Paulson, Wilson to have halftime exhibition at the Augsburg/ND State dual on Jan. 27

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Amy Ufnowski (USA Wrestling)
01/23/2004


   On Tuesday, January 27, at 7:00 p.m., No. 1 ranked in Division II, North Dakota State, will wrestle No 2. ranked in Division III, Augsburg, in a dual meet at Augsburg in Minneapolis, Minn.     This dual meet will also feature an exhibition match between U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler, Brandon Paulson, and U.S. freestyle wrestler, Jesus Wilson.    Paulson is currently ranked No. 1 in his weight class at 55 kg/121 lbs. in Greco-Roman, while Wilson has been ranked as high as second in his weight class at 60 kg/132 lbs. in 2002.      Both wrestlers are familiar faces in Minnesota, Paulson grew up in Anoka and currently lives in Coon Rapids. Wilson is a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Cuba. Both are members of the Minnesota Storm wrestling club.    Paulson was a 1996 Olympic silver medalist and a 2001 World silver medalist. Wilson was fifth in the 1993 World Championships for Cuba.     The exhibition match will take place after five bouts, during halftime of the meet. It will be a two period match with three minutes in each period. This match will feature three minutes of Greco-Roman followed by three minutes of freestyle wrestling.     Guest coaches for both wrestlers include Dan Chandler and Alan Rice for Paulson, and Gordy Morgan for Wilson.     Chandler works for Minnesota USA Wrestling and is a past Olympic coach. He was also a member of the Greco-Roman Olympic Team  in 1976, 1980, and 1984.    Morgan is a state freestyle coach in Minnesota, a 1996 Olympian, and also the brother of Marty Morgan, Paulson's assistant wrestling coach while he was at the University of MInnesota.     Alan Rice was the 1972 Olympic Greco-Roman coach, and a leader in the development of Greco-Roman wrestling in the United States.    This will be the 10th overall meeting between these two programs with Augsburg leading the series, 5-4.     "It is a great rivalry between our two programs with nine of our ten wrestlers being from Minnesota, and six of North Dakota State's 10 wrestlers also being from Minnesota." said Augsburg assistant coach, Sam Barber.      With many of the Augsburg wrestlers volunteering at the Minneapolis Park board by refeering youth wrestling three night per week, wrestling has an important presence in the community surrounding Augsburg and in the state of MInnesota.     A large crowd is expected. Over 150 youth wrestlers from Minneapolis Park Board, and many area high school wrestling teams will be in attendance. Tickets prices are $6 for adults, $3 for students, and $2 per person team special for teams of 10 or more.     "Not only is the rivalry great between these two programs to draw a crowd, but by having Paulson and Wilson wrestling in an exhibition match, it is a great way to promote both styles of wrestling, Greco-Roman and freestyle, and in general Olympic wrestling," said Barber.      For more information on this dual meet please visit www.themat.com or www.augsburg.edu.