U.S. Greco-Roman World Team to Compete at Pytlasinski Tournament in Poland, Aug. 9-11
<< Back to Articles
(USA Wrestling)
07/19/2002
To kick off their preparation for the 2002 World Championships, the U.S. Greco-Roman World Team is traveling to Piotrkow Trybunalski, Poland to compete in the Pytlasinski Tournament August 9-11. The tournament features some very strong competitors and should be an excellent preview of what the U.S. team will face at the World Championships in Moscow, Russia September 18-22. "The Pytlasinski Tournament is an excellent preparation tournament for the World Championships," expressed Steve Fraser, U.S. Greco-Roman National Coach. "It will help us identify what last minute things we need to work on to be fully prepared for Moscow." Last year at this tournament, Kevin Bracken (Colorado Springs, Colo./NYAC) defeated two-time Olympic Champion Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria and won the 2001 Pytlasinski Tournament gold medal at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. 2000 Olympic Champion Rulon Gardner (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) also won the silver medal at 130 kg/286 lbs. last year. Bracken will return this year to defend his title, competing in the new 66 kg/145.5 lbs. division. In addition to Bracken, all seven weight classes will be represented in the tournament by the current top-ranked competitors in the United States. Among the U.S World Team members are 1996 Olympic silver medalist Brandon Paulson (Anoka, Minn./Minnesota Storm) and 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Garret Lowney (Appleton, Wis./Minnesota Storm). U.S. Wrestlers competing in the 2002 Pytlasinski Tournament include: 55 kg/121lbs. - Brandon Paulson, Anoka, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) 60 kg/132 lbs. - Jim Gruenwald, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) 66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Kevin Bracken, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC) 74 kg/163 lbs. - T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC) 74 kg/163 lbs. - Brandon McNab, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC) 84 kg/185 lbs. - Brad Vering, Waterloo, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) 96 kg/211.25 - Garrett Lowney, Appleton, Wis. (Minnesota Storm) 120 kg/264.5 - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) Coaches attending the event include: Andy Seras, Newtown, Conn. Shon Lewis, Fort Carson, Colo. Steve Fraser, Colorado Springs, Colo.