|
|
|
U.S. to face Russia in freestyle wrestling dual
meet in Mount Vernon on Nov. 18 A team of top U.S. wrestlers will compete in a
freestyle dual meet against a team from Russia in Mount Vernon, Iowa
on Wednesday, November 18. It will be held at the Small Multi-Sports Center
at Cornell College. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with wrestling starting
at 7:00 p.m. The local organizing committee is the Hawkeye Wrestling
Club. “I am fired up about this,” said Terry Brands,
coach for the Hawkeye Wrestling Club and an assistant wrestling
coach at the Univ. of Iowa. “We have high expectations for both
teams. We look forward to this event.” Tickets will cost $10 for adults and $5 for
students. Information on how to purchase tickets will be announced
shortly. The U.S. team will very strong. Three U.S.
Olympic team members, all who were also stars for the Univ. of Iowa,
will compete in the event. 2008 U.S. Olympians Mike Zadick (Solon,
Iowa/Gator WC), Doug Schwab (Coralville, Iowa/Gator WC) and Steve
Mocco (Coralville, Iowa/New York AC) will be in the U.S. lineup.
Schwab and Mocco both won NCAA Div. I titles for Iowa, while Zadick
was an All-American for the Hawkeyes. Zadick won a World silver
medal for the United States in 2006. Zadick will compete at 60 kg/132 lbs., Schwab
will wrestle at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Mocco will compete at 120
kg/264.5 lbs. Two of the other U.S. team members train
full-time in Iowa City. Paul Donahoe, a past NCAA champion for
Nebraska, will compete at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Lloyd Rogers, who
starred at Tennessee-Chattanooga, will wrestle at 74 kg/163 lbs. Also in the lineup is Bryce Hasseman (Colorado
Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.. Hasseman climbed to
the No. 2 position on Freestyle Team USA last season while training
in Iowa City under coach Terry Brands. The U.S. team member at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. has not
yet been determined, but will be a talented, nationally-ranked
athlete. Russia is the defending World Team champions in
freestyle wrestling, and has been a long-time rival for
international supremacy with the United States. The Russian lineup
has not yet been finalized, but should include a number of athletes
who have won medals on the international level. The Russian team is
also expected to compete in other dual meets in Illinois and New
York, as well as wrestle in the New York AC International Open in
New York City on November 22. "We have a very strong group of American
athletes," said Hawkeye Wrestling Club coach Mike Duroe, who is the
head wrestling coach at Cornell College. "I have seen so many of our
guys develop over the years and I think we will be extremely
competitive. The Russians are always tough but there will
definitely be a hometown advantage competing so close to Iowa City.
We will have a lot of Hawkeye fans there and even more USA Wrestling
fans!” Duroe is excited that Cornell College will host
the event. His goal is to pack more than 2,000 fans in the arena,
which will provide an outstanding atmosphere and intensity for the
dual meet. "We have hosted so many exciting events here at
the college and Cornell has an amazing history in the sport of
wrestling," said Duroe. "It goes back to the 1940's and 1950's
when Cornell would sell out the gym for major meets. It is a
great thing for Cornell and Mt. Vernon to host a meet of this
magnitude. It brings positive attention to the College and the
community. The interest in wrestling on the high school,
college and international levels is very big here and in the
surrounding area and I am confident this international event will
get a lot of interest." Information on the Russian team lineup and other
details about the dual meet will be announced when available. For information about the event, contact Hawkeye
Wrestling Club board member Darin Williams at 319-389-6400. USA vs. RUSSIA FREESTYLE WRESTLING DUAL
|