Wrestlers with Illinois ties excited about opportunity to wrestle in Chicago Cup
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by Craig Sesker
When women's freestyle wrestler Mary Kelly was invited to compete in the 2008 Chicago Cup, she jumped at the opportunity.
Kelly grew up just a short drive south of Chicago in Mahomet, Ill., and she wrestled in the inaugural 2007 Chicago Cup that drew a near-capacity crowd at Northwestern University's Welsh-Ryan Arena.
"That was probably the most exciting wrestling event I've ever participated in," said Kelly, a 2006 U.S. World Team member. "There were so many fans there. Being able to wrestle in front of 8,000 fans was very exciting. Fans were following us around and asking for autographs. I felt like a celebrity - I had never experienced anything like that before. Hopefully, the atmosphere will be like that again this year."
Kelly is among a handful of U.S. Olympic hopefuls with Illinois ties who are scheduled to compete in the second edition of the Chicago Cup on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
Three of the seven members of the U.S. Greco-Roman squad - Lindsey Durlacher, T.C. Dantzler and Joe Betterman - grew up in the Chicago metropolitan area.
The powerful U.S. Greco-Roman World Team, which won the team title at the 2007 World Championships, will compete against a strong team from Bulgaria in the Chicago Cup. The Bulgarians feature three individual World champions in their lineup.
Kelly (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) is part of the U.S. women's freestyle team that will battle Poland in the four Olympic weight classes for women. Kelly competes at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
The Chicago Cup will provide a top-level competition for American athletes as they continue preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Durlacher has made the last three U.S. World Teams at 55 kg/121 lbs. He won a World bronze medal in 2006 before placing fifth at the 2007 Worlds. He won an Illinois state title for Buffalo Grove (Ill.) High School.
Durlacher defeated China's Li Shujin 6-0, 2-2 at the 2007 Chicago Cup.
"The Chicago Cup is just a first-class event," Durlacher said. "It was very exciting to come home and wrestle in front of a lot of friends and family last year. World Sport Chicago put on a terrific show for the crowd. It was a spectacular event with a lot of flair to it. It was a lot of fun to be a part of. I'm looking forward to wrestling in it again."
Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) is scheduled to face Bulgaria's Venelin Venkov, the wrestler he beat in the bronze-medal match at the 2006 World Championships.
"The Bulgarian team is loaded," Durlacher said. "They are very strong at every weight class. It should be an unbelievable dual. Venkov is a real tough wrestler - it will be a good test for me."
Dantzler has made the last five U.S. World Teams at 74 kg/163 lbs. He placed fifth at the 2006 World Championships. He attended Thornwood High School in South Holland, Ill. He placed second at the Illinois state tournament in high school.
Dantzler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) is scheduled to face 2007 World champion Yavor Yanakiev of Bulgaria.
"I'm really looking forward to wrestling in the Chicago Cup and having an opportunity to wrestle the World champion," Dantzler said. "I never thought I would get a chance to wrestle back home again. The last time I wrestled in Chicago was at University Nationals in 1993 or 1994. It's going to be a real good homecoming and a great chance for me to showcase my skills."
Dantzler is shooting to make his first U.S. Olympic Team this year.
"I think about the Olympics all the time," he said. "I'm not going to let the opportunity slip away this time."
Betterman (Chicago, Ill./USOEC/New York AC) wrestled for the U.S. at 60 kg/132 lbs. at the 2007 World Championships. He attended Lakeview High School in Chicago. He was a state placewinner in high school.
Betterman is scheduled to face Greco-Roman legend Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria. Nazarian is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World champion.
Tickets for the Chicago Cup are $10 for adults and $5 for students and youth under 18 years of age. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Tickets.com hotline at 800-511-1552 or online by Clicking here
Any questions in regards to the event should be directed to 312-616-5450 or info@worldsportchicago.org
Kelly grew up just a short drive south of Chicago in Mahomet, Ill., and she wrestled in the inaugural 2007 Chicago Cup that drew a near-capacity crowd at Northwestern University's Welsh-Ryan Arena.
"That was probably the most exciting wrestling event I've ever participated in," said Kelly, a 2006 U.S. World Team member. "There were so many fans there. Being able to wrestle in front of 8,000 fans was very exciting. Fans were following us around and asking for autographs. I felt like a celebrity - I had never experienced anything like that before. Hopefully, the atmosphere will be like that again this year."
Kelly is among a handful of U.S. Olympic hopefuls with Illinois ties who are scheduled to compete in the second edition of the Chicago Cup on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
Three of the seven members of the U.S. Greco-Roman squad - Lindsey Durlacher, T.C. Dantzler and Joe Betterman - grew up in the Chicago metropolitan area.
The powerful U.S. Greco-Roman World Team, which won the team title at the 2007 World Championships, will compete against a strong team from Bulgaria in the Chicago Cup. The Bulgarians feature three individual World champions in their lineup.
Kelly (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) is part of the U.S. women's freestyle team that will battle Poland in the four Olympic weight classes for women. Kelly competes at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.
The Chicago Cup will provide a top-level competition for American athletes as they continue preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Durlacher has made the last three U.S. World Teams at 55 kg/121 lbs. He won a World bronze medal in 2006 before placing fifth at the 2007 Worlds. He won an Illinois state title for Buffalo Grove (Ill.) High School.
Durlacher defeated China's Li Shujin 6-0, 2-2 at the 2007 Chicago Cup.
"The Chicago Cup is just a first-class event," Durlacher said. "It was very exciting to come home and wrestle in front of a lot of friends and family last year. World Sport Chicago put on a terrific show for the crowd. It was a spectacular event with a lot of flair to it. It was a lot of fun to be a part of. I'm looking forward to wrestling in it again."
Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) is scheduled to face Bulgaria's Venelin Venkov, the wrestler he beat in the bronze-medal match at the 2006 World Championships.
"The Bulgarian team is loaded," Durlacher said. "They are very strong at every weight class. It should be an unbelievable dual. Venkov is a real tough wrestler - it will be a good test for me."
Dantzler has made the last five U.S. World Teams at 74 kg/163 lbs. He placed fifth at the 2006 World Championships. He attended Thornwood High School in South Holland, Ill. He placed second at the Illinois state tournament in high school.
Dantzler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) is scheduled to face 2007 World champion Yavor Yanakiev of Bulgaria.
"I'm really looking forward to wrestling in the Chicago Cup and having an opportunity to wrestle the World champion," Dantzler said. "I never thought I would get a chance to wrestle back home again. The last time I wrestled in Chicago was at University Nationals in 1993 or 1994. It's going to be a real good homecoming and a great chance for me to showcase my skills."
Dantzler is shooting to make his first U.S. Olympic Team this year.
"I think about the Olympics all the time," he said. "I'm not going to let the opportunity slip away this time."
Betterman (Chicago, Ill./USOEC/New York AC) wrestled for the U.S. at 60 kg/132 lbs. at the 2007 World Championships. He attended Lakeview High School in Chicago. He was a state placewinner in high school.
Betterman is scheduled to face Greco-Roman legend Armen Nazarian of Bulgaria. Nazarian is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World champion.
Tickets for the Chicago Cup are $10 for adults and $5 for students and youth under 18 years of age. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Tickets.com hotline at 800-511-1552 or online by Clicking here
Any questions in regards to the event should be directed to 312-616-5450 or info@worldsportchicago.org
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