2003 University Nationals and FILA Cadet Nationals set for April 24-26 in Palatine, Ill.

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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
04/23/2003


The 2003 University National Championships and FILA Cadet Nationals are set for the Wellness and Sports Hall at Harper College in Palatine, Ill., April 24-26, 2003. The event was moved this year from Evanston, Ill. after a scheduling conflict arose with Welsh-Ryan Arena.    Many of the top young wrestlers in the nation on the youth and college levels are expected to compete.    The men's division of the University Nationals will feature the top 18-24 year old athletes in the nation, whose class has graduated high school. These participants will be competing in the Olympic styles of freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. Many of the athletes on the University level are also accomplished competitors on the Senior level.    The competition will feature the seven Olympic weight classes at the Senior level plus 55 kg/110 lbs.    Greco-Roman champions who are eligible to return include Tim Morris of Massachusetts, Joe Espinoza of California, Nathan Piasecki of Wisconsin, Pat Cadwallader of California, Jordan Holm of Minnesota and Andy Bowlby of Oregon.    Freestyle champions back are Sal Gonzalez of California, Kyle Ott of Ohio, Chris Fleeger of Pennsylvania, John Giacche of Illinois, Damion Hahn of New Jersey, Jon Trenge of Pennsylvania and Bowlby.    University Greco-Roman champions, with the exception of 50 kg/110 lbs., will automatically qualify for the 2003 U.S. World Team Trials in Indianapolis, Ind., June 20-22, 2003.    The champions for all of the University divisions in both styles will qualify to compete in the 2003 Olympic Hopes competition to be held in Budapest, Hungary, August 1-3, 2003.    The top 15-17 year-old male wrestlers in the nation will compete in freestyle and Greco-Roman at the FILA Cadet Nationals. This is a qualifying event for a partially subsidized international tour.     Weight classes being competed at the FILA Cadet level will be the seven Olympic weight classes plus 42 kg/92.5 lbs., 46 kg/101.25 lbs. and 50 kg/110 lbs.    The returning FILA Cadet champions in Greco-Roman include Henry Cejudo of Arizona, Nick Gallick of Arizona, Tanner Gardner of Kansas, Travis Lang of North Dakota, Angel Cejudo of Arizona, Brent Metcalf of Michigan, Nick Hayes of Iowa, De'Andre Nunn of Illinois, Jared Boyer of Oklahoma and Grant Miller of Illinois.    Returning freestyle champions are Franklin Gomez of Puerto Rico, Gallick, Cesar Grajales of Florida, Angel Escobedo of Indiana, Angel Cejudo, Eric Tannenbaum of Illinois, Hayes, Jeremy Pederson of Minnesota, Jake Kallestad of Montana and Matt Fields of Iowa.    The men's Greco-Roman competition will begin on Thursday, April 24, with sessions at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. and the concluding session beginning at 7:00 p.m.    The men's freestyle competition will begin on Friday, April 25, with one session at 1:00 p.m. and continue on Saturday, April 26, with sessions beginning at 9:00 a.m.    For more information, contact Event Director Tony Ersland of Northwestern University at 847-491-4637.