Big Ten Championships broadcast on Big Ten Network, sponsored by the World Team Trials

The 2009 Big Ten Conference Wrestling Championships Presented by The 2009 World Team Trials will be broadcast "live" at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Big Ten Network on Sunday, March 8.

Tim Johnson, Jim Gibbons and Ken Chertow will call the action.

USA Wrestling will promote its 2009 World Team Trials to a national wrestling audience as the presenting sponsor of the Big Ten Network's live broadcast of the 2009 BIG TEN Conference Wrestling Championships.

The Big Ten Conference features 11 Div. I wrestling programs, including nationally ranked No. 1 Iowa, No. 6 Ohio State, No. 8 Illinois, No. 11 Minnesota, No. 17 Wisconsin, No. 18 Michigan, No. 19 Northwestern, No. 22 Indiana and No. 25 Purdue.

USA Wrestling has partnered with the Big Ten Network to promote the 2009 World Team Trials Presented by the U.S. Marines.

This World Team Trials will be held May 30 and 31st at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. It brings America's finest athletes together in a two day competition to determine who will represent the USA at the 2009 World Championships next September in Denmark. The event is identical to the Olympic Trials in format and intensity, except during the three years that FILA hosts a World Championships.

Last year's U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team included four alumni from Big Ten Conference institutions including Mike Zadick (Iowa), Doug Schwab (Iowa), Andy Hrovat (Michigan) and Steve Mocco (Iowa/Oklahoma State).

"It was important for USA Wrestling to invest its limited marketing resources with a stable and successful network such as the Big Ten Network, "said Larry Nugent the Director of Development for USA Wrestling. "The network has developed a strong following with its college wrestling series and we anticipate there will be a very large audience watching the Conference Finals Live on Sunday at 2 pm."

"Frankly, if viewers of BIG TEN Conference Championship finals think the competition is great at the Div. I level, they ought to be in Council Bluffs at the Trials when the best college wrestlers from the past all get together to compete for membership in the most elite wrestling fraternity… a World or Olympic Team," he said.

USA Wrestling is offering some great ticket values for the Trials including a $15 all weekend youth ticket for USA Wrestling members (high school and younger).

To buy tickets and get more information, visit
WWW.THEWORLDTEAMTRIALS.COM

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