Greco-Roman team to compete at the Germany Grand Prix July 19-20

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John Fuller (USA Wrestling)
07/11/2003


The United States will be represented by eight Greco-Roman wrestlers this year at the Germany Grand Prix in Dortmund, Germany, July 19-20.    The U.S. squad will be led by 2003 U.S. National Team members Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Darryl Christian (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.    Both Durlacher and Ruiz lost in the best-of-three championship series at the 2003 U.S. World Team Trials in June to earn the No. 2 national ranking at their weight class. Durlacher placed eighth at the Germany Grand Prix in 1996.    Christian recently captured a silver medal at the Pan American Championships. Ruiz is a two-time Junior World Team member and has placed second at the U.S. World Team Trials the past two years.    At 60 kg/132 lbs., Joe Warren (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) will also compete. Warren has extensive international experience and placed fourth at this year's U.S. World Team Trials.    Two wrestlers will compete at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.: Corey Posey (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) and Mark Rial (Colorado Springs, Colo./Unattached). Both wrestlers are members of the Greco-Roman Resident Program at the U.S. Olympic Training Center and have shown recent improvement.    Joining Christian at 74 kg/163 lbs. will be Sunkist Kids International Open champion Brandon McNab (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC).    Rounding out the squad will be Philip Johnston (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Air Force) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Johnston placed sixth at the U.S. World Team Trials and was second at the U.S. National Championships.    The team will be coached by USA Wrestling Greco-Roman Resident Coach Anatoly Petrosyan and USA Wrestling Assistant National Greco-Roman Coach Momir Petkovic.    Grand Prix of Germany  at Dortmund, Germany, July 19-20  U.S. Roster  55 kg/121 lbs. - Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Warren, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Corey Posey, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC); Mark Rial, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Unattached)  74 kg/163 lbs. - Darryl Christian, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC); Brandon McNab, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Philip Johnston, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force); Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC)  Coaches: Anatoly Petrosyan (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Momir Petkovic (Colorado Springs, Colo.)