I & III Selection System and Try-Out Sites and Events USA Wrestling will be using the 2003 U.S. World Team Trials in Indianapolis, Ind. as the qualifying event. The World Team Trials are scheduled for June 20-22, 2003 in Indianapolis, Ind. Athletes qualify for the World Team Trials by meeting any one of the following criteria:
- U.S. National Championships, May, 2003 Top 7 in Greco-Roman and men's freestyle Top 8 in women's freestyle Open to athletes eligible to represent the USA in World/Olympic/Pan Am competition. Same eligibility requirements for all three events.
- Regionals USA Wrestling hosts regional championships throughout the USA. The highest placing U.S. finisher at three regionals for men's Greco-Roman and freestyle and 2 regionals in women's freestyle qualify. Regionals are held in March and April of 2003.
- Current year National Team members Top three ranked athletes from the 2002 U.S. World Team Trials automatically qualify.
- NCAA finalists Top two place finishers from the 2003 Division I NCAA Championships.
- Past U.S. World and Olympic Team Members
- 2003 University Nationals Champion Greco-Roman and women's freestyle
- Placement in the top 3 at a FILA "A" level competition between June 2001 to June 2003 This includes the Pan Am Championships but not the Sunkist International.
- Junior World Medalist from 2001 to 2003
The winner of the World Team Trials will be USA Wrestling's nominee to represent the USA in the Pan Am Games. Replacement Procedure at each of the Pan Am Games weight classes If an athlete is unable to participate in the Pan Am Games due to illness or injury or elects not to participate the next highest ranked athlete from the World Team Trials at that weight class will be USA Wrestling's nominee. USA Wrestling will use the OTC medical staff or the USOC assigned Team Doctor to determine if the athlete is incapacitated and would not be able to compete if the athlete does not voluntarily give up the Pan Am Games position due to injury or illness. 2003 World Team Trials Procedure All qualifiers except for the National Champion will compete in a line bracket double elimination to third tournament. The winner of the tournament will face the National Champion in a best of three competition. The 2003 U.S. National Champion may request a delay of the final wrestle-off if they are unable to compete due to a medical reason. The request for delay of the final wrestle-off must be submitted to the National Teams Director. The appropriate Sport Committee will hear the request for delay. If there is not sufficient time to organize a Sport Committee meeting an Ad Hoc Committee will be named by the President of USA Wrestling to hear the request. If the National Champion is granted a delay, the next highest place finisher at the weight class from the 2003 Nationals will be moved from the tournament and placed into the top-ranked position and face the winner of the tournament in a best of three competition. This winner will compete against the National Champion at a date and site to be determined in a best of three competition. This wrestle off must take place prior to the Pan Am entry deadline. This wrestle-off must take place at least 48 hours prior to the Pan Am entry deadline Regionals
Rocky Mountain, March 27-29, 2003, Laramie, Wyo.
Northeast, April 11-13, 2003, Brockport, N.Y.
Northern Plains, April 16-19, 2003, LaCrosse, Wis.
University Natl. Champ., April 3-6, 2003, Evanston, Ill.
National Championships, May 8-9, 2003, Las Vegas, Nev. World Team Trials, June 20-22, 2003, Indianapolis, Ind. IV. Publicity/Distribution of Procedures The qualification procedures will be posted on
usawrestling.org and
themat.com web sites. The procedures will also be listed in the "USA Wrestler" publication which goes out to all members of the organization. We will direct mail the top 12 ranked athletes at each weight class along with the senior level clubs and coaches. V. Date of Nomination USA Wrestling will send the list of nominations to the U.S.O.C. immediately following the June 22 trials. This will include all weight classes except where a delay has been granted. At weight classes where a delay is granted the nomination will be made at least 48 hours prior to the Pan Am entry deadline. VI. Mandatory Training USA Wrestling will be requiring a 7-10 day training camp prior to the departure of the team to the Pan Am Games. This camp will be scheduled for Colorado Springs., Colo. Exceptions to camp attendance can only be made by the National Coach. VII. Athlete Representation The selection process has been approved by the Athlete Advisory Committee comprised of 10 athletes from all three styles. In addition the Freestyle Sport Committee, the Womens Sport Committee and the Greco-Roman Sport committee all consisting of at least 20% athlete representation, have also approved the selection process. Athlete Ombudsman If you have questions regarding your opportunity to compete that are not answered by USA Wrestling, you may contact the USOC Athlete Ombudsman: John W. Ruger by telephone at (888) ATHLETE, or by e-mail at john.ruger@usoc.org. National/International Disclaimer "These procedures are based on IOC, FILA, PASO and/or USA Wrestling rules and regulations as presently known and understood. Any change in the selection procedures caused by a change in IOC, FILA, PASO and/or USA Wrestling rules and regulations will be distributed to the affected athletes immediately. The selection criteria are based on the latest information available to USA Wrestling. However, the selections are always subject to unforeseen, intervening circumstances, and realistically have not accounted for every possible contingency.
