Tickets now on sale for 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Wrestling set for Indianapolis, Ind., May 21

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Jeff Weitekamp (Indiana Sports Corporation)
11/03/2003


INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., - Tickets for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling are on sale now through Ticketmaster. The 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling will take place May 21-23 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. This should be the top wrestling event of the entire year!!!    Two All-Session ticket packages are available. The first is the Gold Medal Club All-Session ticket package for $150, which features reserved seating, access to the Gold Medal Club Lounge, a souvenir program, a commemorative gift, autograph signings with former Olympic athletes and free parking. The Silver Level All-Session ticket package is $80 in general admission seating.    Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, charge-by-phone ((317) 239-5151 in Central Indiana) or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Order forms are also available at the event's official Web site, www.trials2004.com.    Two All-Session ticket packages are available. The first is the Gold Medal Club All-Session ticket package for $150, which features reserved seating, access to the Gold Medal Club Lounge, a souvenir program, a commemorative gift, autograph signings with former Olympic athletes and free parking. The Silver Level All-Session ticket package is $80 in general admission seating.    The field will be loaded with superstars, such as Olympic champion Rulon Gardner, World champions Dremiel Byers, Kristie Marano and Melvin Douglas and Olympic medalist Brandon Paulson. Certain to make their presence felt are World silver medalists Cael Sanderson, Tina George, Patricia Miranda, Kerry McCoy, Sara McMann and Toccara Montgomery. Other top talents will include Olympians Jim Gruenwald and Kevin Bracken, plus World Team members Stephen Abas, Brad Vering, Jenny Wong, Joe Williams, Sally Roberts, T.C. Dantzler and many other top wrestlers.    With women's wrestling in the Olympics for the first time, with four weight classes up for grabs, America's top women athletes look to become the first women wrestlers to earn spots on the U.S. Olympic Team at the RCA Dome.    Many young stars will also be seeking to make their first U.S. team, such as Steve Mocco, Doug Schwab, Lindsey Durlacher, Justin Ruiz and more.     For hotel reservations, fans should contact the Wrestling Housing Bureau at 1-800-556-INDY (4639) or housing@indianapolis.org, or visit www.trials2004.com on the Internet to reserve hotel rooms.     In addition, those fans who purchase tickets in November are eligible to win the "World Team Prize Pack" via a drawing at the end of the month. The World Team Prize Pack includes a wrestling-themed banner autographed by Rulon Gardner, Cael Sanderson, Joe Williams, Kerry McCoy, Garrett Lowney, Tina George, Katie Downing, Toccara Montgomery and others.    The U.S. Olympic Team Trials competition format features a two-day challenge tournament and a championship finals series. The challenge tournament in all three styles will take place Friday, May 21, and Saturday, May 22. This will include all of the competitors except the 2004 national champions who will automatically be in the finals. The 2004 national championships will be in Las Vegas April 9-10.    Sunday, May 23, will be the championship finals in each weight class, featuring the national champion against the challenge tournament winner in a best-of-three series.    There will be seven weight classes in Greco-Roman and men's freestyle. The four women's freestyle weight classes contested will be 48 kg./105.5 lbs., 55 kg./121 lbs., 63 kg./138.5 lbs. and 72 kg./158.5 kg. Only the champions in each weight class will be on the U.S. Olympic Team and compete at the Olympic Games August 22-29, 2004, in Athens, Greece.    The RCA Dome - home of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, the 1991, 1997, 2000, 2006 and 2010 NCAA Men's Final Four, 2005 NCAA Women's Final Four and the 1991 World Gymnastics Championships - will be the site. It will be the first time an elite-level wrestling event will be staged in a domed stadium. USA Wrestling and Indiana Sports Corporation are organizing the event.    2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling Quick Facts    When: May 21-23, 2004    Where: RCA Dome, Indianapolis    Who: The top eight finishers in each weight class from the U.S. National Championships in Las Vegas April 9-10, 2004, qualify for the event as well as champions from five Olympic Trials Regional events. Competitors include a mix of champions and upcoming superstars.     Athletes expected to compete in Indianapolis include: Olympic champion Rulon Gardner; World champions Dremiel Byers, Kristie Marano and Melvin Douglas; Olympic medalist Brandon Paulson; World medalists Cael Sanderson, Tina George, Patricia Miranda, Kerry McCoy, Sara McMann, Joe Williams, Toccara Montgomery, Jenny Wong and Sally Roberts and many other top wrestlers.    Tournament Schedule:  Day - Date - Session Time - Competition    Day 1 - Friday, May 21 - 10 a.m.-2 p.m. - Challenge Tournament Preliminaries and Consolation Rounds    Day 1 - Friday, May 21 - 5-9 p.m. - Challenge Tournament Quarterfinals and Consolation Rounds    Day 2 - Saturday, May 22 - 10 a.m.-2 p.m. - Challenge Tournament Semifinals and Consolation Rounds    Day 2 - Saturday, May 22 - 5-9 p.m. - Challenge Tournament Finals and Consolation Rounds    Day 3 - Sunday, May 23 - 10 a.m.-12 noon - Championship Finals Match #1    Day 3 - Sunday, May 23 - 3:30-5:30 p.m. - Championship Finals Match #2    Day 3 - Sunday, May 23 - 5:30-6:30 p.m. - Championship Finals Match #3 (if necessary)    Ticket Information: Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster. All-Session ticket prices are: Gold Medal Club - $150, Silver Level - $80. In central Indiana, call (317) 239-5151, or visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.trials2004.com over the Internet.    Hotel Reservations: Contact the Wrestling Housing Bureau at www.trials2004.com, 1-800-556-INDY (4639) or housing@indianapolis.org.