Top U.S. stars Gardner, McCoy to give free wrestling clinics in California, Saturday, Nov. 15

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
11/10/2003


America's two best super heavyweight wrestling stars, Olympic champion Rulon Gardner and World silver medalist Kerry McCoy, will give free wrestling clinics to USA Wrestling members on Saturday, Nov. 15 in two locations in California.    The clinics are organized by California USA Wrestling, and each participant will also receive a free t-shirt. It is a tremendous way for athletes and coaches of all ages to kick off the new wrestling season. All you need is a current USA Wrestling membership card; those without a new card can buy one at each site.    The first clinic, hosted by the Inland Empire Wrestling Association, will be held at Ontario High School in Ontario, Calif., on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. At this clinic, Rulon Gardner will be the clinician for those who attend.    Ontario High School is located at 801 West Francis St., Ontario, CA 91761. For more information on this clinic, contact Lyndon Campbell at 909-695-7300, ext. 3330.    The second clinic, hosted by the Southern  California Wrestling Association, will be held at Northview High School in West Covina, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 15 from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. At this clinic, both Gardner and McCoy will serve as clinicians.    Northview High School is located at 1016 West Cypress, West Covina, CA 91722. For more information on this clinic, contact Ed Mosley at 310-817-1386.    California USA Wrestling is the largest state association in the United States, and provides tremendous programs and events for the wrestling community in California. For more information, visit http://www.ca-usaw.org or call Membership Chairman Rob Valerio at 559-275-9478.    Gardner made history at the 2000 Olympic Games when he defeated three-time Olympic Champion and previously unbeaten Alexander Kareline of Russia in the Greco-Roman gold medal finals. Gardner received all the major sports awards for his victory, including the James E. Sullivan Award, the USOC SportsMan of the Year and the ESPY award.     The next year, Gardner won a gold medal at the 2001 Greco-Roman World Championships, becoming the first U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler to win two career World-level golds. In 2002, Gardner was severely injured in a snowmobile accident in the mountains, suffering from severe frostbite and losing a toe. He not only recovered but one year later, became No. 1 in the USA again at his weight class, making the 2003 U.S. World Team.    Gardner has won a World Cup gold medal, and a Pan American Championships gold medal. He was a NCAA All-American for the Univ. of Nebraska, and won a NJCAA Junior College for Ricks College. He was a high school state champion from Afton, Wyo.    McCoy won a silver medal at the 2003 World Championships of Freestyle Wrestling, held in his home state of New York. He was a member of the 2000 U.S. Olympic team in freestyle, placing fifth. McCoy also placed fourth in the 1998 and 2001 World Championships. He was a gold-medal winner at the 2003 Pan American Games. McCoy also won four straight World Cup titles from 1998-2002. He was second in the 1998 Goodwill Games.    He competed at Penn State Univ., where he was a two-time NCAA Div. I champion. He was a Junior World Champion while in high school, and was a high school state champion from Longwood, N.Y.