman of Nebraska, Angel Escobedo of Indiana, David Craig of Florida, Cole Swenson of Minnesota, Jon Dahl of Minnesota, Joe Zlatnik of Kansas, Blake Roemer of Wisconsin and Alex Tsirtsis of Indiana.     The 2000 Kids Folkstyle Nationals were held in April in Topeka, Kan., and many of the stars from that event are expected to compete in Waterloo.     In addition, the athletes will have an opportunity to win double titles, claiming both the freestyle and Greco-Roman events in Waterloo. Last year, 23 athletes won double titles at the Kids Nationals.     Historically, many of the stars from USA Wrestling's national youth events have gone on to success on the college and international levels.      Each of the competitors at the Kids National Freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships must have entered one of the six USA Wrestling Kids Regionals in order to attend this event.      Organizers hope to set new entry levels this year. They are confident that the quality of the competition will be excellent. Admission to this year's Kids National Championships is free.      A National Kids Developmental Camp will be held July 3-4, featuring three-time Olympian and 2000 Greco-Roman Olympic Team Coach Dan Chandler and World Championship Medalist and 2000 U.S. Freestyle Olympic Team Member Lincoln McIlravy.    KIDS NATIONAL FREESTYLE AND GRECO-ROMAN CHAMPIONSHIPS    at Young Arena in Waterloo, Iowa, July 5-8    Wednesday, July 5     3:00 p.m. - Opening Ceremonies     3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - Session #1 - Greco-Roman Preliminaries     7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - Session #2 - Greco-Roman Preliminaries    Thursday, July 6     8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Session #3 - Greco-Roman Preliminaries     2:30 p.m. - conclusion - Session #4 - Greco-Roman pool finals and medal matches    Friday, July 7     8:00 a.m. - Opening Ceremonies     8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Session #1 - Freestyle Preliminaries     2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Session #2 - Freestyle Preliminaries    Saturday, July 8     9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Session #3 - Freestyle Preliminaries     1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Session #4  - Freestyle Preliminaries through pool   finals     4:30 p.m. - conclusion - Session #5 - Freestyle medal matches    Contact Heather Folks of USA Wrestling for information at 719-598-8181.