U.S. freestyle team to compete in Medved International in Belarus, Oct.19-21
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by Gary Abbott
A team of talented U.S. freestyle wrestlers will compete in a very competitive early season international competition, the Alexander Medved International in Minsk, Belarus, Oct. 19-21.
The U.S. team will be loaded with athletes who are expected to be challengers in their weight classes for the upcoming 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials process. Although none of the athletes are currently top ranked in their division on Team USA, all of competitors have high national rankings and are considered Olympic hopefuls.
USA Wrestling's National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson will be coaching the team.
Among the top athletes on the roster is 2006 World bronze medalist Donny Pritzlaff (Madison, Wis./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Three other team members have competed on past U.S. World Teams, Chris Bono (Ringgold, Ga./Sunkist Kids) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Mo Lawal (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Bono has made three U.S. World Teams. Lawal competed at the 2005 World Championships and Hrovat competed in the 2006 World meet.
Six of the team members are currently ranked No. 2 in the nation at their division. They include Bono, Hrovat and Lawal, plus Matt Azevedo (Pismo Beach, Calif./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Casey Cunningham (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
U.S TEAM FOR ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
At Minsk, Belarus, October 19-21
55 kg/121 lbs. - Matt Azevedo, Pismo Beach, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Nick Simmons, Williamston, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Zach Roberson, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch. Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Frayer, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Chris Bono, Ringgold, Ga. (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Zach Esposito, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Casey Cunningham, Mt. Pleasant, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Donny Pritzlaff, Madison, Wis. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Clint Wattenberg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Lee Fullhart, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Mo Lawal, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Damion Hahn, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Kyle Cerminara, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steve Mocco, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson, Colorado Springs, Colo.
The U.S. team will be loaded with athletes who are expected to be challengers in their weight classes for the upcoming 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials process. Although none of the athletes are currently top ranked in their division on Team USA, all of competitors have high national rankings and are considered Olympic hopefuls.
USA Wrestling's National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson will be coaching the team.
Among the top athletes on the roster is 2006 World bronze medalist Donny Pritzlaff (Madison, Wis./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Three other team members have competed on past U.S. World Teams, Chris Bono (Ringgold, Ga./Sunkist Kids) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Andy Hrovat (Ann Arbor, Mich./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Mo Lawal (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Bono has made three U.S. World Teams. Lawal competed at the 2005 World Championships and Hrovat competed in the 2006 World meet.
Six of the team members are currently ranked No. 2 in the nation at their division. They include Bono, Hrovat and Lawal, plus Matt Azevedo (Pismo Beach, Calif./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Casey Cunningham (Mt. Pleasant, Mich./Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Steve Mocco (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
U.S TEAM FOR ALEXANDER MEDVED INTERNATIONAL
At Minsk, Belarus, October 19-21
55 kg/121 lbs. - Matt Azevedo, Pismo Beach, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Nick Simmons, Williamston, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Zach Roberson, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Shawn Bunch. Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Jared Frayer, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Chris Bono, Ringgold, Ga. (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Zach Esposito, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Casey Cunningham, Mt. Pleasant, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Donny Pritzlaff, Madison, Wis. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Clint Wattenberg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Lee Fullhart, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Mo Lawal, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Damion Hahn, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Kyle Cerminara, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Steve Mocco, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson, Colorado Springs, Colo.
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