World Select team named for World Cup Championships; Boise State NCAA champ White added to roster
<< Back to Articles
Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
04/04/2003
USA Wrestling has announced the lineup for the World Select Team, that has been added to the field for the 2003 World Cup Wrestling Championshis in Boise, Idaho, April 5-6. A team featuring world-class athletes from the United States, Germany and Russia has been assembled and will participate in four dual meets as part of the competition. The World Select Team was created when Cuba notified event organizers that it could not attend due to travel challenges. Among those named to the team is Kirk White at 163 pounds, a star wrestler from Boise State Univ., who became the school's first NCAA Div. I champion in 1999. White is a top hopeful for the 2004 Olympic team, ranked No. 5 in the USA at his weight class. He placed second in the 2003 Pan American Championships, and was a 2002 Clansman International champion. Charles Burton, a member of the 2000 Olympic team and a former Boise State All-American, is on the World Select Team roster at 185 pounds. Burton placed fifth at the 2000 Olympic Games and is training for the 2004 Olympics. He is ranked No. 3 in the USA at this time. Two other athletes from the current Boise State team will also participate on the World Select Team, Ben Vombaur at 121 pounds and Boe Rushton at 264.5 pounds. Both were NCAA All-Americans this year for Boise State. Rushton will also compete in a Challenge Greco-Roman bout against 2000 Olympic champion Rulon Gardner on Saturday night. Other Americans on the World Select Team roster are Teague Moore at 121 pounds, Jesus Wilson at 132 pounds and Corey Farkas at 264.5 pounds. All three are ranked No. 2 in the United States in their weight classes, with Moore and Wilson in freestyle and Farkas in Greco-Roman. Farkas, of the U.S. Air Force, will be competing at the 2003 Armed Forces Championships, set for Mountain Home, AFB in Idaho next week. Wilson was fifth in the 1993 World Championships, competing for his native Cuba, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen two years ago. The athletes from other nations on the World Select roster include Mario Koch of Germany at 132 pounds, Sergei Kowalenko of Germany at 145.5 pounds, Khadjimurad Magomedov of Russia at 185 pounds, David Bichinashvili of Germany at 185 pounds and Oleg Kallagov of Russia at 211.25 pounds. Magomedov was a 1996 Olympic Champion and 2001 World Champion at his weight class. WORLD SELECT TEAM ROSTER 55 kg/121 lbs. - Teague Moore (USA), Ben Vombaur (USA) 60 kg/132 lbs. - Jesus Wilson (USA), Mario Koch (Germany) 66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Bill Zadick (USA), Sergej Kowalenko (Germany) 74 kg/163 lbs. - Kirk White (USA) 84 kg/185 lbs. - Charles Burton (USA), Khadshimurad Magomedov (Russia), David Bichinashvili (Germany) 96 kg/211.25 lbs. - Oleg Kallagov (Russia) 120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Boe Rushton (USA), Corey Farkas (USA) At least six past Olympic Champions to be recognized at World Cup; Gable, Smith, Gardner, Cross, Brands and Jackson in Boise for event The World Cup Wrestling Championships will recognize at least six past Olympic wrestling champions from the United States, who are in Boise to attend the World Cup Wrestling Championships at the Bank of America Centre, April 5-6. The Olympic Champions will be introduced during Opening Ceremonies on Saturday night. They include: Dan Gable, 1972 Olympic freestyle champion John Smith, 1992 and 1996 Olympic freestyle champion Rulon Gardner, 2000 Olympic Greco-Roman champion Kendall Cross, 1996 Olympic freestyle champion Tom Brands, 1996 Olympic freestyle champion Kevin Jackson, 1992 Olympic freestyle champion Gable is serving as head coach for the U.S. World Cup team. Jackson is USA Wrestling's National Freestyle Coach and is a member of the U.S. coaching staff. Brands is also expected to assist with coaching the U.S. athletes. Gardner is the chef de mission for the U.S. team, and will light the Olympic Cauldron as part of the Opening Ceremonies. He will also compete in a challenge match against Boise State's Boe Rushton during the Saturday evening session. Smith and Cross, former stars at Oklahoma State, will also be on hand to participate in the many activities that are a part of World Cup weekend in Boise.