Dave Schultz Memorial International celebrates 10th year in Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 8-10
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by Elizabeth Wiley
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The 2008 Dave Schultz Memorial International will celebrate its 10th year of competition, featuring some of the best wrestlers in the world.
This year features top international athletes from as many as 30 countries, as well as an expanded three day competition schedule.
The event will take place at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Spring on Feb. 8-10. The event was created in February 1999. USA Wrestling, working with Nancy Schultz and the Dave Schultz Wrestling Foundation, created an international wrestling tournament in honor of the late Olympic and World Champion Dave Schultz.
The field includes an abundance of wrestlers with sparkling credentials and features some of the top wrestling nations and athletes in the world. The strength of programs such as Russia, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Georgia, and Kazakhstan guarantees that winning a medal at this tournament in any of the three styles will be a great achievement.
The following World or Olympic champions from other nations expected to compete include:
Alexander Kostadinov of Bulgaria (Greco-Roman 55 kg/121 lbs.)
Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria (Greco-Roman 60 kg/132 lbs.)
Nikolay Gergov of Bulgaria (Greco-Roman 66 kg/145.5 lbs.)
Yavor Yankiev of Bulgaria (Greco-Roman 74 kg/163 lbs)
Mijain Lopez Nunez of Cuba (Greco-Roman 120 kg/264.5 lbs)
Radoslav Velikov of Bulgaria (freestyle, 55 kg/121 lbs.)
Stanka Zlateva of Bulgaria (women 72 kg/158.5 lbs.)
Nikola Hartmann-Duenser of Austria (women 63 kg/138.75 lbs.)
Gudrun Hoeie of Norway (women 55 kg/121 lbs.)
Nine of this year's foreign competitors have previously won at the Dave Schultz Memorial: Lopez, Nazarian, Zlateva, Gergov, Roman Melyoshin of Kazakstan, Nurbakyt Tengisbayev of Kazakstan, Mihail Petrov Ganev of Bulgaria, Anita Schaetzle of Germany, and Alexis Rodriguez of Cuba.
Nazarian is a three-time World Champion and two-time Olympic Champion. He was also a Schultz champion in 1999 in the 63 kg/138.75 weight class.
Velikov turned in an impressive showing in capturing the 2006 World title in freestyle wrestling. He beat past World Champion Sammie Henson of the U.S. in the semifinals before downing top young Russian prospect Besik Kudukhov in the finals.
Zlateva is a decorated international wrestler and won 2006 and 2007 World Championship gold medals the last two years. She was 2006 Dave Schultz women's freestyle champion at the 72 kg/158.5 lbs weight class.
Nations expected to take part include: Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, India, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Macedonia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morroco, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Tajikistan, Uganda, Ukraine, the United States, and Venezuela. A few other nations are possible participants.
Adult all-session tickets for the three-day event are $15 apiece. Adult tickets are $10 per day, or $5 per session. Adult tickets for medals and finals matches only are $8 each. Cost of tickets for high school students (with I.D.) and senior citizens (62 and over) is $5 per day. Youth (5-14 years old) tickets are $4 per day. Coaches are admitted free with five paid wrestlers.
Due to the international wrestling rules, there will be gold-medal finals all three nights of the championships. These are the weight classes that will be contested each day:
Friday, Feb. 8: Greco-Roman (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg)
Saturday, Feb. 9: Freestyle (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg); Greco-Roman (84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
Sunday, Feb. 10: Freestyle (74 kg, 84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 73 kg)
In addition to the international competitors, hundreds of top U.S. wrestlers in all three styles are expected to compete. More information on the U.S. entries will be published next week.
DAVE SCHULTZ MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE
Thursday, Feb. 7
11 a.m.-2 p.m. - Registration (Open to all competitors)
2:30-3 p.m. - Weigh-ins: Greco-Roman (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg)
Friday, Feb. 8
9 a.m-1:30 p.m. - Session I: Greco-Roman (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg)
1-2 p.m. - Registration (Open to all remaining)
2:30-3 p.m. - Weigh-ins: Freestyle (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg); Greco-Roman (84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
4 p.m.-conclusion - Session II: Greco-Roman (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg)
Saturday, Feb. 9
9 a.m.-2:15 p.m. - Session I: Freestyle (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg); Greco-Roman (84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
1-2 p.m. - Registration (Open to all remaining)
2:30-3 p.m. - Weigh-ins: Freestyle (74 kg, 84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg)
4 p.m.-conclusion - Session II: Freestyle (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg); Greco-Roman (84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
Sunday, Feb. 10
9 a.m.-2:15 p.m. - Session I: Freestyle (74 kg, 84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg)
4:00 p.m.-conclusion - Session II: Freestyle (74 kg, 84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg)
This year features top international athletes from as many as 30 countries, as well as an expanded three day competition schedule.
The event will take place at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Spring on Feb. 8-10. The event was created in February 1999. USA Wrestling, working with Nancy Schultz and the Dave Schultz Wrestling Foundation, created an international wrestling tournament in honor of the late Olympic and World Champion Dave Schultz.
The field includes an abundance of wrestlers with sparkling credentials and features some of the top wrestling nations and athletes in the world. The strength of programs such as Russia, Bulgaria, China, Cuba, Georgia, and Kazakhstan guarantees that winning a medal at this tournament in any of the three styles will be a great achievement.
The following World or Olympic champions from other nations expected to compete include:
Alexander Kostadinov of Bulgaria (Greco-Roman 55 kg/121 lbs.)
Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria (Greco-Roman 60 kg/132 lbs.)
Nikolay Gergov of Bulgaria (Greco-Roman 66 kg/145.5 lbs.)
Yavor Yankiev of Bulgaria (Greco-Roman 74 kg/163 lbs)
Mijain Lopez Nunez of Cuba (Greco-Roman 120 kg/264.5 lbs)
Radoslav Velikov of Bulgaria (freestyle, 55 kg/121 lbs.)
Stanka Zlateva of Bulgaria (women 72 kg/158.5 lbs.)
Nikola Hartmann-Duenser of Austria (women 63 kg/138.75 lbs.)
Gudrun Hoeie of Norway (women 55 kg/121 lbs.)
Nine of this year's foreign competitors have previously won at the Dave Schultz Memorial: Lopez, Nazarian, Zlateva, Gergov, Roman Melyoshin of Kazakstan, Nurbakyt Tengisbayev of Kazakstan, Mihail Petrov Ganev of Bulgaria, Anita Schaetzle of Germany, and Alexis Rodriguez of Cuba.
Nazarian is a three-time World Champion and two-time Olympic Champion. He was also a Schultz champion in 1999 in the 63 kg/138.75 weight class.
Velikov turned in an impressive showing in capturing the 2006 World title in freestyle wrestling. He beat past World Champion Sammie Henson of the U.S. in the semifinals before downing top young Russian prospect Besik Kudukhov in the finals.
Zlateva is a decorated international wrestler and won 2006 and 2007 World Championship gold medals the last two years. She was 2006 Dave Schultz women's freestyle champion at the 72 kg/158.5 lbs weight class.
Nations expected to take part include: Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, India, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Macedonia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morroco, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Tajikistan, Uganda, Ukraine, the United States, and Venezuela. A few other nations are possible participants.
Adult all-session tickets for the three-day event are $15 apiece. Adult tickets are $10 per day, or $5 per session. Adult tickets for medals and finals matches only are $8 each. Cost of tickets for high school students (with I.D.) and senior citizens (62 and over) is $5 per day. Youth (5-14 years old) tickets are $4 per day. Coaches are admitted free with five paid wrestlers.
Due to the international wrestling rules, there will be gold-medal finals all three nights of the championships. These are the weight classes that will be contested each day:
Friday, Feb. 8: Greco-Roman (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg)
Saturday, Feb. 9: Freestyle (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg); Greco-Roman (84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
Sunday, Feb. 10: Freestyle (74 kg, 84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 73 kg)
In addition to the international competitors, hundreds of top U.S. wrestlers in all three styles are expected to compete. More information on the U.S. entries will be published next week.
DAVE SCHULTZ MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE
Thursday, Feb. 7
11 a.m.-2 p.m. - Registration (Open to all competitors)
2:30-3 p.m. - Weigh-ins: Greco-Roman (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg)
Friday, Feb. 8
9 a.m-1:30 p.m. - Session I: Greco-Roman (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg)
1-2 p.m. - Registration (Open to all remaining)
2:30-3 p.m. - Weigh-ins: Freestyle (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg); Greco-Roman (84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
4 p.m.-conclusion - Session II: Greco-Roman (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg, 74 kg)
Saturday, Feb. 9
9 a.m.-2:15 p.m. - Session I: Freestyle (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg); Greco-Roman (84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
1-2 p.m. - Registration (Open to all remaining)
2:30-3 p.m. - Weigh-ins: Freestyle (74 kg, 84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg)
4 p.m.-conclusion - Session II: Freestyle (55 kg, 60 kg, 66 kg); Greco-Roman (84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
Sunday, Feb. 10
9 a.m.-2:15 p.m. - Session I: Freestyle (74 kg, 84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg)
4:00 p.m.-conclusion - Session II: Freestyle (74 kg, 84 kg, 96 kg, 120 kg); Women's freestyle (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg)
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