LAS VEGAS--Knickerbocker, one of the nation*s top private investment management firms, has returned as the presenting sponsor for the 2002 Las Vegas United States National Wrestling Championships, it was announced jointly today by USA Wrestling and the Las Vegas Sports Committee.    Knickerbocker LLC, headquartered in Gladstone, N.J., will be the presenting sponsor of the event for the second straight year. The 2002 Las Vegas United States National Wrestling Championships, presented by Knickerbocker, is the showcase event for U.S. Olympic wrestlers and Olympic hopefuls. It will be held April 24-27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Hall S-3.    The massive tournament, with over 2,000 athletes expected to compete, will include the U.S. Freestyle Nationals, the U.S. Greco-Roman Nationals, the U.S. Women*s Nationals, the U.S. Veteran's Nationals and the Western Junior Regionals. ESPN will televise the senior men*s finals on a delayed basis while the Oxygen network will broadcast the women's finals, also on a delayed basis.    "Knickerbocker has been very supportive of the tournament in the past, and to have them return as presenting sponsor is a very welcome added marketing element for the growing event," said Larry Barnson, LVSC president. "Knickerbocker shares our dream of building the future through high-quality amateur sports."    Knickerbocker was founded by noted business leader Finn M. W. Caspersen, who serves as chairman of the firm. The former CEO of Beneficial Corporation, Caspersen, 60, is also a national leader in education, an active conservationist, a longtime equestrian sportsman and a staunch supporter of Olympic-style wrestling. A trustee emeritus of Brown University, he is also chairman of the board of The Peddie School, and a member of various Harvard University committees, including chairman of the Harvard Law School Dean's Advisory Board. He has also served as a trustee of the New Jersey Independent College Fund and the New Jersey State Board of Higher Education.     In Las Vegas, America's finest wrestlers will be starting the road to the World Championship. National Championships will be decided in the seven international weight categories for senior men competitors along with the seven for women.      Las Vegas has hosted and the LVSC and USA Wrestling have worked together to hold 12 previous Nationals in the Southern Nevada area, including the past three years.    This year's tournament will be held in the spacious new Hall S-3 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.    For 17 years, the LVSC, a non-profit organization benefitting the youth of Las Vegas, has been producing special events in the Las Vegas area. Other major wrestling events produced by the LVSC include the 1997 USA Wrestling Freestyle World Team Trials, the 1998 NAIA National Wrestling Championships and the 1998 Junior World Freestyle Wrestling Championships. In July of 1999, the LVSC presented the U.S. Taekwondo Junior Olympics with over 5,000 participants. Area youth have received nearly $250,000 in event proceeds.    Advance VIP, Preferred and General Admission All-Event tickets are on sale through the LVSC ticket office at 702.838-4091. With admission for all four days, VIP All-Event packages are $150 each, Preferred All-Event tickets are $65 each and General Admission All-Event tickets are on sale for $45 for adults and $20 for students (6 to 17 years old).      Preferred and General Admission daily tickets will be available at the door only. Preferred daily tickets will be $35 while General Admission daily tickets will be $25 for adults and $15 for students.     Tickets to the finals only (to be held on Saturday, April 27) will be available on the day of the event at the door. Preferred will be $25 each while General Admission tickets for the finals (6 p.m., Saturday, April 27)will be $20 for adults and $10 for students.    Additional information is available from the LVSC offices at 702.361.5017 or on the organization's website at www.lvsports.org.