Cormier makes second Olympic Team, Byers gets his first chance with wins at U.S. Olympic Team Trials
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
06/15/2008

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) made his second straight Olympic team, defeating Damion Hahn (Ithaca, N.Y./New York AC) in two straight matches at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Thomas & Mack Center on Sunday.

Cormier placed fourth in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. He won a World bronze medal in 2007. It was his sixth straight year claiming the U.S. team spot at his weight class.

“I’m just going to train hard. It’s my second Olympic Games. I don’t want to feel like I did coming back from Athens in 2004. Losing two overtime matches in the semis and then losing the bronze medal match. I don’t want to feel that way. I’m doing everything possible to make sure I’m prepared and ready to go when I get to China. If I do that I think I’ll be okay,� said Cormier.

Cormier is the only member of the men’s freestyle Olympic Team who has competed in a previous Olympic Games. On Friday, Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) made his second Olympic team in Greco-Roman with a victory at 84 kg/185 lbs.

In bout number one, the first period, trailing 1-0, Cormier scored six points with a takedown and two tilts to win, 6-1. In the second period, Cormier again opened up his offense, turning Hahn to get a 6-0 technical fall.

In bout two, scored a point in each period, on a stepout in the first period and a spin behind in the second period, for a 1-1 victory and his second Olympic berth.

“I’m confident. I’m getting to the point where I am confident in my abilities and I figure if I go out and wrestle like I’m capable, I’m going to be okay. That’s pretty much what’s been happening. These guys are tough competitors. I’ve been lucky enough, blessed to stay healthy and believe in myself. It’s been leading to victories,� said Cormier.

2002 World champion Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./US Army) made his first Olympic Team, but needed three matches to get by U.S. Army teammate Timothy Taylor at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Byers won the first match, 1-1, 4-0, but fell in the second bout, 2-5, 2-1, 1-1. In the deciding third match, Byers dominated the first period, 4-0. In the second period, Byers hit a five-point high amplitude throw to immediately finish the match.

Byers talked about the challenge of facing his friend and teammate in the Championship Series with an Olympic berth at stake.

“That’s my brother from another mother. We live that everyday with our unit. We really are family. If you look around at Nationals or you look into it, we’re the only actual team. The other guys are clubs that live all over the country and come together for one event. We’re in there pounding it out everyday with each other,� said Byers.

Byers placed second at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials to archrival and friend Rulon Gardner, who won an Olympic gold in 2000 and Olympic bronze in 2004. Byers served as Gardner’s training partner at the 2004 Olympic Games.

Gardner was in attendance, serving as the color analyst for the MSNBC coverage of the Olympic Trials. Gardner hugged Byers on center mat, and conducted the television interview with him at the conclusion of the victory.

2008 U.S. Nationals champion Ben Askren (Columbia, Mo./Sunkist Kids) defeated Tyrone Lewis (Stillwater, Okla., Gator WC) in two straight matches. It was a rematch of this year’s nationals finals, also won by Askren.

A popular two-time NCAA champion for Missouri, Askren made his first World-level team in his first full season concentrating only on freestyle.

In the first match, Askren scored a leg attack takedown in each period for a 1-1, 1-1 victory.

The second match started strong for Lewis, who was trailing by a point before throwing Askren for three points with a body lock for a 6-3 win. In the second period, Askren scored twice to win 2-0. The deciding third period went to Askren, who scored a takedown on the edge early in the period and held on for the victory.

“Number one, I work harder than a lot of people. A lot of the senior level athletes don’t want to work hard, they want to do that. Number two, I leave my mind open, I’m looking for everybody. I’m watching the Russians, I’m watching the World Champs, I’m watching them and I’m picking everything up.�

Four of the series went the full three matches, adding great drama to the final night of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials event.

At 84 kg/185 lbs., 2006 U.S. World Team member Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) defeated 2005 U.S. World Team member Mo Lawal, (Temecula, Calif./Sunkist Kids) in three bouts.

Lawal won the first match, 1-1, 1-0. In the first period, after Hrovat scored on a stepout, Lawal hit a takedown with just five seconds left to win the period by scoring the last point. In the second period, he scored the only takedown of the period.

In the second match, Lawal scored the only takedown of the first period to take it 1-0. In the second period, there were no takedowns and Lawal won the coin toss. Hrovat scored a two-point counter chestlock to win period two, 2-0. With time running out in the third period, Lawal shot a double on Hrovat on the edge, but Hrovat hit another three-point chestlock to take the period 3-0 and tie up the series.

In the deciding third match, Lawal won the first period with a takedown, 1-0. The second period was scoreless, and Hrovat won the toss, scoring a takedown from the clinch, 1-0. The third and deciding period, Lawal scored a takedown out of bounds with 43 seconds left. Hrovat scored two points with seven seconds left, getting an exposure on a scramble. Although Lawal scored a takedown with two seconds left to tie the match at 2-2, Hrovat earned the spot by scoring the highest point move of the period.

Lawal had defeated Hrovat in the finals of the U.S. Nationals in 2008. Hrovat defeated Lawal at the World Team Trials in 2006 on the way to his first World Championships appearance.

At 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in freestyle, Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) by defeating 2007 World Team member Tommy Rowlands (Columbus, Ohio/New York AC) in three bouts.

Mocco won the first match in two straight periods, 1-0, 1-0. In the first period, Mocco scored a takedown from the clinch. In the second period, Rowlands stepped out of bounds, giving Mocco the only point of the period.

Rowlands won the second match in two periods. He scored a three-point takedown from the clinch in the first period for a 3-0 score, then got the only point in the second period on when Mocco went out of bounds on a scramble.

The deciding third match was all Mocco, who scored a pushout to win the first period, 1-0, then two takedowns in the second period to score the victory and a spot on the U.S. World Team.

In Greco-Roman, there was an upset at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. when Adam Wheeler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) defeated 2005 World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) in three matches.

Ruiz had advanced directly to the Championship Series finals after winning U.S. Nationals and having placed in the top five of the World during the last three years. Ruiz has competed on four U.S. World Teams, while Wheeler made his first U.S. team.

Wheeler won the first period, 2-2, turning Ruiz for exposure in the final par terre segment. In the second period, Ruiz won 1-1 by scoring the last point by defending from par terre. The last period went to Wheeler by a 1-1 score, as he received the final point defending from par terre.

In the second match, Ruiz got his offense going, hitting a gutwrench in the first period, and scoring on a two-point penalty and a reversal in the second period to win the match, 3-0, 4-0.

In the third and final match went without a point scored on the feet. Ruiz won the first period, 1-1, by scoring the last point from the defensive position in par terre. Wheeler won the second period, 1-1, scoring the last point on defense. In the third and final period, Ruiz lost the flip and defended first, but Wheeler was able to score a point when Ruiz stepped out of bounds. In the last 30-second par terre position, Ruiz was unable to turn Wheeler, almost getting a lift but running out of time, giving the period to Wheeler.

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 4:26 PM | Permalink

John Smith

Aleks Emelianenko

James Thompson

Dustin Schlatter

Cael Sanderson

Dan Gable

Tom Brands

Jayson Ness

Charlie Falck

David Taylor

Zack Esposito

Buvaisar Saitiev

Saitiev

murtazaliev

Adam Saitiev

Ketoev

Gatsalov

Muradov

flowrestling

Mike Zadick

Brent Metcalf

Bubba Jenkins

Eric Tannenbaum

Saytiev

Mike Houck

Dennis Hall

Steve Fraser

Joe Warren

Kudukhov

Farniev

Kimbo Slice

Brett Rogers

Frank Shamrock

College Football

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 4:05 AM | Permalink

Former Wisconsin wrestler Lee Kemp can add another accolade to his long list of accomplishments. The three-time NCAA Champion will be inducted into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame on Aug. 21 during this summer's Olympics in Beijing.

Kemp wrestled at Wisconsin from 1975-78 and still holds the school record for most career falls (47) and career winning percentage (.957).

After his time at Wisconsin, Kemp went on to become a three-time Freestyle World Champion (1978, 1979 and 1982) at 163 lbs., and he took home a bronze medal at the 1981 World Championships.

Kemp earned a spot on the 1980 U.S. Olympic Freestyle team but did not get to compete because of the U.S. boycott on the Olympic Games that were in Moscow that year. Kemp will not only be in Beijing this summer for the induction ceremony but also to serve as an assistant coach on the 2008 U.S. Olympic Freestyle team.

Each new member will be permanently recognized at the International Wrestling Hall of Fame at FILA Headquarters in Corsier-sur-Vevey, Switzerland and at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA. The inaugural class of the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame members was inducted in 2003. Since then, 49 members have been inducted.

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 2:37 PM | Permalink

I just received a phone call from my brother, Kent, who works as the marketing director at the Dan Gable Wrestling Museum in Waterloo, Iowa. He informed me that the Museum has suffered significant damage from the flooding that has hit a number of cities in Iowa.

The Museum did not have flood insurance, so they are looking for help from the wrestling community. The Olympic Trials may provide the perfect opportunity to help an important member of the wrestling family. Donations will be appreciated. Kent will be in Las Vegas for the Trials, as will Kyle Klingman, who runs the day-to-day operations at the Museum.

Kent and Kyle were working in the Museum early Tuesday afternoon when they received word that people in downtown Waterloo needed to evacuate the area.

The Museum relocated to Waterloo, after nearly a decade in Newton, Iowa, about a year and a half ago. It is a great shrine to our great sport.

I lived in Burlington, Iowa, during the Flood of 1993 that did significant damage to a number of Iowa cities along the Mississippi River. I fully the understand the magnitude of what these people are enduring right now.

Let's rally together and show some support.

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 7:40 AM | Permalink

Univ. of Oregon wrestlers sue the university to prevent them from dropping the program
Save Oregon College Wrestling
06/09/2008

Eugene, OR (June 9) -- Members of the University of Oregon’s wrestling team filed suit Friday afternoon in the Oregon Circuit Court for Marion County, seeking to prevent the University from dropping wrestling as an intercollegiate sport. Circuit Judge Albin Norblad will hear the case.

The complaint alleges that the UO’s plan to eliminate wrestling would violate not only the procedural requirements for dropping an intercollegiate team but also the substantive requirements of the equal privileges and immunities clause of Oregon’s constitution, an Oregon anti-discrimination statute known as Section 659.850, and the Oregon University System’s implementing regulations.

In essence, the University mistakenly believed that gender equity under the federal Title IX statute required UO to eliminate men’s wrestling to enable UO to add men’s baseball, without considering whether that would violate Oregon’s constitution and statutes, as well as established University procedures. After acknowledging that Title IX did not require UO to eliminate wrestling to make room for baseball, UO spokesmen developed several new reasons to justify their original decision to drop wrestling. Like the original Title IX reasoning, however, the University’s new reasons fail to consider violations of Oregon law and University procedures.

The complaint seeks a preliminary injunction that orders UO to defer dropping wrestling until the athletic department completes the required intra-University consultation with UO’s Intercollegiate Athletics Committee and offers the affected students the opportunity for a hearing. Either UO’s president or the Oregon University System’s chancellor would make the final decision after the hearings. If UO still intends to drop wrestling after the required hearings, the parties would return to court to challenge that decision before the preliminary injunction dissolves.

The plaintiff, Equity in Athletics in Oregon, is an Oregon non-profit corporation that represents returning members of the Oregon wrestling team, prospective students who wish to wrestle at the University, and other Oregon citizens interested in the University’s proving an equitable athletic opportunity. The defendants are the University of Oregon, UO President David Frohnmayer, the Oregon University System, OUS Chancellor George Pernsteiner, UO Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny, UO Associate Athletic Directors Reneé Baumgartner and Neal Zoumboukos, and UO General Counsel Melinda Grier.

When Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny announced the resumption of the Oregon baseball program, suspended since 1981, during a press conference on July 13, 2007, he cited the need to comply with the gender equity provisions of U.S. Department of Education policy under Title IX by dropping wrestling and adding women’s competitive cheerleading. Wrestling boosters have argued that Title IX does not require UO to drop men’s wrestling simply because UO intends to add men’s baseball. In response, UO appears to have conceded that its initial Title IX rationale was flawed. On two occasions, in a Feb. 27, 2008, interview in the student newspaper, the Daily Emerald, and in a March 6, 2008, article in the fan publication, Ducks Illustrated, Zoumboukos acknowledged that Title IX did not require UO to drop wrestling.

Instead, Zoumboukos indicated that UO now was dropping wrestling for a combination of four criteria, neither one of which was determinative: (1) UO lacks a wrestling facility; (2) the Eugene area lacks a dedicated fan base; (3) the opportunity to capitalize on an investment; and (4) the lack of support in the Pac-10 and NCAA Division I.

While the plaintiff disagrees that the federal Title IX law even allows UO to cut college wrestling, the complaint alleges that UO violated Oregon’s stronger anti-discrimination laws by not applying the same criteria evenly to both men’s and women’s teams. For example, interscholastic wrestling is more popular in Oregon and nationally than women’s lacrosse and competitive cheerleading, the Pac-10 and NCAA Division I support wrestling as much or more than those women’s sports, UO wrestling has higher attendance than several women’s teams, no women’s teams are required to pay their own way, and the wrestling community has offered significant financial contributions to endow UO wrestling.

“Since we all agree that federal law does not require UO to cut wrestling,� said attorney Richard Franklin, “the question is whether Oregon law allows UO to use a one-sided analysis to cut wrestling.� Last month, the Oregon Supreme Court held that the Oregon State Activities Association violated Section 659.850 by failing to schedule basketball playoff games around the Saturday Sabbath of athletes of the Seventh Day Adventist faith.

The plaintiff alleges that UO’s mistakes were compounded by the athletic department proceeding without the required hearings and consultations. “Oregon does not require administrative procedures to make people feel good,� said Franklin, “we require it because it helps agencies make better, more informed decisions when they publicly air an issue and allow the affected public to voice their concerns.� In 1987, when Frohnmayer served as Oregon’s Attorney General, he authored an interpretation of the Oregon Administrative Procedures Act that required universities to provide students who failed a drug test the opportunity for a hearing before terminating the right or privilege of participating in athletics. The plaintiff argues that the same rationale applies to terminating an entire team. “If UO had held a pre-termination hearing, it would have become obvious before UO took any final action that the athletic department had misconstrued Title IX and failed to consider Oregon law at all,� added Franklin.

Since Kilkenny announced the planned elimination of Oregon wrestling last year, a coalition of alumni led by former UO wrestling coach Ron Finley formed the Save Oregon Wrestling Foundation and has raised more than $3 million in cash and pledges to endow UO wrestling. Such efforts have succeeded at other schools. Last month, Arizona State University announced plans to drop intercollegiate wrestling, but ASU reversed the decision two weeks later after boosters promised enough money to endow the sport. To date, however, Duck athletic department officials have shown little interest in working with the Save Oregon Wrestling Foundation.

According to statistics furnished by the Oregon School Activities Association, wrestling is the second most popular boys’ winter sport in Oregon high schools. For the 2006-07 school year, the latest figures available, some 4,659 boys wrestled on Oregon scholastic teams. This number does not include the 55 girls, 31 home schoolers, and 17 foreign exchange students who also participated in wrestling on the high school level.

Some 70% of University of Oregon wrestlers, averaged over the past three seasons, are graduates of Oregon high schools. This represents the largest percentage of native Oregonians on an UO intercollegiate athletic team. Only one other Duck athletic squad, the women’s cross country team, has more than 50% Oregonians on its roster. The University sponsors intercollegiate sports, such as women’s lacrosse, in which Oregonians do not compete on the high school level.

Wrestling at the University of Oregon has existed since 1913 as a club sport and since 1953 as an intercollegiate sport. Oregon wrestlers have won 32 All-American honors and 69 individual conference championships. Five Ducks have wrestled and one has coached in the Olympic Games.

The plaintiff is the Oregon chapter of Equity in Athletics, which is suing the U.S. Department of Education and James Madison University in Virginia over JMU’s plans to eliminate men’s and women’s archery and gymnastics, women’s fencing, and men’s track, swimming, and wrestling. Equity in Athletics also is working with a foundation formed by parents and alumni to save the Syracuse University men’s and women’s swim teams, which Syracuse had scheduled for elimination next year. In response to those efforts, Syracuse extended the elimination date forward three years to allow all matriculated swimmers to complete their athletic careers at Syracuse, which that foundation hopes will allow enough time to endow the swimming teams.
Equity in Athletics in Oregon is represented by Richard D. Franklin of Portland, Oregon, and Lawrence J. Joseph of Washington, D.C.

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 6:34 AM | Permalink

In an Olympic year, it sure would be nice to have Olympic Games Champion Cael Sanderson in the US Lineup..

Check out IRAN:
55kg: ?
60kg: Morad Mohammadi (Mazandaran)
66kg: Mehdi Taghavi (Mazandaran)
74kg: ?
84kg: Reza Yazdani (Mazandaran)
96kg: ?
120kg: Fardin Masoumi (Gilan)

invited wrestlers for training camp :

55kg: Abbas Dabbaghi, Hassan Rahimi
74kg: Meisam Jokar, Majid Mohammadi
96kg: Saeid Amiri, Alireza Robatmoradi, Abazar Eslami, Saeid Ebrahimi

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 2:20 PM | Permalink

So here's the deal, Flowrestling went to Russia and taped about 100 matches. They are feeding in as I type this and should give you just about total coverage of this weeks Russian Nationals. All finals are up, so check out the flo wrestling videos!

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 2:38 AM | Permalink

U.S. Olympic Team Trials preview in Greco-Roman at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
06/06/2008

Justin Ruiz has been a fixture for the U.S. in this division. Ruiz has made the last four U.S. World Teams, winning a bronze medal in 2005. He has won the last five U.S. Nationals titles. Ruiz earned a spot in the best-of-3 finals at the Olympic Trials by virtue of winning U.S. Nationals, and earning a World medal during the last three years.

Ruiz’s top challengers likely will be R.C. Johnson and Adam Wheeler. Johnson lost to Ruiz in the finals of U.S. Nationals. Johnson has placed third the past two years at the World Team Trials. Wheeler placed second to Ruiz at the 2005 and 2007 World Team Trials. He was third at U.S. Nationals, and has been second at the U.S. Nationals three times.

Robbie Smith, a top young prospect in Greco-Roman, took fourth at U.S. Nationals. Smith competed on the last three Junior World Teams and qualified in late May to compete at the 2008 University World Championships. Justin Millard took fifth at U.S. Nationals this year, and was a U.S. Nationals runner-up in 2007. Millard has also competed on a number of U.S. age-group World Teams.

John Lorenz placed sixth at the U.S. Nationals and Peter Gounaridis finished seventh. Lorenz won the Northeast Regional Trials, and Gounaridis was the 2008 University Nationals champion. Another top qualifier is 2008 Armed Forces champion Deon Hicks.

2008 U.S. Nationals results

1st – Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) dec. R.C. Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 4-1, 1-1

3rd – Adam Wheeler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) dec. Robbie Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 3-0, 4-0

5th – Justin Millard, Chesapeake Beach, Md. (U.S. Air Force) pin John Lorenz, LaCrosse, Wis. (Unattached), 1-1, 1:35

7th – Peter Gounaridis, Leominster, Mass. (NMU/USOEC) dec. Frank Workman, Vermilion, Ohio (U.S. Marine Corps), 7-0, 3-3

2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds

Qualified for best-of-three finals: Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

Challenge Tournament seeds
1. R.C. Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Adam Wheeler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
3. Robbie Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
4. Justin Millard, Chesapeake Beach, Md. (U.S. Air Force)
5. John Lorenz, LaCrosse, Wis. (Unattached)
6. Peter Gounaridis, Leominster, Mass. (NMU/USOEC)
7. Deon Hicks, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
8. Daren Burns, Catawba, N.C. (Y.E.S Greensboro)
9. Moises Hernandez, Top Sail, N.C. (U.S. Marines)

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 6:06 PM | Permalink

U.S. Olympic Team Trials preview in men's freestyle at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
06/06/2008

Daniel Cormier is looking to build on a strong 2007 when he won his first World-level medal by taking a. bronze medal at the 2007 Worlds. Cormier is heavily favored to make his second straight Olympic Team in 2008.

Cormier has clinched a spot in the best-of-3 finals for the Olympic Trials. He was fourth in the 2000 Olympic Games, and has won six straight U.S. Nationals titles

Among the wrestlers looking to knock off Cormier are Nik Fekete, Willie Parks, Kurt Backes, Damion Hahn, Max Askren and Nick Preston. Cormier swept Fekete 7-0, 2-0 in the finals of the 2008 U.S. Nationals. Parks, a past NAIA champion for Dana College, has made a quick transition to freestyle and placed third at U.S. Nationals. The burly, physical Parks beat Backes, a past NCAA runner-up for Iowa State, in the third-place match at U.S. Nationals.

Hahn, a two-time NCAA champion for Minnesota, placed fifth at U.S. Nationals. Hahn took third at the 2007 World Team Trials.

Max Askren, Ben’s younger brother, wrestled well in placing sixth at U.S. Nationals. Askren, a 197-pound All-American for Missouri, is a bit undersized in this division but is an excellent young prospect in freestyle. He is a past Junior World Team member.

Sean Stender and Kyle Cerminara are two other wrestlers to keep an eye on in this class. Both have had considerable success on the Senior level, but did not place at the U.S. Nationals. College wrestlers Brent Jones of Virginia and Konrad Dudziak of Duke round out the qualifiers at this division.

2008 U.S. Nationals results

1st – Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club) dec. Nik Fekete, Iowa City Iowa (New York AC), 7-0, 2-0

3rd – Willie Parks, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Kurt Backes, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 2-0, 1-0

5th – Damion Hahn, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York Athletic Club) dec. Max Askren, Hartland, Wis. (Sunkist Kids), 7-0, 3-0

7th – Nick Preston, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids) dec. Konrad Dudziak, Bayonne, N.J. (New York AC), 1-0, 3-0

2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds

Qualified for Best-of-3 finals: Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)

Challenge Tournament Seeds
1. Nik Fekete, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC)
2. Willie Parks, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
3. Kurt Backes, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
4. Damion Hahn, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
5. Max Askren, Hartland, Wis. (Sunkist Kids)
6. Nick Preston, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
7. Konrad Dudziak, Bayonne, N.J. (New York AC)
8. Sean Stender, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
9. Kyle Cerminara, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
10. Brent Jones, Burke, Va. (Cavalier WC)

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 6:05 PM | Permalink

For those of you who do not subscribe, here is the latest from TheWrestlingTalk.com on their recent improvements:

Hey Everyone!

Its been a busy off-season for the folks behind the scenes at TheWrestlingTalk.com, but we're excited to show you what has been created in the TWT Lab.

TheWrestlingTalk.com recently released the most advanced social networking platform amateur wrestling has ever seen! Within this robust Internet operating system you will find our soul- community. A Facebook-esque personal page with a college recruiting twist. We have added the functionality for athletes, parents, and fans to actively promote their favorite athlete within their TWT profile. Open the doorway to excellent opportunities by adding your academic & athletic accomplishments and a highlight reel to your personal profile. Detail your training or help improve the sport: Blog. As part of our overall commitment to connecting wrestlers around the world we have released blogging software to help everyone connect on a more personal level than ever before! Add your personality to your personal page! Customize the look and feel of your profile by entering the User CP and navigating to the profile editing section.

Along side of our social networking platform we have released the largest sorted database of amateur wrestling videos on the planet. Find competitive matches featuring everyone from your town favorite to Dan Gable and Alexander Karelin. Sift through hundreds of wrestling and mixed martial arts technique sessions, and watch all of FloWrestling's latest interviews and matches as well. With well over 17,000 videos indexed we can safely say you will never run out of footage. The videos section is currently finishing it's final round of Beta and Upload functionality will be available in mid to late June. Visit The Wrestling Talk Videos:

TWT Live. You've always wanted the wrestling conversation to move faster, right? TheWrestlingtalk released live video chat this summer and anticipates using this technology at several events in '08-'09. Watch the match live and discuss the event with your forum mates in real time!

TheWrestlingTalk.com has formed a strategic alliance with MyWrestlingRoom, a leader in wrestling gear. Through this alliance, TheWrestlingTalk.com is able to provide all of wrestling's finest products to you at prices you would expect from TheWrestlingTalk.com. Visit http://www.thewrestlingtalk.com/catalog/ to view the current catalog of wrestling shoes, headgear, singlets, and other wrestling equipment.

Connect with us! Do you run a website (about anything) or have friends that do? Get wrestling noticed by sending us a link! We even love links on unrelated websites as it gives us a chance to create new wrestling fans! You can link directly to TheWrestlingTalk.com with the link title: The Wrestling Talk Forum
Want a link back? Just respond to this email.

TheWrestlingTalk.com will be airing a weekly video show beginning towards the middle of the summer. The show will review the weeks hot topics, rankings, and put a face to some of the names behind the scenes at TWT.

Do you run a website affiliated with wrestling (camps, mats, etc) or mixed martial arts? We have a very attractive advertising package available across our network of sites that is suitable for everything from product branding to fight promotion. We have been approached by many promoters looking to "brand" their athletes- if you are doing this, please list all fighters you are promoting as well as their fighting background within your email to our advertising representative: jacob@jdsigninteractive.com

We look forward to an excellent 2008 Olympics and hope you enjoy your summer!

Shane & Jacob
http://www.thewrestlingtalk.com

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 9:11 PM | Permalink

Lawal, Dantzler, Van Dusen talk about preparation for U.S. Olympic Team Trials
USOC
06/03/2008

Three of the top U.S. wrestlers in the nation, national champions Mo Lawal (Temecula, Calif./Sunkist Kids), T.C. Dantzler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) and Marcie Van Dusen (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) answered questions from reporters on a special USOC media teleconference on Tuesday.

All three are just days away from pursuing a lifelong dream when they compete at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at the Thomas and Mack Center at Las Vegas, Nev., June 13-15. They have advanced to the Championship Series of their weight class, and have to win a best-of-three series against a Challenge Tournament champion to make their first U.S. Olympic Team.

Men’s freestyle wrestler Mo Lawal discussed how he does Mixed Martial Arts as a way to crosstrain for freestyle wrestling.

“I feel my MMA helps. I use it for crosstraining,� said Lawal. “It keeps me on my toes. It helps get different parts of my body, I always ready. It keeps me fresh. After awhile, just wrestling over and over again gets boring. Put on the gloves, hit somebody, or tap somebody out. It keeps things exciting. It has helped me so far. I won the Nationals on one leg I have been training MMA and wrestling at the same time. I will keep doing what I am doing.�

Lawal was asked about who he expects to face in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials finals. He did not want to predict it, nor did he care.

“I have no idea honestly. My toughest opponent is myself. I look at everybody else as somebody who is coming to take second place. They will have to beat each other up to get to me. I am fresh. Anything can happen. I saw Joe Williams get beat by BJ Padden, Jake Herbert get beat by Bryce Hasseman. You have the Jamill Kelly story, where Jamill comes in and beats everybody. You never know what happens. I am taking on all bums. Whoever steps up is gonna get beat.�

Lawal continued by talking about how his training will make the difference.

“I am traning hard and I’m pretty sure they are training hard. The one thing I have on my side is I am training hard and smart. You have to be tough and smart at the same time. That is what a lot of guys are lacking in my weight class. They are tough and dumb. I am tough and smart. That is what is going to separate us,� said Lawal.

T.C. Dantzler talked about the challenge of qualifying his weight class for the Olympics and what his year has been like during the process.

“This has been a busy year for me. I knew going into this year, since I didn’t have the weight class qualified heading into January, I knew I had to do things differently in regards to picking up my training,� said Dantzler. “I knew this year I had to pick it up and do things a little differently to prepare for the qualifier that was in Rome… The Nationals was two weeks before Rome, the first Olympic qualifier. I opted to wrestle at Nationals as a tuneup tournament. I just looked at that as a training champ. It was a good opportunity to get the best guys in the country to help me finetune some things. I went to the Rome qualifier and I placed third which was good enough to qualify. I beat a World Champion on the way to qualify that weight class. Everything paid off in regards to my training. Now I have to take that last step, to get on the U.S. team and get that gold medal.�

Dantzler also discussed the championship series, and who might be his opponent for the U.S. Olympic Team spot.

“All of those guys gotta get to me. I see it as the Mini-Tournament as a tournament for true second. I already claimed it. I claimed it when I went to Rome and I qualified the United States for that weight class. The weight class wasn’t qualified in 2004. I am not going to let anybody take it from me. I see it as a tournament for second. I’m not going to let anybody come through that tournament and take it from me. I have already claimed it. Whoever comes through that tournament, it doesn’t matter. I’ve beaten three World champions in the last seven months. That’s my weight class,� said Dantzler.

Marcie Van Dusen talked about her big victory over Japan’s previously unbeaten Saori Yoshida of Japan during the World Cup in January.

“It is a big boost, beating somebody that you have a lot of respect for, who has proven over and over again that they are a good athlete,� said Van Dusen. “It was on my list of things to do. It was another step I had to take. The fact that I have that in my pocket to know I am capable of those things. I knew it before. If I can beat an Olympic and World champion, then I can win an Olympic gold medal.�

Van Dusen also talked about who her Olympic Trials opponent might be, and how she is preparing for that challenge.

“There are about four girls I think could possibly make it out. Like Mo said, my toughest competition is myself, being ready myself. I’ve already done all the work. Now is not the time to do any extra work. I feel more confident. I’ve already done everything I have to do; now I have to get ready for Trials. It is the Olympic year, you never know who will come out.It is a fight every time. It is exciting to watch; it’s a really fun tournament to watch. It could be anybody. I’m going to prepare myself and be ready for whoever comes out and know I am better than them and they have to come out and beat me.�

Also on the conference call were judo athletes Ryan Reser and Rhonda Rousey. Judo will be conducting its Olympic Trials alongside wrestling in Las Vegas.

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 7:01 PM | Permalink

New York City public schools will become first city or state to sponsor freestyle and Greco-Roman spring season
Beat the Streets, Inc.
06/04/2008

Mike Novogratz, Chairman of the Board, announced at the Annual Beat the Streets Celebration in May that the PSAL would next year begin the organization of both a freestyle and Greco-Roman season for high school wrestling in addition to the existing winter folkstyle season.

PSAL Wrestling Commissioner Larry Cantor and Sports Coordinator Lance Hermus stated they would support that effort, which would make New York the first city in the nation, at the high school or collegiate level, to offer competitive seasons of both freestyle and Greco-Roman disciplines.

Mike Novogratz, who is also the President and Director of Fortress Investment Group LLC, was instrumental in raising more than $2 million, which went toward the purchase of wrestling equipment and the establishment of more than 40 new programs in the PSAL and 62 Middle School Programs.

"We can throw a lot of money at the thing," Novogratz said, "but our real genius will be finding, helping to place and then inspiring coaches. We really are a support group for coaches."

Al Bevilacqua, President stated "The year round program will help New York City “catch up� to its neighbors in New Jersey and Long Island. The "sleeping giant" is awakening through the efforts and leadership of USA Wrestling in the training and development of coaches in its Bronze and Silver Level Certification Programs. We have already registered over 90 USA Wrestling Clubs and all 1500 Middle School wrestlers are USA Wrestling League members."

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 4:59 PM | Permalink

U.S. Olympic Team Trials preview in men's freestyle at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
06/04/2008

This typically is one of the deepest – and most wide-open weight classes – in this country. And this year is no exception.

Doug Schwab made his first World Team last year and finished fifth at the 2007 World Championships. Schwab looked very strong and very confident in winning the U.S. Nationals. Schwab downed 2006 World champion Bill Zadick in the finals of U.S. Nationals. Both periods came down to the clinch. Schwab won two coin flips before capitalizing in the leg clinch.

Schwab’s win sends him into the best-of-3 finals at the Olympic Trials, giving him a clear edge over the rest of the field. Zadick, who missed nearly all of 2007 with injuries, looks strong again and is a legitimate threat to make his first Olympic Team. Zadick is still very good on his feet, and is difficult to take down.

Jared Frayer, who lost a tough, three-period match against Schwab in the semifinals of U.S. Nationals, is very dangerous and very talented. Frayer came back from the loss to Schwab and placed third at U.S. Nationals. Veteran Chris Bono, a past World Team member, also will be in the mix here. The head coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga is a smart wrestler who is difficult to score on.

2008 NCAA wrestling champion and Hodge Trophy winner Brent Metcalf of Iowa can’t be overlooked in this weight class. Metcalf, despite limited time on the mat wrestling freestyle, finished fifth at U.S. Nationals. Zack Esposito is another guy who has been a contender in this weight class and has the ability to be in the hunt as well.

Trent Paulson has been one of the biggest surprises in this weight class. Paulson dropped down a weight class before winning the Dave Schultz Memorial International and the Kiev International this year. Paulson placed seventh at U.S. Nationals. Past National Team member Eric Larkin is another wrestler capable of winning some big matches in this division. Past World medalist and Olympian Cary Kolat is back wrestling again. Kolat won the Sunkist Kids International Open last fall.

2008 U.S. Nationals results

1st – Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC) dec. Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 1-0, 3-0

3rd – Jared Frayer, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) dec. Chris Bono, Ringold, Ga. (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 5-1

5th – Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich. (Gator WC) inj. dft. Zack Esposito, Stillwater, OK (Gator Wrestling Club),

7th – Trent Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) dec. Eric Larkin, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 1-1, 2-1

2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds

Qualified for Best-of-3 finals: Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC)

Challenge Tournament Seeds
1. Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
2. Jared Frayer, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
3. Chris Bono, Ringgold, Ga. (Sunkist Kids)
4. Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich. (Gator WC)
5. Zack Esposito, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
6. Trent Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
7. Eric Larkin, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
8. Cary Kolat, Baltimore, Md. (Sunkist Kids)
9. Jesse Jantzen, Cambridge, Mass. (New York AC)
10. Joe Johnston, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
11. Phillip Simpson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
12. Jerrod Sanders, Raleigh, N.C. (Unattached)
13. Nathaniel Holt, Provo, Utah (Chippewa WC)

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 2:53 PM | Permalink

U.S. Olympic Team Trials preview in men's freestyle at 60 kg/132 lbs.
Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
06/03/2008

The U.S. has not qualified this weight class for the Olympics, but fans can still expect a tough, hard-fought battle in this weight class. Wrestlers in this division are still vying for three spots on the U.S. National Team.

2006 World silver medalist Mike Zadick made the World Team again in 2007, but lost in the first round and was eliminated. Nate Gallick, who beat Zadick in the finals of the 2007 U.S. Nationals, is a top contender in this division. Gallick is a past World University Games champion. Gallick lost to Zadick in a Special Wrestle-Off for a spot on the 2007 U.S. World Team.

Shawn Bunch, one of the quickest and most explosive wrestlers in any weight class, won the U.S. Nationals. Zadick and Gallick sat out the event after trying to qualify the U.S. for the Olympics at events in Europe. 2008 NCAA champion Coleman Scott of Oklahoma State proved he could be a force in freestyle after finishing second at U.S. Nationals. Scott is a past Junior World Team member.

Two-time NCAA champion Teyon Ware has dropped back down to this weight class and took third at U.S. Nationals. Past NCAA runner-up Dylan Long was fourth at U.S. Nationals. 2005 World Team member Michael Lightner is back on the mat this year and placed fifth at U.S. Nationals. Zach Roberson, third in the 2007 World Team Trials, ended up in sixth place at U.S. Nationals.

Angel Cejudo is another very talented wrestler in this weight class. Cejudo won the Dave Schultz Memorial International earlier this year. Cejudo has struggled to make weight in this class, but could be a force if he is able to drop down for the Olympic Trials.

2008 U.S. Nationals results

1st – Shawn Bunch, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) dec. Coleman Scott, Waynesburg, Pa. (Gator WC), 4-0, 1-0

3rd – Teyon Ware, Oklahoma City, Okla. (New York AC) dec. Dylan Long, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 5-1, 1-0

5th – Michael Lightner, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) inj. dft. over Zach Roberson, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids),

7th – Drew Headlee, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Pittsburgh) dec. Franklin Gomez, Brandon, Fla. (Michigan WC), 3-2, 6-0

2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds

1. Shawn Bunch, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
2. Coleman Scott, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
3. Mike Zadick, Solon, Iowa (Gator WC)
4. Nate Gallick, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Teyon Ware, Oklahoma City, Okla. (New York AC)
6. Dylan Long, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
7. Michael Lightner, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids)
8. Zach Roberson, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
9. Angel Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
10. Drew Headlee, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Pittsburgh)
11. Daniel Dennis, Ingleside, Ill. (Iowa)
12. Darrell Vasquez, Cambridge, Mass. (New York AC)

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 1:56 PM | Permalink

Confident Askren set to compete at U.S. Olympic Team Trials
Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
06/03/2008

Ben Askren said he’s always had his share of detractors.

He said people questioned whether he would ever win a state high school title in Wisconsin.

And there were some saying he would never win an NCAA title during his career at the University of Missouri.

And even now – after Askren won April’s U.S. Nationals to clinch a No. 1 seed for next week’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas – he said he knows there are people out there expecting him to fail.

“People have always doubted me – that makes it fun proving them wrong,� he said. “I’ve always wrestled with a chip on my shoulder. Going into the Trials, people still aren’t convinced I’m going to win. Come June 15, they are going to be convinced or they are going to be delusional.�

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The list of people doubting Askren’s abilities dwindled after he turned in an impressive performance in winning the U.S. Nationals in freestyle at 74 kg/163 lbs. The 23-year-old Askren now takes aim at trying to win the Olympic Trials and earning a trip to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China.

Askren has been highly successful at every level of wrestling. He won two state titles before turning in a magical college career at Missouri. Askren was a four-time NCAA finalist, winning national titles as a junior and a senior. He twice won the Hodge Trophy, wrestling’s version of the Heisman Trophy, to cap his career.

Askren jumped into freestyle immediately after completing his college career. He dropped a close semifinal match to Joe Heskett in the U.S. Nationals before finishing sixth. Heskett went on to place fifth in the World before being forced to retire because of a heart condition.

Askren placed fifth in the 2007 World Team Trials.

Those finishes had many wrestling observers questioning whether Askren's funky, unorthodox style was the right fit for international wrestling.

Askren has made huge improvements during the 2007-08 season. He’s won three tournaments this season.

He briefly moved up to No. 1 in the U.S. freestyle rankings, but then dropped down to the No. 3 seed for the U.S. Nationals. Askren’s finish at the 2007 World Team Trials dropped him down to the No. 3 spot when seeds were determined.

“That most definitely was a big motivator for me,� Askren said. “I felt like I was the No. 1 guy going in there.�

That swagger and level of confidence, as most wrestling observers are well aware, is never in short supply.

“Every time I step on the mat I think I am better than my opponent,� Askren said. “There are no limits to what I can do.�

Askren’s wide-open, go-for-broke style is appealing to wrestling fans.

He said too many freestyle matches, especially in the U.S., don’t feature enough action.

“I’ve only been to one clinch this year,� he said. “Letting matches come down to clinches and pushouts, you can’t put yourself in that position. I like putting points on the board and going for the big moves. I am going to pressure my opponent and make him wrestle. I’m not going to let him take me to the clinch. You can’t get stuck in a mindset where you think you can’t score.�

As supremely confident as he is, Askren is still continually tweaking his style of wrestling. He’s spent hours watching video of freestyle matches in his quest to learn and improve.

“I knew I had to change my style coming out of college,� he said. “I’m smart enough to know I had to look at some things that didn’t work. I wrestled poorly last year and I knew I had to get better.�

Among the wrestlers Askren has spent time training with recently are fellow NCAA champions Jake Herbert and Keith Gavin. He also took part in the recent Sunkist Kids camp in Arizona. He also trains with his younger brother, Max, an All-American for Missouri who qualified for the Olympic Trials at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Ben Askren’s actions, at times, have rubbed opponents the wrong way.

During his physical, hard-fought U.S. Nationals finals win over Tyrone Lewis, Askren and Lewis went nose-to-nose and exchanged words during the match.

“I think he got frustrated because he was having trouble scoring,� Askren said. “I’m not going to back down from anybody. I took him out of his element. I never lost my focus.�

Askren also has gained valuable international experience this season. He placed third at February’s Kiev International in the Ukraine. He also went 2-1 at February’s World Cup in Russia, falling to Russia’s Denis Tsargush.

“All those guys in the World are beatable,� Askren said. “Heskett was right there against (Russian World champion Makhach) Murtazaliev last year. As long as I train hard and wrestle a great match, I am just as likely to beat the best guys as anybody else.�

Part of Askren’s motivation to win the Olympics came from watching fellow Wisconsin native Garrett Lowney win an Olympic bronze medal in 2000. Askren was in attendance when Lowney won the 2000 Olympic Team Trials in Dallas.

Four years later, Askren competed at the 2004 Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. He placed sixth.

“I think about the Olympics all the time,� he said. “It’s been a dream for a long time. I’m focused on the Trials – I’ve got to take care of business in Vegas first. But winning an Olympic gold medal is something I think about all the time.�

With the Olympic Trials still more than a week away, Askren is like a kid waiting for Christmas morning to arrive.

“I wish I could wrestle today,� he said. “I can’t wait.�

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 11:51 PM | Permalink

UFC 87: Seek and Destroy is an upcoming mixed martial arts event to be held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on August 9, 2008, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The card is headlined by a welterweight championship bout with Georges St. Pierre defending against Jon Fitch.[1] Newly inducted UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman was initially set to face Brock Lesnar, but an injury has forced him to withdraw; Heath Herring has stepped in to fight Lesnar instead.

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 1:39 AM | Permalink

Pre-seeds for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in women’s freestyle announced
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
05/30/2008

USA Wrestling has released the pre-seeds for women’s freestyle heading into the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Seeds are subject to change following weigh-ins.

Pre-seed Women’s freestyle brackets

Special Coverage Section

48 kg/105.5 pounds
Qualified for best-of-three finals: Patricia Miranda, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)

Challenge Tournament seeds
1. Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Sara Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
3. Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
4. Mary Kelly, Gaffney, S.C. (New York AC)
5. Jessica Medina, Pomona, Calif. (New York AC)
6. Sadie Kaneda, Honolulu, Hawaii (USOEC)
7. Alyssa Lampe, Tomahawk, Wis. (Sunkist Kids)
8. Kapua Torres, Williamsburg, Ky. (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
9. Emily Martin, Frisco, Texas (unattached)

55 kg/121 pounds
Qualified for best-of-three finals: Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)

Challenge Tournament seeds
1. Jenny Wong, Gaffney, S.C. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
3. Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
4. Erin Tomeo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Tatiana Padilla, Azusa, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
6. Shyla Iokia, Wailuku, Hawaii (USOEC)
7. Chelynne Pringle, Hugo, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
8. Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
9. Othella Lucas, San Diego, Calif. (New York AC)
10. Kelsey Campbell, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
11. Deanna Rix, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
12. Cherae Pascua, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
13. Amy Borgnini, Terre Haute, Ind. (Gator WC)
14. Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
15. Sandy Do, San Diego, Calif. (Cumberlands)
16. Katherine Fulp-Allen, El Granada, Calif.(New York AC)
17. Cheryl Wong, Croton, N.Y. (New York AC)

63 kg/138.75 pounds
Qualified for best-of-three finals: Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo (Gator WC)

Challenge Tournament seeds
1. Sara McMann, Gaffney, S.C. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Alaina Berube, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
3. Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
4. Tori Adams, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Stefanie Shaw, Waterford, Conn. (New York AC)
6. Jennifer Germany, Chula Vista, Calif. (Missouri Valley College)
7. Sara Hilliard, Lawrence, Kan. (OCU Stars)
8. Samantha Fee, Blairstown, N.J. (Missouri Valley)
9. Lauren Knight, Vallejo, Calif. (Cumberlands)
10. Shamaine Danner, Richmond, Mo. (Missouri Valley)
11. Marina Piccolotti, Pacifica, Calif. (unattached)

72 kg/158.5 pounds
Qualified for best-of-three finals: Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Gator WC)

Challenge Tournament seeds
1. Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
3. Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
4. Stephany Lee, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
5. Megan Goldsmith, Black River Falls, Wis. (UCWC)
6. Lacey Novinska, Fennimore, Wis. (OCU Stars)
7. Jenna Pavlik, Lewes, Del. (New York AC)
8. Amberlee Ebert, Reedsville, Wisc. (Missouri Valley)
9. Ashley Sword, West Palm Beach, Fla. (OCU Stars)
10. Jessica Smith, Austintown, Ohio (unattached)

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 3:18 PM | Permalink

Olympic gold medalist Bobby Weaver, former world champion Mike Houck and three-time NCAA champions Ricky Bonomo and Wayne Martin were inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Weaver won the gold medal in the light-flyweight class at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, when the U.S. had seven freestyle champions. The Pennsylvania native who wrestled at Lehigh finished third in the 1982 NCAA championships and also won a silver medal at the 1979 world championships.

Houck won the United States' first Greco-Roman world championship in 1985 and later served as coach of the U.S. Olympic team that won two medals at the 1992 Barcelona Games. The Minnesota native also won two Christian College national titles wrestling at Maranatha Baptist Bible College.

Bonomo won national championships at 118 pounds from 1985-87 for Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania.

Martin, who was honored posthumously, was the first person to win NCAA wrestling titles at three different weight classes. He was the 134-pound champion in 1934, the 145-pound champion in 1935 and the 135-pound champion in 1936 at Oklahoma.

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 2:20 PM | Permalink

Two-time World bronze medalist Harry Lester focused on earning trip to Beijing Olympics
Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
05/30/2008

Harry Lester’s biggest battle in recent years hasn’t been his opponents on the wrestling mat.

It’s been with the scale.

“Cutting weight is by far the hardest part of wrestling for me – going out there and wrestling is the fun part,� he said. “I've grown and filled out the last few years. I’ve gone from cutting four kilos three years ago to cutting about 13 kilos now.�

That’s a lot of weight when you consider one kilogram equals 2.2 pounds.

Lester, a two-time World bronze medalist, helped lead the U.S. to the Greco-Roman team title at the 2007 World Championships. He said he has started to bring his weight back down as he prepares for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials on June 13-15 in Las Vegas.

Lester, 24, from Akron, Ohio, will compete at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. in the Olympic Trials. He will enter the Trials as the No. 3 seed after skipping April’s U.S. Nationals. The top two finishers at U.S. Nationals – Mark Rial and Jake Deitchler – clinched the top two seeds at the Olympic Trials by placing 1-2 at Nationals.

Lester has not lost to an American wrestler since suffering a setback to Glenn Garrison at the 2005 U.S. World Team Trials in Ames, Iowa. Lester lost to Garrison in the first match of the best-of-3 finals before recovering to win the next two bouts to make his first World Team.

Lester has not wrestled at U.S. Nationals the past three seasons. In 2006 and 2007, he ended up finishing third in the World after bypassing Nationals.

He said he skipped last month’s U.S. Nationals after becoming ill shortly before the event.

“I’m not worried about missing Nationals,� said Lester, who is scheduled to wrestle at the Olympic Trials on June 14. “I have to wrestle everybody anyway. Plus I like getting some matches in before the finals. I don’t like sitting around all day.�

The 5-foot-7 Lester, like many wrestlers, is caught in between weight classes. With only seven international weight classes now, gaps between divisions are much more noticeable.

The next weight up from Lester’s weight class is 74 kg/163 lbs. Wrestlers in that class are nearly 20 pounds heavier than the division he wrestles in.

Before the classes were changed, wrestlers competed at 152 pounds.

“152 would have been perfect for me,� Lester said.

Lester, who competes for the Gator Wrestling Club, continues to train at the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich.

One of his closest friends, Spenser Mango, enters the Olympic Trials seeded No. 1 at 55 kg/121 lbs. Mango also trains at the USOEC.

“It would be great to see Spenser make the Olympic Team,� Lester said. “He’s a lot further along than I was at his age. He’s wrestling really well right now. He has a really good shot to make it to the Olympics.�

The Olympic Games for wrestling are scheduled for Aug. 12-21 in Beijing, China. Lester would compete on Aug. 13.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to compete in the Olympics,� Lester said. “This is it – this is what I’ve been training my whole career for. I just have to focus on making this team and getting over to China.�

Lester said his training is progressing well. His main workout partner at the USOEC is Jake Fisher, an Olympic hopeful at 74 kilos. Fisher placed third at U.S. Nationals.

“Jake’s been my training partner the last three years,� Lester said. “He’s helped me a lot. We really push each other.�

Lester said he may continue to compete after 2008.

“I doubt it will be at 66 kilos,� Lester said with a laugh. “I may see if I can get stronger and maybe move up a class. But I’m not too worried about any of that right now.�

Lester, an explosive wrestler who features an assortment of big moves in his arsenal, is just thinking about his first match at the Trials.

“I know what I need to do,� he said. “I just need to go out there full steam and do what I’m capable of doing. Then everything else will take care of itself.�

Posted by Wrestling Fan at 2:03 AM | Permalink

Pre-seeds for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Greco-Roman announced
Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
05/29/2008

USA Wrestling has released the pre-seeds for Greco-Roman heading into the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Seeds are subject to change following weigh-ins.

Pre-seed Greco-Roman brackets

Special Coverage Section

55 kg/121 pounds
1. Spenser Mango, St. Louis, Mo. (USOEC/Gator WC)
2. Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
3. Jermaine Hodge, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
4. Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Gator WC)
5. Eric Grajales, Brandon, Fla. (Sunkist Kids)
6. Jimmy Chase, Carol Stream, Ill. (Pinnacle)
7. Joshua Habeck, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
8. Anthony Brooker, Philadelphia, Pa. (U.S. Air Force)
9. Nikko Triggas, Moraga, Calif. (Ohio State)
10. Miguel Pena, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
11. Nate Engel, St. Helena, Calif. (Sunkist/USOEC)
12. Roger Stewart, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

60 kg/132 pounds
1. Joe Betterman, Chicago, Ill. (New York AC/USOEC)
2. Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
3. Marco Lara, Long Beach, Calif. (New York AC)
4. Jeremiah Davis, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
5. Willie Madison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
6. Eric Stevenson, Newberg, Ore. (Newberg WC)
7. Donovan DePatto, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)
8. CC Fisher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Unattached)
9. Chad Vandiver, Roscoe, Ill. (Unattached)
10. Noah Blankenship, Bucyrus, Ohio (U.S. Marines)
11. Tony Mustari, Greeley, Colo. (Northern Colorado Wrestling)

66 kg/145.5 pounds
1. Mark Rial, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
2. Jake Deitchler, Rumsey, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
3. Harry Lester, Akron, Ohio (Gator WC)
4. Faruk Sahin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
5. Jacob Curby, LaGrange, Ill. (Gator/USOEC)
6. Jacob Hey, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force)
7. Marcel Cooper, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
8. Oscar Wood, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
9. Mike Ellsworth, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
10. Shanon Slack, Colorado Springs, Colo. (No Limits)
11. Esai Dominguez, Omaha, Neb. (Maverick WC)
12. Bo Beckman, Pleasant Grove, Utah (USOEC)

74 kg/163 pounds
Qualified for best-of-three finals: T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)

Challenge Tournament seeds
1. Andrew Bisek, Chaska, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
2. Jake Fisher, Platte City, Mo. (New York AC)
3. Keith Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
4. Cheney Haight, Orem, Utah (New York AC)
5. Ken Cook, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
6. Jess Hargrave, Colorado Springs, Colo (U.S. Army)
7. James Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
8. Talan Knox, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sunkist Kids)
9. Brandon McNab, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
10. Kevin Lozano, Jefferson, La. (Gator WC)
11. Steven Forrest, Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
12. Chris Bullins, Stoneville, N.C. (Y.E.S Greensboro)

84 kg/185 pounds
1. Brad Ahearn, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
2. Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
3. Chas Betts, St. Michael, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
4. Aaron Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
5. Jacob Clark, Top Sail Island, N.C. (Minnesota Storm)
6. Jake Plamann, Kaukauna, Wis. (Gator WC)
7. Zak Nielsen, Zimmerman, Minn. (USOEC)
8. John Wechter, Lansing, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)
9. Jeremy Pederson, Sneads Ferry, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
10. Abe Haddon, Colorado Springs, Colo. (USOTC)
11. David Spangler, Iowa City, Iowa (U.S. Air Force)
12. Jeff Funicello, Mesa, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)

96 kg/211.5 pounds
Qualified for best-of-three finals: Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

Challenge Tournament seeds
1. R.C. Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
2. Adam Wheeler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
3. Robbie Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
4. Justin Millard, Chesapeake Beach, Md. (U.S. Air Force)
5. John Lorenz, Lacrosse, Wis. (Unattached)
6. Peter Gounaridis, Leominster, Mass. (NMU/USOEC)
7. Deon Hicks, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
8. Daren Burns, Catawba, N.C. (Y.E.S Greensboro)
9. Moises Hernandez, Top Sail, N.C. (U.S. Marines)

120 kg/264.5 pounds
Qualified for best-of-three finals: Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)

Challenge Tournament seeds
1. Russ Davie, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
2. Timothy Taylor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
3. Erik Nye, Sacramento, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
4. Peter Kowalczuk, Oak Park, Ill. (NMU/USOEC)
5. David Arendt, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)
6. Cole Konrad, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
7. Mark Simmonds, Minneapolis, Minn. (U.S. Navy)
8. Max Lossen, Winona, Minn. (Cross Current)

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