2003 Wrestling World Team Trials Tickets went on sale Saturday; USA's World Championship Team to be

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Jeff Weitekamp (Indiana Sports Corporation)
02/18/2003


Indianapolis - Tickets went on sale Saturday for one of amateur wrestling's most important domestic events.    USA Wrestling's World Team Trials come to Indianapolis for the first time June 20-22 at the Indiana Convention Center's Exhibit Halls F and G. The nation's best men's freestyle, men's Greco-Roman and women's freestyle wrestlers will compete to represent the U.S. in the 2003 World Championships and Pan American Games.     Many past world and Olympic medalists in all three styles are expected to compete, and the event also serves as a prelude to the 2004 U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials, which take place in Indianapolis next summer.    2000 Olympic champion and 2001 World champion Rulon Gardner; U.S. World Team member and undefeated Iowa State University star Cael Sanderson; 2001 World silver medalist and World Outstanding Athlete Toccara Montgomery; 2000 Olympian Kerry McCoy; 2002 World champion Dremiel Byers; 2000 World champion and five-time World medalist Kristie Marano; 1996 Olympic silver medalist Brandon Paulson; 2001 World bronze medalist Joe Williams; and 2002 World silver medalist Tina George are among the athletes expected to compete.    "USA Wrestling is pleased to bring the World Team Trials event to Indianapolis in 2003," said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling executive director. "Indianapolis is a proven leader in the organization of quality Olympic sports events, and the region is a hotbed for wrestling."    Tickets went on sale Saturday, Feb. 15 at 10 a.m. ET. All-Session and Single-Day tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge-by-phone (317-239-5151 in Central Indiana) or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Order forms also are available at Indiana Sports Corporation's Web site, www.indianasportscorp.com.    Indiana Sports Corporation (ISC), local host of the event, and the Local Organizing Committee have put to together several special tickets packages for wrestling fans of all ages. The Gold Level Club All-Session ticket package, which features reserved seating, access to the Club Lounge, a souvenir program and free parking, is $95. Silver and Bronze Level All-Session ticket packages are $55 and $45, respectively. Single-Day tickets are priced as low as $14.    For hotel reservations, fans should contact the Wrestling Housing Bureau at 1-800-556-INDY (4639) or housing@indianapolis.org, or visit www.indianasportscorp.com on the Internet to reserve hotel rooms.    This will be only the third time in USA Wrestling history that the World Team Trials for men's Freestyle, women's Freestyle and men's Greco-Roman will be staged together at one site.    The tournament format features a two-day challenge tournament and a championship finals series. The challenge tournament in all three styles takes place Friday, June 20 and Saturday, June 21. This includes all of the competitors, except for the 2002 national champions who are automatically in the finals.     Sunday, June 22 is the championship finals in each weight class, featuring the national champion facing the challenge tournament winner in a best-of-three series.    There are seven weight classes in each style. Only the champions in each weight class will qualify to represent the United States at the 2003 World Championships and the 2003 Pan American Games. The 2003 World Championships in Freestyle are in New York's Madison Square Garden Sept. 11-14. The Greco-Roman worlds are in Creteil, France, Oct 2-5. Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic hosts the 2003 Pan American Games in August.    The United States is among the top wrestling nations in the world. The U.S. won seven wrestling medals at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, including four medals in freestyle and three medals in Greco-Roman. The United States also captured seven medals at the 2001 World Championships, including three in Greco-Roman and two each in men's freestyle and women's freestyle.    The U.S. Olympic Team Wrestling Trials will be in May 2004 in Indianapolis.    ***    2003 USA Wrestling World Team Trials Quick Facts    When:  June 20-22, 2003    Where:  Indianapolis, Ind., Indiana Convention Center, Exhibit Halls F & G (Seating Capacity: 3,500)    Disciplines: Men's Freestyle, Men's Greco Roman, and Women's Freestyle    Who: Athletes expected to compete include:    - 2000 Olympic champion and 2001 World champion Rulon Gardner    - U.S. World Team member and undefeated Iowa State University star Cael Sanderson     - 2001 World silver medalist and World Outstanding Athlete Toccara Montgomery    - 2000 Olympian Kerry McCoy    - 2002 World champion Dremiel Byers    - 2000 World champion and six-time World medalist Kristie Marano