Men’s Freestyle Wrestlers To Compete In Oleg Naniev Championship in Russia, July 20-22
<< Back to Articles
John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
07/12/2002
USA Wrestling will send a men's freestyle team to compete in the Oleg Naniev Championship to be held in Vladikavkas, Russia, July 20-22. The tournament will feature some of the top freestyle wrestlers in the world. "This is a World Class event. It's comparable in depth and toughness to any event we have competed in this year," stated Kevin Jackson, USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach. "With the World Team Trials getting over and the athletes still in top condition, it is a good way for them to continue on at a high level. They will gain some valuable experience and we expect them to come home with some medals." Coaching the team will be Joe Seay of Perry, Okla. and Steven Barrett of Moscow, Russia. Seay coached the USA to its first-ever Senior World Freestyle Championship in 1993 and repeated two years later, also leading a Pan American Games victory in 1995. At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga., Seay's wrestlers won the medal count. "We had to send a veteran coach with that team because the majority of the guys wrestling are veterans," Jackson said. "With Joe Seay's experience on the international scene, it's big because it makes them a little more comfortable with their surroundings and they know what to expect going into the competition." "Steve Barrett is also kind of an unsung hero as well. He has a knowledge of the Russian language, which should make everything easier for the team from travel to communication," Jackson added. The tournament is named after Oleg Naniev, who won the 1986 Junior World Championship at 130 kg while wrestling for the former Soviet Union. He was a two-time European Championship runner-up on the Senior level (1982 and 1991) and captured the European Championship in 1983. Naniev also captured three European Championship titles (1983, 1987 and 1988). The nine-man U.S. Team will arrive in Moscow on July 18 to begin preparation for the tournament. Among the team members are three athletes who placed second at the 2002 World Team Trials and are now ranked No. 2 in the nation: Jesus Wilson (Fayette, Iowa/Minn. Storm), Lee Fullhart (Chattanooga, Tenn./Gator WC) and Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio/Dave Schultz WC). Joining them will be two members of the 2002 U.S. Freestyle National Team: Charles Burton (Bloomington, Ind./New York AC) and Brian Keck (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC). U.S. Competitors at Oleg Naniev Championship 60 kg - Jesus Wilson, Fayette, Iowa (Minn. Storm) 60 kg - C.C. Fisher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Team Excel) 66 kg - Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) 74 kg - Ron Groves, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Team Excel) 84 kg - Charles Burton, Bloomington, Ind. (New York AC) 84 kg - Lee Fullhart, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Gator WC) 84 kg - Markus Mollica, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC) 120 kg - Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Dave Schultz WC) 120 kg - Brian Keck, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) Coaches: Joe Seay, Steven Barrett