2003 Dave Schultz Memorial International Wrestling Tournament to feature most elite field of athlete
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Janessa Pierce (USA Wrestling)
01/23/2003
Coverage Sponsored By   The fifth annual Dave Schultz Memorial International Tournament will bring elite wrestlers from nearly 20 countries to the mats in Colorado Springs, Colo., February 8-9. This tournament will be hosted at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Sports Center 1 and will feature top senior-level athletes in men's freestyle, men's Greco-Roman, and women's freestyle wrestling. Countries expected to compete in men's freestyle wrestling are: the United States, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, India, Japan, Mongolia, Russia, Switzerland, and Tajikistan. Greco-Roman teams include the United States, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Egypt, France, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Sweden. In the women's freestyle division, teams from the United States, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, France, India, Mongolia, Sweden, and Austria are expected to compete. The competition will be fierce as a number of Olympic medalists and World Champions appear on the preliminary rosters. This field of athletes includes the following star international competitors: Men's Freestyle 84 kg/185 lbs. Yoel Romero of Cuba (1999 World Champion) 84 kg/185 lbs. Khadshimurad Magomedov of Russia (1996 Olympic Champion and 2001 World Champion) 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Alexis Rodriguez of Cuba (1998 World Champion and 2000 Olympic bronze medalist) Greco-Roman 55 kg/ 121 lbs. Lazaro Rivas of Cuba (1999 World Champion and 2000 Olympic silver medalist) 60 kg/132 lbs. Dilshod Aripov of Uzbekistan (2001 World Champion) 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Jimmy Samuelsson of Sweden (2002 World Champion) 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Juan Maren of Cuba (1996 and 2000 Olympic silver medalist and 1992 Olympic bronze medalist) 74 kg/163 lbs. Katsuhiko Nagata of Japan (2000 Olympic silver medalist) 84 kg/185 lbs. Luis Mendez of Cuba (1999 World Champion) Women's Freestyle 55 kg/121 lbs. Seiko Yamamoto of Japan (1999, 2000, and 2001 World Champion) 63 kg/138.5 lbs. Sara Eriksson of Sweden (1995 and 1996 World Champion) This is an open tournament, therefore U.S. wrestlers do not have to pre-register. Many of America's top athletes in all three styles are expected to compete. "USA Wrestling is honored to host this event in memory of wrestling legend Dave Schultz. The athletes attending the tournament include some of the world's best wrestlers and will undoubtedly bring a very high level of competition to the event," said USA Wrestling Director of National Events Pete Isais. USA Wrestling and the Dave Schultz Wrestling Foundation have worked together to create the Dave Schultz Memorial International. The event honors the memory and achievements of Olympic Champion Dave Schultz, who was tragically killed in 1996. The Dave Schultz Memorial International Wrestling Tournament is proudly sponsored by Front Range Orthopaedics, Barry F. Boals' Remax Real Estate Group, Guide Travel, and Anheuser Busch. Men's freestyle, Greco-Roman and women's freestyle preliminaries will begin Saturday, February 8 at 9:00 a.m. All three styles will continue on Sunday, February 9 starting at 10:00 a.m. with semifinals. Third place matches will start at 12:00 p.m. with the finals starting at 3:30 p.m. (This schedule is subject to change.) Tickets are available at the door. Prices are as follows: Adult all-session ticket - $15 Adult Saturday and Sunday - $8 each (or $4 per session) High school students with I.D. and senior citizens 62+ - $5 per day (or $4 per session) Youth - $2 per day Coaches FREE with five paid wrestlers For more information on the Dave Schultz Memorial International Wrestling Tournament, contact USA Wrestling at 719-598-8181 or visit TheMat.com