Nation’s top wrestlers to compete in U.S. World Team Trials in Stillwater, Okla., June 21-23

The top Olympic-caliber wrestlers in the United States will come together to battle for spots on Team USA at the 2013 ASICS U.S. World Team Trials at Gallagher-Iba Arena on the Oklahoma State campus, June 21-23. The event will feature the top hopefuls for the 2016 Olympic Games in the Senior division, as well as future Olympic hopefuls in the FILA Junior division.

The U.S. Senior World Team Trials will be hosted Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22, featuring athletes in the three Olympic styles of wrestling: men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. Champions will qualify to represent the United States at the 2013 World Wrestling Championship in Budapest, Hungary, on Sept. 16-22.

Top stars are expected to compete, including Olympic and World champion Jordan Burroughs at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott at 60 kg/132 lbs., both in men’s freestyle.

Joining Burroughs as past World champions in the field are two-time World champion Kristie Davis at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in women’s freestyle, plus World champions Elena Pirozhkova at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Adeline Gray at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in women’s freestyle and World champion Dremiel Byers at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman. Numerous past Olympians and World Team members will be in the field in all three styles.

Scott and Davis are among the local stars in the field. Scott was an NCAA champion at Oklahoma State and trains and coaches in Stillwater. Davis won two WCWA women’s college national titles for Oklahoma City Univ.

2012 Olympian Sam Hazewinkel at 55 kg/121 lbs. and 2012 Olympic Trials runner-up Andrew Howe both train at the Univ. of Oklahoma. Stars who competed for Oklahoma State include U.S. Open champion Obe Blanc at 55 kg/121 lbs. and U.S. Open runners-up Jordan Oliver at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Clayton Foster at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Chris Pendleton at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. U.S. Open champion Brittney Roberts at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. is among the many women’s entries from Oklahoma City Univ.

All of the weight classes will be very competitive, but wrestling fans are especially excited about the battle at 74 kg/163 lbs. in men’s freestyle. World and Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs headlines the division. Expected to compete are four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake, U.S. Open runner-up David Taylor, Olympic Trials runner-up Andrew Howe, 2009 World Team member Trent Paulson, past U.S. Open runner-up Nick Marable and other stars.

Based upon the approved World Team Trials procedures, champions from the 2013 U.S. Open in Las Vegas in men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle will advance directly to the best-of-three Championship Series in their weight class. None of the Greco-Roman U.S. Open champions advance to the finals series, but will receive the top seed in the Challenge Tournament.

The U.S.  FILA Junior World Team Trials, featuring the nation’s best 17-20 year old athletes in men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman, is scheduled for Sunday, June 23. Champions will qualify to represent the United States at the 2013 FILA Junior World Wrestling Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria, August 13-18.

The ASICS U.S. World Team Trials has been declared an official event for Olympic Day 2013 by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Olympic Day is celebrated worldwide each year to promote the Olympic values and participation in sport across the globe, regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.

USA Wrestling has invited Olympians from all sports as guests at the World Team Trials as part of the Olympic Day celebration. Oklahoma Olympians who would like to attend as special guests of the hosts should contact Krista Graff of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame by email at kgraff@nwhof.org or by phone at 405-377-5243.

The local organizing committee for the event will include Oklahoma State University, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum and the Stillwater Wrestling Club.

All-session tickets are still available through the Oklahoma State ticket office or at theworldteamtrials.com. General admission is $30 and reserved 200-level tickets are $50. Single session tickets will also be sold for the event.

2013 ASICS U.S. WORLD TEAM TRIALS

At Stillwater, Okla. June 21-23

Event Schedule

Friday, June 21 – U.S. World Team Trials

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Session 1: Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Challenge Finals/Consolations and 3^rd Place, Challenge Tournament Finals

-          Men’s Freestyle: 60 kg, 74 kg and 96 kg

-          Greco-Roman: 55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg and 120 kg

-          Women’s Freestyle: 55 kg and 72 kg

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Session 2: Final World Team Trials and True Second Matches

-          Men’s Freestyle: 60 kg, 74 kg and 96 kg

-          Greco-Roman: 55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg and 120 kg

-          Women’s Freestyle: 55 kg and 72 kg

Saturday, June 22 – U.S. World Team Trials

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Session 1: Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Challenge Finals/Consolations and 3^rd Place, Challenge Tournament Finals

-          Men’s Freestyle: 55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg and 120 kg

-          Greco-Roman: 60 kg, 74 kg and 96 kg

-          Women’s Freestyle: 48 kg and 63 kg

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Final World Team Trials and True Second Matches

-          Men’s Freestyle: 55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg and 120 kg

-          Greco-Roman: 60 kg, 74 kg and 96 kg

-          Women’s Freestyle: 48 kg and 63 kg

Following the conclusion of competition – Presentation of the 2013 World Championship Teams

Sunday, June 23 – U.S. FILA Junior World Team Trials

9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Challenge Tournament – Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals

-          FILA Junior Greco-Roman: All Weights

-          FILA Junior Freestyle: All Weights

3:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Final Trials: Match #1, Match #2 and Match #3 (if needed)

-          FILA Junior Greco-Roman: All Weights

-          FILA Junior Freestyle: All Weights

2013 U.S. Open National Champions

Freestyle Champions

55 kg/121 lbs. - Obe Blanc, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC)

60 kg/132 lbs. - Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Kellen Russell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Michigan RTC)

74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska RTC)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Keith Gavin, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)

120 kg /264.5 lbs.- Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids/Ohio RTC)*

Greco-Roman Champions

55 kg/121 lbs. - Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)

60 kg/132 lbs. - Joseph Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)

66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Ellis Coleman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

74 kg/163 lbs.- Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

84 kg/185 lbs. - Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. - John Wechter, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)

120 kg/264.5 lbs. - David Arendt Jr., Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)

Women’s Freestyle Champions

48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)

55 kg/121 lbs. - Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (Sunkist Kids)

63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)

72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Brittany Roberts, Santa Fe, Texas (OKCU Gator Women`s RTC)

*Dlagnev moves into best-of-three Championship Series after U.S. Open champion Dom Bradley withdrew from the World Team Trials.

OSU's Eric Guerrero Talks to Wrestling's Youth on Olympic Action to Takedown

His phone hasn't stopped ringing since 5:30 Tuesday morning. It wasn't other Coaches that he was concerned with, it was the young wrestlers, the parents of America's wrestling youth that had his attention.

In this compelling interview Oklahoma State assistant coach Eric Guerrero speaks directly to the youth of America. 

Eric talks to the parents, coaches and administrators and challenges them into a call to action. He encourages them to call, write, fax and email local TV and Radio Stations. To change the tone. To not see this as a defeat but more over as an opportunity to tell the story of our sport to potentially the biggest audience we've ever had.   Listen Here:   http://www.takedownradio.com/articles/8110

Use social media- Facebook, Twitter and other blogs and websites to keep the word out there. Please contact the Olympic sponsors with good news, including wrestling in the Olympics is the right thing to do.

Eric Guerrero often quotes a line from the book Cowboy Up, "Get the job done! There are no other options, This is the Cowboy way! EG. 
Below you'll find positive talking points to better inform you in our unified fight to make what's wrong right again.
TALKING POINTS ABOUT WRESTLING AND THE OLYMPICS

USA Wrestling has created these talking points for those in the wrestling community in our nation who may be speaking about our sport in light of today's International Olympic Committee announcement. Please read them carefully and refer to them in your public statements.

1) FILA, the international wrestling federation, the U.S. Olympic Committee and USA Wrestling did not expect this announcement. None of these leadership groups anticipated that wrestling was being considered for this.

2) This is a decision by the International Olympic Committee Executive Board. The recommendation is that wrestling not be included as a core sport at the 2020 Olympic Committee. This is not a final decision.

3) The next step is for the IOC Executive Board to recommend a sport for the final spot in the 2020 Olympics. Wrestling will be considered for the position along with seven other sports, which happens in May in St. Petersburg, Russia. Then, the next step is for the entire International Olympic Committee to vote on the final program for the 2020 Olympics, which occurs in September in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

4) This is an opportunity for wrestling to tell its story, not only to the International Olympic Committee leadership but also to the entire world.

5) Wrestling is one of the original sports in the ancient Olympic Games in Greece. Wrestling was also included in the first modern Olympic Games in 1896.

6) Wrestling is one of the most diverse sports in the world, with nearly 200 nations from all continents participating in the sport.

Beat The Street's Bill Crum to Guide MSG's Grapple at the Garden, he Talks to Takedown Radio

 

Des Moines, Iowa

 

December 16th 2012 college wrestling will invade Madison Square Garden for the first time in its illustrious 133 year history.  “Grapple at the Garden,” will include a robust field of fourteen top wrestling teams from around the country. Scheduled to compete: Bloomsburg,  Bucknell,  Chattanooga,  Cornell,  Drexel,  Hofstra,  George Mason, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Ohio State, and Rutgers. This event will consist of dual meets at 10:30am and 12:30pm.

 

The event, designed to promote the sport will benefit wrestling at all levels. New York's Beat the Streets program will be the primary recipient of proceeds.  Many people will be a part of this presentation including Beat the Streets senior consultant Bill Crum.  An original board member of USA Wrestling, Crum has been involved in the sport for over 40 years serving as Assistant Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hudson County and Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Essex County.

 

Crum successfully organized 225 individuals to form the Competition Management Staff for the 2003 World Championships of Freestyle Wrestling in Madison Square Garden. Bill served as a consultant to "NYC2012," the group formed to bring the Olympic Games to the New York Area in the year 2012.  Bill has served as the Event Director for many Local, State, National and International Events, including the U.S. Open Grand Prix. He served as Assistant Competition Manager for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and Competition Manager for the 2003 World Championships.

Bill was named national "State Chairman of the Year" in 1984 and "Junior World Division Leader of the Year" in 1994.
 

To view the official press release, Click Here.

For the official Grapple at the Garden travel packages, Click Here.

For discounted group rates, call MSG Group Sales at (212) 465-6080.

Madison Square Garden has made arrangements with its Signature Airline partner, Delta Airlines, to offer Grapple at the Garden attendees additional discounts from all DL routes to New York.

Reservations and ticketing are available via www.delta.com. When booking online, select “Meeting Event Code”, and enter meeting code NMEW8 in the box provided on the Search Flight page. Reservations may also be made by calling our Delta Meeting reservations at 800-328-1111* Mon-Fri 7am-7pm CDT.

*Please note that there is a direct ticketing fee for booking through the reservation number above.

About Beat the Streets: http://www.beat-the-streets.org/

 

Scott Casber - Takedown Wrestling Media - 515-707-8657

Grapple at The Garden

You Have to be There!

December 16 at Madison Square Garden 

New York City, New York

Get Tickets

Venue: Madison Square Garden

Price Range: $20.00 - $50.00

Dec 2012

Sunday

16

10:30 AM

About the Show

Collegiate wrestling will invade Madison Square Garden for the first time in its illustrious 133 year history for the inaugural “Grapple at the Garden,” presented by Suplay.com on Sunday, December 16. A robust field offourteen top notch wrestling teams including Bloomsburg, Bucknell, Chattanooga, Cornell, Drexel, Hofstra, George Mason, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Ohio State, and Rutgers will participate. This event will consist of dual meets at 10:30am and 12:30pm.

10:30AM:
Mat 1 – PSAL Holiday Tournament (High School)
Mat 2 – Drexel vs. George Mason
Mat 3 - Rutgers vs. Nebraska
Mat 4 - Iowa vs. Hofstra
Mat 5 - Ohio State vs. Maryland
Mat 6 – Cornell vs. Missouri
Mat 7 – Oklahoma State vs. Chattanooga
Mat 8 – PSAL Holiday Tournament (High School)

12:30PM:
Mat 1 – PSAL Holiday Tournament (High School)
Mat 2 -  Iowa vs. Bucknell
Mat 3 – Rutgers vs. Chattanooga
Mat 4 – Ohio State vs. Hofstra
Mat 5 – Nebraska vs. Maryland
Mat 6 – Cornell vs. Oklahoma State
Mat 7 – Missouri vs. Bloomsburg
Mat 8 – PSAL Holiday Tournament (High School)

To view mat locations, Click Here.
To view mat locations by team, Click Here.
To sign up for the exclusive pre-sale, Click Here to become an MSG Insider.
For the official Grapple at the Garden travel packages, Click Here.
For great wrestling products visit, http://suplay.com/
To read the original event press release, Click Here