75 U.S. Olympic Team Trials wrestling story ideas

Olympic Trials Wrestling Story Ideas

1. Team USA hoping to build on momentum from winning Greco-Roman World Championships - After its historic victory at the 2007 World Championships, the U.S. entered the Olympic year as the reigning World Champions in Greco-Roman for the first time.

2. Miranda and Weikel-Magden married to the sport - 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda is coached by her husband Levi Weikel-Magden. Both reside at the U.S. Olympic Training Center to prepare for the Beijing Olympics. Miranda and Weikel-Magden are both Law School graduates. Miranda graduated from Yale Law School in 2007. Both were members of the Stanford wrestling team.

3. After nine World medals, Marano seeks first Olympic berth - Kristie Marano set a U.S. record with her ninth career World medal, tying four-time Olympian Bruce Baumgartner for the record. Marano has not reached her goal of competing in the Olympics, after taking second at the 2004 Olympic Trials. Marano is raising a 10-year-old daughter, Kayla, who just started wrestling. They were profiled recently in a USA Today cover story.

4. Hazewinkel seeks to follow dad's footsteps to Olympics - Sam Hazewinkel, a top Olympic Greco-Roman prospect at 55 kg, is the son of 1968 and 1972 Olympian Dave Hazewinkel. His uncle Jim was also on the '68 and '72 Olympic squads.

5. Oh Henry! - 21-year-old Henry Cejudo, the subject of a 2007 feature in Sports Illustrated, will try to make his first Olympic Team. Cejudo made his first U.S. World Team in 2007. He was second at the U.S. World Team Trials in 2006, nearly making a World Team a day after graduating from high school. He looked strong in pinning 2007 World bronze medalist Andy Moreno of Cuba earlier this year.

6. Hometown hero - Matt Azevedo of Las Vegas is looking to make his first World-level team in front of his friends and family. Azevedo's uncle, John, the head coach at Cal Poly, was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team that did not compete because of the U.S. boycott. Azevedo pinned Cejudo in the finals of the 2008 U.S. Nationals.

7. Husband and wife athlete combinations - Lee Fullhart, a top Olympic hopeful at 84 kg in freestyle, is married to Doreen, who is seeking a spot on the Olympic team in weightlifting. Casey Cunningham, a top Olympic hopeful at 74 kg in freestyle, is married to Olympic gold medalist weightlifter Tara Nott.

8. Wrestler deals with tragedies - Sara McMann, a 2004 Olympic silver medalist, was recently featured in ESPN the Magazine in a story chronicling a couple of tragedies she has had to endure in her life. McMann, along with Miranda, is trying to become the first two-time Olympian in U.S. women's history.

9. Mocco brother and sister act seek Olympic berths in Las Vegas - Steve Mocco, No. 2 ranked at 120 kg in freestyle wrestling, will seek a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team alongside his sister Katie, who is No. 1 ranked in judo at 78 kg. The U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling and Judo will be held together in Las Vegas, June 13-15, giving the Mocco family a chance for two Olympic spots during the same weekend.

10. Talented Lester focused on Beijing - Harry Lester, a two-time World bronze medalist in Greco-Roman, may be the most talented wrestler the U.S. has in any style. Lester, 24, is poised to win an Olympic gold medal this year after dropping a controversial match in the 2007 World Championships.

11. Zadick brothers seeking Olympic berths - 2006 World champion Bill Zadick and his younger brother, 2006 World silver medalist Mike Zadick, are seeking to make the 2008 Olympic Team side-by-side. Bill trains in Colorado Springs, while Mike trains in Iowa City.

12. Small-town boy makes impact on World stage - He grew up in a town of 600 people in eastern Nebraska, but Brad Vering is regarded as one of the World's best wrestlers. Second in the 2007 World Championships in Greco-Roman, the past Husker standout is set to win Olympic gold in 2008.

13. Kelly continues family wrestling tradition - Mary Kelly, an Olympic hopeful at 48 kg in women's freestyle wrestling, is the daughter of Jerry Kelly, an NCAA wrestling runner-up for Oklahoma State. Mary's uncle Bill was a NCAA wrestling champion for Iowa State.

14. Naturalized citizens seek U.S. Olympic berths - Elena Pirozkhov, a Russian immigrant who received citizenship this year, is a top Olympic hopeful at 63 kg in women's freestyle. Faruk Sahin, a Turkish immigrant who received his citizenship in 2004, is a top Olympic hopeful at 66 kg in Greco-Roman.

15. Cormier leads U.S. freestyle team - Daniel Cormier broke through to win his first World medal in 2007. The World bronze medalist has made the last five World-level teams at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. He was the lone American to medal in freestyle last year. Cormier placed fourth at the 2004 Olympics.

16. Freestyle Olympic Coach nominees with Olympic pedigrees - USA Wrestling chosen a pair of past Olympians for its nominees to coach the Olympic Freestyle Team, Kerry McCoy (2000 and 2004) and Lee Kemp (1980). They will work with USA Wrestling National Coach Kevin Jackson, a 1992 Olympic champion.

17. Logical choice for U.S. Team - T.C. Dantzler has made the last five U.S. World Teams in Greco-Roman. But he has never been an Olympian. Dantzler owns his own company, T.C. Logiq, which does background checks. He stands two wins from Beijing.

18. Huge win propels Van Dusen - Marcie Van Dusen recorded one of the biggest upsets in international women's history when she upset Japan's Saori Yoshida at the 2008 World Cup. Yoshida, an Olympic and World champ, had never lost an international match in 10 years of competition. Van Dusen was a 2007 World Team member.

19. Mo-mentum - Mo Lawal placed seventh in the 2005 World Championships, but hasn't made a World-level team since. The exuberant Lawal, a fan favorite, is hoping to change his luck this year. Lawal also trains in Mixed Martial Arts with Team Quest in California.

20. Big Ben hoping to make big impact - Ben Askren, flamboyant and cocky, is set to make his first Olympic Team at age 23. Askren is the favorite to win a wide-open class. Joe Heskett placed fifth in the World at 74 kg/163 lbs. in 2007, but had to retire because of a heart condition. Askren was a two-time Hodge Trophy winner at Missouri in 2006 and 2007.

21. Tommy Boy - Tommy Rowlands made his first World Team in 2007 and placed fifth in the World at heavyweight. He also took part in a New York Jets mini-camp last year and could pursue a pro football career after wrestling.

22. Mango hopes to enjoy fruits of victory - Spenser Mango is one of the top young prospects in Greco-Roman. A 2006 World University champion, Mango is hoping to join fellow U.S. Olympic Education Center product Harry Lester on the Olympic Team. Mango did not start wrestling until his freshman year of high school in St. Louis.

23. College star Metcalf can't be overlooked - 2008 Hodge Trophy winner Brent Metcalf of Iowa, who still has two years of college eligibility left, could be a big story in Las Vegas. Metcalf placed fifth at U.S. Nationals and competed extensively in freestyle in 2007.

24. One last shot for Kolat - 2000 Olympian Cary Kolat, a past World medalist, is another wrestler to keep an eye on this year. Kolat made a comeback last year and won the Sunkist Kids International Open.

25. Ali's Appeal - Ali Bernard was a surprise winner at U.S. Nationals at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. She will be the No. 1 seed at the Trials. The two-time Junior World champion from Minnesota finished ahead of World champions Kristie Marano and Iris Smith, along with World medalist Katie Downing, at April's U.S. Nationals. Bernard was a college star at the University of Regina.

26. Big Bam seeking first Olympic Team - Rulon Gardner's toughest obstacle in the U.S. for years was Dremiel Byers, a 2002 World champion who added a World bronze medal in 2007. Byers is looking to make his first Olympic Team in Greco-Roman.

27. Abas seeks another Olympic berth - 2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas, sidelined by knee injuries since the last Olympics, is back on the mat this year. He placed third at the Dave Schultz Memorial International and hopes to make a run at the Olympics again this year.

28. Clutch performer Durlacher looks to deliver again - Lindsey Durlacher did not win U.S. Nationals in 2005 or 2007, but he came back to win the World Team Trials in both of those years. Durlacher lost to Spenser Mango in the finals of the 2008 U.S. Nationals, but is determined to bounce back at the Trials. Durlacher was third in the World in 2006 and fifth in 2007.

29. Double duty for Bono - Tennessee-Chattanooga coach Chris Bono, a three-time World Team member, is looking to make his first Olympic Team. Bono is doing the virtually unheard-of-double of being a Division I head coach and trying to compete as a World Class athlete.

30. Up a weight, looking great - Two-time World medalist Katie Downing bumped up a weight this year and knocked off two-time World champ Kristie Marano in the semifinals at U.S. Nationals. Downing lost to Ali Bernard in the finals.

31. Another shot for Joe Williams - Two-time World bronze medalist Joe Williams moved up a weight last year and placed fifth at the World Championships. Williams, fifth at the 2004 Olympics, may be down to his last shot. He was upset by B.J. Padden in the first round of the 2008 U.S. Nationals.

32. Is Iris up to the challenge? - Iris Smith won a World title in 2005, but has not made a World-level team since. Smith placed third at the 2008 U.S. Nationals.

33. Schwab hopes investment pays off - Doug Schwab, an assistant coach at Iowa, placed fifth in the World in 2007 before helping the Iowa Hawkeyes win the NCAA team title in 2008. Schwab now takes aim at making his first Olympic Team.

34. Randi ready to go - Randi Miller owns three wins over Olympic silver medalist Sara McMann in the last two years, including in the finals of the 2008 U.S. Nationals. Miller, who did not place at the 2007 World Team Trials, could be one of the big stories of the Olympic Trials.

35. Will this finally be the year for Keith Sieracki? - Keith Sieracki won the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in 2000 and 2004, but has never competed in the Olympics. Sieracki lost his spot on the 2000 team in a court battle where Matt Lindland ended up winning a silver medal at the Olympics. In 2004, the U.S. failed to qualify for the Olympics at 74 kg/163 lbs. Sieracki's brother, Aaron, is an Olympic hopeful at 84 kg/185 lbs.

36. Ruiz ready for run at China - Justin Ruiz has wrestled in the last four World Championships, placing third in 2005. He is another wrestler looking for his first Olympic berth. The Salt Lake City native was second at the 2004 Olympic Trials.

37. 37-year-old Murata keeps going, and winning - Stephanie Murata has made eight U.S. World Teams, winning a silver medal in 2001, but she's never been an Olympian. Murata enters the Trials ranked second behind Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda. Murata will turn 38 in October.

38. Ahearn marching toward Olympic spot - Brad Ahearn pulled off one of the biggest surprises at U.S. Nationals by upsetting 2007 World silver medalist Brad Vering in the Greco-Roman finals at 84 kg/185 lbs. Ahearn will be the No. 1 seed at the Trials, but has been slowed by a broken hand. Ahearn competes for the U.S. Army.

39. Following in father's footsteps - Sara and Katherine Fulp-Allen hope to father their father, Lee, into the Olympics. Lee Allen was a 1960 Olympian in Greco-Roman wrestling. Sara is ranked third at 48 kg/105.5 lbs.

40. Olympic redshirt for Herbert - 2007 NCAA champion Jake Herbert of Northwestern took an Olympic redshirt in 2008 and will take aim at earning a trip to Beijing at the Trials. Herbert already has made the World University team this year.

41. Colorful Clark coming back - Jacob Clark hasn't competed much since placing second at the 2007 World Team Trials. Clark, a 2006 World Team member who writes a popular blog called the Jake Clark Experience, is back and ready for the Trials. The St. Paul, Minn., native is one of the sport's most fun-loving and colorful characters.

42. Deitchler making quick early impact - He just graduated from high school, but Greco-Roman prospect Jake Deitchler already is making a splash at the Senior level. He placed second at U.S. Nationals and is coached by past Olympic silver medalist Brandon Paulson, a fellow Minnesota native.

43. California Dreamin' - Tatiana Padilla is still in high school in California, but she placed second at the 2007 World Team Trials. Padilla has dropped down a weight, but still should be in the mix at the Trials. She placed fifth at U.S. Nationals. Padilla placed second in the 2007 Junior World Championships.

44. Silent H hoping to be heard - Andy Hrovat is a dangerous and unorthodox wrestler who made the 2006 World Team. Hrovat also is known for his colorful antics off the mat. He pinned No. 1 seed Mo Lawal in the semifinals of the 2006 World Team Trials.

45. Down a weight, looking great - Two-time World bronze medalist Sally Roberts, sidelined last year by an injury, has dropped down a weight this year. She placed third at U.S. Nationals in her first time down at 55 kg/121 lbs. this season. She is married to Clay Worthington, a coach with USA Cycling.

46. D-II big men seek to make splash - Nebraska-Omaha's Les Sigman beat Nebraska-Kearney's Tervel Dlagnev in the finals of the NCAA Division II Championships in 2006. Now they are both legitimate contenders to make the U.S. freestyle team at heavyweight. Dlagnev is ranked third and Sigman fifth. Sigman beat Dlagnev at U.S. Nationals, but Dlagnev came back to place higher. Sigman won four NCAA Division II titles (2003-06) and Dlagnev won two (2007-08).

47. Lee is another women's wrestler to watch - Stephany Lee did not compete at U.S. Nationals because of an injury, but she is another heavyweight who is a contender to earn a trip to Beijing. Lee, from Honolulu, was second in the 2007 World Team Trials. She is a past World University champion.

48. Wong seeking trip to China - Past World bronze medalist Jenny Wong, a Chinese American, is looking strong this year. Wong has moved up a weight class and placed second to Marcie Van Dusen at U.S. Nationals.

49. Veteran Felix in the mix - Danny Felix has been around a long time, but the veteran little guy has been wrestling well again this season. He will be the No. 3 seed in the Trials at 55 kg/121 lbs. and is a legitimate threat to make the Olympic Team in freestyle.

50. Bunch looking to punch his ticket to Olympics - Shawn Bunch may be the most talented U.S. freestyler going right now and he looked the part in winning U.S. Nationals. He takes the No. 1 seed into the Trials at 60 kg/132 lbs. Lester skipped U.S. Nationals this year.

51. Is Rial the real deal? - Iowa native Mark Rial won his first U.S. Nationals title this year, but likely will have to overtake two-time World bronze medalist Harry Lester to make the Olympic Team in Greco-Roman.

52. Can Donny bounce back? - Donny Pritzlaff won a bronze medal in his first trip to the World Championships in 2006. But he has struggled since then. Can the past two-time NCAA champion from Wisconsin recapture his magic?

53. Tolly hopes it's his time - Tolly Thompson, the wrestler who succeeded Rulon Gardner as Nebraska's heavyweight, won a World bronze medal in 2005 and made the World Team in 2006. Thompson, an NCAA champion for Nebraska, was bothered by injuries last year, but came back to place fourth at U.S. Nationals.

54. Don't forget about Erin - Two-time World Team member Erin Tomeo is moving down a class after winning U.S. Nationals at 59 kg/130 lbs. Tomeo wrestles a wide-open style and is a tough matchup with her go-for-broke attack.

55. Hasseman could be dark horse - Bryce Hasseman was one of the big surprises at U.S. Nationals after placing third at 84 kg/185 lbs. Hasseman nearly knocked off eventual champion Mo Lawal in the semifinals at U.S. Nationals.

56. Veteran Chun chasing dream - Past World Team member Clarissa Chun has turned in a strong season. She actually won a period against Olympic bronze medalist Patricia Miranda before falling to her at U.S. Nationals. Chun placed fourth in that event.

57. Paulson twins have high goals - Twins Trent and Travis Paulson both have wrestled well this year after finishing their careers at Iowa State. Trent has moved down to 66 kg/145.5 lbs. with Travis staying at 74 kg/163 lbs. They are two of the top young competitors in freestyle.

58. Berube ready to battle for spot - Alaina Berube is another wrestler who has consistently been in contention at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Berube placed third at U.S. Nationals.

59. Great Scott! - Coleman Scott won his first NCAA title less than three months ago. Now he's in the mix to win the Olympic Trials after a second-place finish at April's U.S. Nationals in freestyle.

60. Lewis hopes to win elusive title - He never won an NCAA title and he's placed second at the World Team Trials. Tyrone Lewis is hoping to change his luck at the Olympic Trials after placing second at the 2008 U.S. Nationals.

61. Greco-Roman qualifier Roger Stewart also will be trying to qualify for the Deaf Olympics this year. Stewart trains in Colorado Springs.

62. Another Chase makes Olympic Trials - High School star Jimmy Chase of Illinois qualified for the Olympic Trials in Greco-Roman, joining his older sister Caitlyn who was a 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials qualifier in women's freestyle while still in high school.

63. Judo anybody? - There are numerous former judo athletes in the U.S. Olympic Trials for wrestling including Kristie Marano, Katie Downing, Steve Mocco, Stephany Lee, Clarissa Chun and others.

64. From NCAA Championships to U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Winners of the 2008 NCAA Championships who have qualified for the Olympic Trials include Angel Escobedo of Illinois, Coleman Scott of Oklahoma State, Brent Metcalf of Iowa and Keith Gavin of Pitt.

65. Jersey boys at 96 kg - There are four natives of New Jersey competing for a spot on the Olympic Team at 96 kg in freestyle. Nik Fekete (Cranford), Kurt Backes (Blair Academy), Damion Hahn (Lakewood) and Konrad Dudziak (St. Peters Prep) were high school stars in the Garden State.

66. Oh, brother! - Among the brother acts in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials are the Cejudos (Henry and Angel), the Zadicks (Mike and Bill), the Askrens (Ben and Max), the Paulsons (Trent and Travis) and the Sierackis (Keith and Aaron).

67. Arizona State recruit Nye gets chance to be Sun Devil - Erik Nye, the 2008 World University Team member who was recruited to Arizona State, was looking for another school when the university dropped the program early in May. Just weeks later, alumni and civic leaders led the charge to retain the program, and Nye will become a Sun Devil in the fall.

68. King Cole pursuing Greco-Roman - Cole Konrad, a two-time NCAA champion for Minnesota, placed second in the 2007 U.S. Nationals in freestyle. This year, Konrad, who has competed in both styles his entire career, has switched to Greco-Roman, where he will make his Olympic run.

69. 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials runners-up back for run in 2008 - All four of the women who placed second at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in women's wrestling (the first year with the style in the Olympics) are back trying to make the 2008 U.S. Team - Clarissa Chun (48 kg), Tina George (55 kg), Alaina Berube (63 kg) and Kristie Marano (72 kg).

70. From Hawaii, with skill - Hawaii is one of the three states to have official high school wrestling for girls, and the state has produced numerous Olympic qualifiers in women's wrestling. The Hawaii qualifiers, alphabetically, are Clarissa Chun, Shyla Iokia, Sadie Kaneda, Stephany Lee, Cherae Pascua and Kapua Torres.

72. 2004 U.S. Olympians seeking return trip - Three 2004 Olympic medalists are in the field this weekend, Stephen Abas and Sara McMann (silver) and Patricia Miranda (bronze). Other members of the 2004 U.S. team competing are freestylers Joe Williams and Daniel Cormier and Greco-Roman wrestlers Oscar Wood and Brad Vering. Two-time Olympian Jim Gruenwald, a 2008 U.S. Nationals champion, was injured in international competition and can not compete.

73. 1980 U.S. Olympic Team being honored this weekend - The U.S. Olympic Wrestling Teams that were unable to compete at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, Russia, due to the U.S. government boycott, will be honored this weekend, with special recognition on Saturday. Members of that team who are Wrestling Hall of Fame inductees include Lee Kemp, Chris Campbell, Ben Peterson, Russ Hellickson, Bobby Weaver, Randy Lewis, Jeff Blatnick and Gene Mills.

74. Beach and Sombo World medalists in the field - A number of the athletes who are competing this weekend have won World medals in other styles of wrestling not yet in the Olympic Games. Beach Wrestling World medalists include Leigh Jaynes and Jeff Funicello. Sombo World medalists in the field include Jaynes, Faruk Sahin and Moises Hernandez.

75. USOEC athletes in the field numerous - The U.S. Olympic Education Program at Northern Michigan Univ. has programs in Greco-Roman and women's freestyle, loading up the Trials with qualifiers. In the Greco-Roman field, 24 current or past USOEC athletes are competing, and in women's freestyle, there are 12 who have a USOEC background