World champs Zadick, Smith, Byers among U.S. stars to compete at Dave Schultz Memorial International
Share:
by Gary Abbott
Click here for preliminary tentative list of U.S. entries
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The 10th annual Dave Schultz Memorial International has attracted top wrestlers from all over the World. There will be no shortage of top Americans ready to take them on in the event set for Feb. 8-10, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
Among the wrestlers from the U.S. who are expected to compete are past World Champions Bill Zadick (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC in men's freestyle at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army in Greco-Roman at 120 kg/264.5 lbs., and Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army in women's freestyle at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Zadick won a gold medal at the 2006 World Championships in Guangzhou, China. Byers won a gold medal at the 2002 World Championships in Moscow, Russia. Smith won a gold medal at the 2005 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) is registered to compete at 55 kg/121 lbs. in men's freestyle wrestling. Due to injuries, Abas has not competed in nearly two years.
Two-time Olympian Jim Gruenwald (Marquette, Mich./Sunkist Kids) is registered to compete at 60 kg/132 lbs. in Greco-Roman wrestling. He competed at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. One of his 2004 U.S. Olympic teammates, Oscar Wood (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) is expected in the Greco-Roman field at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Another 2004 U.S. Olympian, freestyle star Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) is also among those who may attend.
The event was created in February 1999 by USA Wrestling, working with Nancy Schultz and the Dave Schultz Wrestling Foundation, as an international wrestling tournament in honor of the late Olympic and World Champion Dave Schultz. This is the 10th year for the Dave Schultz Memorial International. Previously, USA Wrestling held the Colorado Open in Colorado Springs at this time of the year.
The Dave Schultz Memorial International is an open event for American wrestlers. Although many have chosen to pre-register, others may attend and sign up at the event. The roster of U.S. athletes is preliminary and was developed from information from USA Wrestling National Coaches, club leaders and pre-registration materials. This information may change in the upcoming days.
A number of other U.S. wrestlers who have won World medals are also expected in the event. In the women's division, World silver medalist Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) is expected to compete.
A pair of two-time World bronze medalists in women's wrestling, Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo/Gator WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. are also in the preliminary lists. Other past World bronze medalists Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman and Donny Pritzlaff (Madison, Wis./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. in men's freestyle are also registered to compete.
A number of other past U.S. World Team members are among the tentative participants, including:
* Michael Lightner (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs. in freestyle
* Jake Clark (Quantico, Va. U.S. Marines) at 84 kg/185 lbs. in Greco-Roman
* Keith Sieracki (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 84 kg/185 lbs. in Greco-Roman
* Mary Kelly (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. in women's freestyle
* Erin Tomeo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 59 kg/130 lbs. in women's freestyle
Numerous other competitors, including past University World medalists, Junior World medalists and NCAA Div. I champions, are among the wrestlers in the preliminary entry lists.
As many as 10 World or Olympic champions from foreign nations are expected as well.
Nations expected to take part include: Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Mongolia, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Tajikistan, Uganda, 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 apiece on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 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.
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)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The 10th annual Dave Schultz Memorial International has attracted top wrestlers from all over the World. There will be no shortage of top Americans ready to take them on in the event set for Feb. 8-10, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
Among the wrestlers from the U.S. who are expected to compete are past World Champions Bill Zadick (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC in men's freestyle at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army in Greco-Roman at 120 kg/264.5 lbs., and Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army in women's freestyle at 72 kg/158.5 lbs.
Zadick won a gold medal at the 2006 World Championships in Guangzhou, China. Byers won a gold medal at the 2002 World Championships in Moscow, Russia. Smith won a gold medal at the 2005 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) is registered to compete at 55 kg/121 lbs. in men's freestyle wrestling. Due to injuries, Abas has not competed in nearly two years.
Two-time Olympian Jim Gruenwald (Marquette, Mich./Sunkist Kids) is registered to compete at 60 kg/132 lbs. in Greco-Roman wrestling. He competed at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. One of his 2004 U.S. Olympic teammates, Oscar Wood (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) is expected in the Greco-Roman field at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Another 2004 U.S. Olympian, freestyle star Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) is also among those who may attend.
The event was created in February 1999 by USA Wrestling, working with Nancy Schultz and the Dave Schultz Wrestling Foundation, as an international wrestling tournament in honor of the late Olympic and World Champion Dave Schultz. This is the 10th year for the Dave Schultz Memorial International. Previously, USA Wrestling held the Colorado Open in Colorado Springs at this time of the year.
The Dave Schultz Memorial International is an open event for American wrestlers. Although many have chosen to pre-register, others may attend and sign up at the event. The roster of U.S. athletes is preliminary and was developed from information from USA Wrestling National Coaches, club leaders and pre-registration materials. This information may change in the upcoming days.
A number of other U.S. wrestlers who have won World medals are also expected in the event. In the women's division, World silver medalist Stephanie Murata (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) is expected to compete.
A pair of two-time World bronze medalists in women's wrestling, Sally Roberts (Colorado Springs, Colo/Gator WC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. are also in the preliminary lists. Other past World bronze medalists Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman and Donny Pritzlaff (Madison, Wis./New York AC) at 74 kg/163 lbs. in men's freestyle are also registered to compete.
A number of other past U.S. World Team members are among the tentative participants, including:
* Michael Lightner (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs. in freestyle
* Jake Clark (Quantico, Va. U.S. Marines) at 84 kg/185 lbs. in Greco-Roman
* Keith Sieracki (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) at 84 kg/185 lbs. in Greco-Roman
* Mary Kelly (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. in women's freestyle
* Erin Tomeo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 59 kg/130 lbs. in women's freestyle
Numerous other competitors, including past University World medalists, Junior World medalists and NCAA Div. I champions, are among the wrestlers in the preliminary entry lists.
As many as 10 World or Olympic champions from foreign nations are expected as well.
Nations expected to take part include: Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kazakstan, Mongolia, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Tajikistan, Uganda, 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 apiece on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 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.
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)
Read More#
Kriebel named by USA Wrestling to a new position, Manager of Athlete Career Transition & Women’s Inclusion
USA Wrestling Silver Coaches College set for April 2-3 in Spokane, Wash., prior to Women’s Nationals
2025 Armed Forces Wrestling Championships set for Fort Bliss in Texas, March 8-9
United World Wrestling and RUDIS: Historic partnership to unite and elevate wrestling worldwide
