The Saint Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau, Minnesota/USA Wrestling and USA Wrestling are proud to announce that the 2002 World Team Trials will be held at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium in Saint Paul, Minn., June 21-23.    The best men's freestyle, men's Greco-Roman and women's freestyle wrestlers in the nation will battle for the right to represent the United States in the 2002 World Championships at this popular and prestigious event.  The 2002 World Championships will be held in Iran (men's freestyle), Russia (men's Greco-Roman) and Greece (women's freestyle).    The quality of the competition is expected to be outstanding. Many of the stars from the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, as well as the 2001 U.S. World Teams in all three styles, are expected to participate.     "Saint Paul is honored to forge this strong partnership with our friends at USA Wrestling to host the 2002 Men's Freestyle and Greco-Roman and Women's Freestyle World Team Trials in Saint Paul at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium," said Thomas G. Getzke, CMP,  the President/CEO of the Saint Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau. "Saint Paul is well known as a seasoned veteran tournament city with extensive experience in event management, fan services and event marketing. We have no doubt that USA Wrestling will have an outstanding event in Saint Paul.  Our goal as host city is to work in partnership with USA Wrestling to establish a new level of excellence for the event."    "The upper Midwest is well known as national leader in the ongoing development of the sport of wrestling and we aim to use every resource to focus on presenting a successful event. The Roy Wilkins Auditoruim will be an excellent venue for the event.  The athletes will enjoy the 'big show' atmosphere and the fans will appreciate the great sight lines. Saint Paul and the entire Twin Cities area offer so much to see and do.  USA Wrestling participants, family members and fans will enjoy the unlimited variety of visitor attractions, restaurants, parks and of course, the spectacular Mall of America," Getzke said.    "Minnesota/USA Wrestling is extremely pleased that the World Team Trials for USA Wrestling will be held in Minnesota," said Bill Hinchley, CEO of Minnesota/USA Wrestling. "Minnesota's rich tradition in Women's wrestling, in Men's Freestyle, and in Greco-Roman wrestling makes our state an ideal location for this great event. Minnesota/USA Wrestling will do their part in making the World Team Trials a very successful event."    "USA Wrestling is excited to award one of its premier competitions to Minnesota," said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. "The wrestling community in Minnesota is very large and active, and we anticipate that the event in Saint Paul will be the most successful World Team Trials ever held."    This is only the second time in USA Wrestling history that the World Team Trials for men's freestyle, women's freestyle and men's Greco-Roman will be held together at one site. USA Wrestling expects that this competition will continue to grow into one of the most popular wrestling events in the nation.   The tournament format features a two-day Challenge Tournament and a championship finals series. The Challenge Tournament in all three styles will be held on Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22. This includes all of the competitors, except for the 2002 National Champions who are automatically in the finals.     On Sunday, June 23, the Championship finals in each weight class will be held, featuring the national champion facing the Challenge Tournament winner in a best-of-three series.     There are seven weight classes in each style.  Each of the 2002 U.S. Nationals champions automatically advance to the championship finals on June 23.    The United States is among the top wrestling nations in the world. The U.S. won seven wrestling medals at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, including four medals in freestyle and three medals in Greco-Roman. The United States also captured seven medals at the 2001 World Championships, including three in Greco-Roman and two each in men's freestyle and women's freestyle.    Minnesota is a hotbed for wrestling in the United States. The Univ. of Minnesota is the reigning NCAA Div. I wrestling champion, and the Gophers draw tremendous crowds and support for their wrestling events. Numerous Minnesota natives have won medals for the United States on the international level. Minnesota/USA Wrestling has one of the most successful state wrestling organizations in the nation, with outstanding programs for athletes of all ages.    The location in Saint Paul makes the event within close range of wrestling fans from across the region and nation. All sports fans are encouraged to make plans to come to Saint Paul for some truly special wrestling.    Many local wrestling stars are expected to be on display, including 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Garrett Lowney, 1996 Olympic silver medalist Brandon Paulson and 2001 World silver medalist Brandon Eggum. These stars, along with many other talented wrestlers, live and train full-time in Minnesota.