Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Olympic Team Trials Qualifiers for Wrestling coming to Laramie

<< Back to Articles
Amy Ufnowski (USAW)
03/23/2004


USA Wrestling will conduct a men's Regional Olympic Team Trials Qualifier at the War Memorial Field House in Laramie, Wyoming, March 26-27, and a men's and women's Regional Olympic Team Trials Qualifier at Battle Ground High School in Battle Ground, Wash., March 27-28.     Wyoming, Washington, and nearby Oregon residents can experience all of the excitement of Olympic competition right in their own community without having to travel to Athens, Greece.     Many potential Olympians will be participating in these regional tournaments, along with talented wrestlers from not only across the nation, but from the state and region as well participating.     They will be seeking to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling which will be held in Indianapolis, Ind. May 21-23. Others will use the event as a tune-up for the U.S. Nationals, April 8-10 in Las Vegas, Nev.     "We are anxious to have quality wrestling this weekend with many outstanding wrestlers participating," said Rocky Mountain Regional event director Tom Turchetta.     Since these qualifiers are open tournaments, a list of potential wrestlers cannot be compiled at this time. Wrestlers may wish to participate in any of the five qualifiers throughout the country.    Champions in each weight class in both Senior-level Greco-Roman and men's and women's freestyle will qualify for the Challenge Tournament at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis, May 20-23. There is no women's freestyle division at the Rocky Mountain Regional Olympic Qualifier.    "This is a pretty special tournament, with having an Olympic Trials Qualifier here for men and for the first time, women as well," said Northwest Regional Event Director Merle Crockett.    In Laramie, Greco-Roman preliminaries will begin 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 26. The preliminaries will begin at 3:00 p.m. and finals will end at approximately 7:30 p.m.    Men's freestyle preliminaries will begin at 10:30 a.m., Saturday March 27. Final rounds will begin at 2:30 p.m.    Junior Regional and Schoolboy/girl Championships will also be featured this weekend at the War Memorial Fieldhouse in Laramie. The Rocky Mountain Regionals has become a traditionally strong youth event.    Junior and schoolboy/girl Greco-Roman preliminaries begin at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 26. Final rounds will continue at 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Junior and Schoolboy/girl freestyle preliminaries begin at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 27. Final rounds will continue at 2:30 p.m.     Tickets are available at the door of the War Memorial Fieldhouse. Prices are as follows:  All Sessions Friday - Adult $10, Child $5  All Sessions Saturday - Adult $10, Child $5    In Battle Ground, men's and women's Senior freestyle preliminaries will begin 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 27, and will go to completion.     Men's Senior Greco-Roman preliminaries will begin at 9:00 a.m., Sunday, March 28, and will last until completion.    Along with the men's and women's senior qualifiers will be the Tom Shaw Memorial Northwest Regional Championships for Juniors and Cadets.     Cadet and Junior freestyle preliminaries through completion will begin on Saturday, March 27 at 9:30 a.m. Cadet and Junior Greco-Roman preliminaries through completion will begin on Sunday, March 28, at 9:00 a.m.      "The younger kids will be excited to be wrestling on the same mats on the same day as the wrestlers they look up to," said Crockett.    Tickets are available at the door of Battle Ground High School. Prices are as follows:  $5 per day for all sessions each day   All proceeds will go to Battle Ground High School and the Southwest Washington Wrestling Club.      Additional men's regionals will be taking place in the following cities: St. Joseph, Minn. (March 12-14), Brockport, N.Y. (April 16-18), and Kenner, La. (April 22-24).      Women's freestyle regionals will take place in two other cities: Brockport, N.Y. (April 16-18), and Kenner, La (April 22-24).      For complete event information, including a complete session schedule and ticket prices, please contact Tom Turchetta, Rocky Mountain Regional Event Director, at (307) 766-4092 or Merle Crockett, Northwest Regional Event Director, via email at mcrockett@clarkpud.com or visit www.themat.com.   __________________________________________________________      The U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling are May 21-23 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Tickets and hotel accommodations are available. Visit www.trials2004.com for more information.