U.S. team named for the Freestyle World Dual against Germany, at the University of Northern Colorado
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Jaimie McNab (USA Wrestling)
04/02/2002
The U.S. team has been named for the USA vs. Germany Freestyle World Dual, set for the Univ. of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo., on Tuesday April 9, starting at 7:30 p.m. The team will feature a number of U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athletes who live and train in Colorado Springs, as well as a number of nationally-ranked wrestlers. Leading the U.S. team will be 2000 Olympian Cary Kolat (Lock Haven, Pa./Dave Schultz WC), who will battle either Engin Urun and Sergei Kowalenko at 145.5 pounds. Kolat was ninth in the 2000 Olympic Games, and placed second in the 1997 World Championships and third in the 1998 World Championships. He is also a three-time World Cup champion. One of the top battles should be at 163 pounds, where 2001 U.S. Nationals champion Ramico Blackmon (Colorado Springs, Colo./Team Excel) will face Alexander Leipold, who has won five World Championships medals and competed in three Olympic Games. Blackmon is one of five U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) Resident Athletes who will compete on the U.S. team. Three of these resident athletes compete for the U.S. Army team, based at Fort Carson. They include Jeff Bedard at 132 pounds, Eric Albarracin at 121 pounds and Bobby Lashley at 211.5 pounds. Bedard will face the up-and-coming Daniel Wild in what is sure to be a thrilling match. Albarracin will grapple with either Jurgen Schlegel or Vasilij Zeiher, who are both veteran wrestlers for Germany with abundant international experience. Lashley's opponent will be Juri Schmatow who was a 2001 German National champion. The other Resident Athlete on the U.S. team is Brian Keck who wrestles for the New York AC. Keck has a successful career in the both styles of wrestling including a bronze medal at the 2001 U.S. Nationals in Greco-Roman. Keck qualified for the 2000 Olympic Trials in both styles. He will grapple with Sven Thiele who is a two-time Olympic Games participant. Local stars T.J. Deaguero and Simon Hoepfner, both Univ. of Northern Colorado wrestling team members, are scheduled to compete at 185 pounds and 145.5 pounds respectively. Deaguero is a three-time NCAA Div. II All-American and will probably face off against Andre Backhaus. Hoepfner, a national qualifier this year, will meet either Engin Urun or Sergei Kowalenko. Both are expected to attract hometown support at the event. World Dual meets are among the most popular events hosted by USA Wrestling. The USA faces a top international team in a dual meet format. This event provides fans an opportunity to cheer for Team USA and witness top international Olympic wrestling. A special youth wrestling clinic, featuring USA Wrestling National Freestyle Resident Coach Lincoln McIlravy, will be held prior to the dual meet at 6:30 p.m. All ticketholders will be permitted to attend the wrestling clinic for free. McIlravy was a 2000 Olympic bronze medalist, a two-time World medalist and a three-time NCAA champion for the Univ. of Iowa. Tickets will cost $8 for adults and $5 for students, if purchased in advance. Tickets sold at the door will cost $10 for adults and $7 for students. You can purchase tickets in advance at the following locations: UNC Wrestling Office at 208 Butler-Hancock Hall, The Dugout Sports Bar located at 2509 11th Ave., Superior Autos/Grapplers Ink at 3601 11th Ave., Barleycorn's Sports Bar at 2385 W. 27th St., Gojo's Sports at 2638 11th Ave. or Garretson's Sports Center at 3817 W. 10th St. For more information on this thrilling Freestyle World Dual meet, contact George Thompson or Jack Maughan at (970) 351-1815. USA WORLD DUAL TEAM at Greeley, Colo., April 9 55 kg/121 lbs. - Eric Albarracin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) 60 kg/132 lbs. - Jeff Bedard, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) 66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa. (Dave Schultz WC) 66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Simon Hoepfner, Loveland, Colo. (UNC Bears Wrestling Team) 74 kg/163 lbs. - Ramico Blackmon, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Team Excel) 84 kg/185 lbs. - T.J. Deaguero, Commerce City, Colo. (UNC Bears Wrestling Team) 96 kg/211.5 lbs.- Bobby Lashley, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) 120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Brian Keck, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC)