Larkin vs. Williams is the new “Bout of the Week” on USA Wrestling Members-Only website
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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
02/15/2004
USA Wrestling has updated its new "Bout of the Week" on USA Wrestling's Members-Only website. The featured match this week will be the Eric Larkin vs. T.J. Williams men's freestyle gold-medal finals match at the 2004 Dave Schultz Memorial International Open, held last weekend in Colorado Springs, Colo. This match occurred at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., and featured two of the young stars who are expected to make a major impact on the international scene this year and in the future. The bout showed some tremendous skills from both competitors, including Williams abilities from the feet and Larkin's mastery from the par terre position. Larkin was a four-time All-American for Arizona State Univ., climbing the ladder of success during his college career. His placements at the NCAA Tournament went from fourth to third to second to first. In his senior season, Larkin won the Dan Hodge Trophy as the nation's best college wrestler that season. Larkin's freestyle skills are already well known. While an underclassman in college, Larkin placed a strong third in the 2000 Olympic Trials. He has also excelled in major freestyle events, such as the Sunkist Kids International Open. He attended Sunnyside High School in Tucson, Ariz. Williams comes from a tremendous wrestling family, which included three brothers who won college national titles. His older brother Joe Williams is currently No. 1 in the U.S. at 74 kg/163 lbs. At the Univ. of Iowa, Williams was a two-time NCAA Champion, and also placed third at the NCAA Tournament. He has been testing himself on the national freestyle circuit within the last year. Williams was a star at Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago, Ill. This popular feature will be changed on a regular basis, allowing members to enjoy many of the greatest matches in wrestling history. Moving into the archived section of Bouts of the Week was last week's 1992 Rodney Smith vs. Cecilio Rodriguez men's Greco-Roman match. Many other entertaining and historic matches are in the archive section for the Bout of the Week. USA Wrestling has done a complete redesign and expansion of its Members-Only website, providing all USA Wrestling members with an impressive new resource stocked with interactive learning tools and entertaining features. This on-line resource is available free of charge only to current members of USA Wrestling, one of the most exciting benefits of joining the organization. USA Wrestling members will only need to enter the number from their 2003-04 membership card into an entry form, and the exciting new Members-Only page will become available to them. RECENT BOUTS OF THE WEEK PLACED IN ARCHIVE 1992 Rodney Smith vs. Cecilio Rodriguez men's Greco-Roman match. 1988 Rico Chiapparelli vs. Lukman Jabrailov men's freestyle match 2003 Kristie Marano vs. Ewelina Pruszko women's freestyle match 1999 Stephen Neal vs. Andrei Shumilin men's freestyle match 2003 Cael Sanderson vs. Sajid Sajidov men's freestyle match.