Olympians Simons and Lee plus Greco-Roman star Martin are featured guests at upcoming Virginia Chall

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
05/06/2002


The Virginia Challenge and USA Wrestling, the national governing body for wrestling, announced that former Olympians E. Gray Simons and Buddy Lee, along with current nationally ranked Greco-Roman wrestler Duaine Martin, will be featured guests at the event.     The second year event will be held May 17-19 in Norfolk Scope in downtown Norfolk, Va. to be wrestled on 10 mats.    "We're very excited to have three wrestlers of this caliber coming to this event," said Virginia Challenge executive director Frank Lipoli.     Simons won't have to travel far, as he is the head wrestling coach at Old Dominion University, just minutes from Scope.  A two-time Olympian, Simons is regarded as one of the best light-weights in the history of the sport.  A seven-time NAIA champion and three time NCAA champion at Lock Haven, Simons had been the head coach of the Monarchs program for the last 15 seasons.     Lee will return to Norfolk as he was a three-time male athlete of the year while he attended Old Dominion, where he was an All-American.  A 1992 Greco-Roman Olympian, he's currently the President of Jump Rope Technology.    Martin is coming off a very successful U.S. Nationals, where he placed third at 121 pounds in Greco-Roman.  Martin is also ranked third in the country by USA Wrestling. A former All-American at the University of Northern Iowa, Martin has been one of the most successful U.S. Marine Corps wrestlers.  Martin is based out of Quantico, Va.     "These three wrestling greats will definitely add to the already building image of the tournament.  During the weekend, there will be lots to do and see, not just wrestling.  There is a free concert Friday night at nearby Town Point Park, and the Stocklee Gardens Art Festival will take place just a mile from Scope.  Not to mention that there are free tours of the USS battleship Wisconsin," Lipoli said.    Virginia USA Wrestling also announced that the sites for the age-group junior freestyle and Greco-Roman championships would be in Norfolk the same weekend.  The Greco will take to the mats on Friday night at historic Granby High School, while Saturday, in Scope, the junior freestyle will run alongside the middle school event.     "I can't stress this enough about how happy we are. Wrestling will be taking over Norfolk Scope, a building with a lot of sports history," Lipoli said.    The Middle School National Open will attract athletes from across the country which will compete in two divisions, a 5th-6th grade and 7th 8th grade. Athletes in the 5th and 6th grades have a maximun age of 13 years and athletes in the 7th and 8th grades have a maximum of 15 years of age.     The weight classes are as follows for these two divisions:     5th & 6th grade 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 112, 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, Hwt  7th & 8th grade 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 112, 119, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 152, 160, 171, 189, Hwt. The event is limited to the first 1000 entrants.    This National level folkstyle event will be conducted under a double elimination format with the championship rounds being 2-1-1 in length and the consolation rounds being 1-1-1 in length.    The top eight place winners in each weight class will be awarded attractive national championships plaques. In addition, there will be Outstanding Wrestlers selected in the lower and upper weight classes of each division, Fastest Pin awards and Most Falls in the Least Amount of Time awards. Team scores will also be kept for those groups entering the team competition, with awards to be given to the top five teams in each age group category.    It is expected that all three featured guests will also attending the Junior state tournaments.    Information on the event can be found at www.virginiachallenge.org.  Email Tournament Directors Don Robertson wrestlindon@aol.com or Frank Lipoli flipoli@aol.com or 757-436-3422.