Varner returns to CIF California States in Bakersfield to promote World Cup
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by Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
2012 Olympic champion Jake Varner, a graduate of Bakersfield High School, will return to his hometown to attend the 2015 CIF State Wrestling Championships, held at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, March 6-7.
Varner will be available to meet fans and sign autographs on behalf of California USA Wrestling, and will also help promote the upcoming Freestyle Wrestling World Cup at the Forum in Los Angeles, April 11-12.
Varner will be competing at 97 kg/213.75 lbs. at the Freestyle World Cup, the first time in many year he will compete in front of family and friends in his state.
He was a two-time California state champion and was Outstanding Wrestler at the 2005 California State Championships. His high school career record was 159-10 with 132 falls. Varner went on to Iowa State, where he was a two-time NCAA champion and four-time NCAA finalist.
Returning to the California State Championships is always a great experience for Jake, who takes great pride in his wrestling achievements there.
“I think the first time I returned to the see the state meet was in 2001. I went because I was leading the parade of champions that year. I also came back again after I won the Olympic gold. But it was only two times since I graduated high school. It is an awesome thing going there. Once you go away to college, you don’t’ get to follow the high school action closely anymore. It was a fun tournament to wrestle in and a fun tournament to watch. And it’s a one division state tournament, so the action is pretty intense. It is good to be there and to give back to wrestling in California,” said Varner.
While there, Varner will encourage fans to come out to the World Cup, to support him, as well as the entire U.S. World Cup team. Going home to wrestle is something he looks forward doing again.
“It will be cool to compete in the World Cup back home. The last time I wrestled in California was my senior year, when the NWCA All-Star match was held in California. The time before that was in my redshirt freshman year. It has been quite a while since I’ve wrestled in California. I’ll not only be competing in the United States, but I’ll be in my home state,” said Varner.
The World Cup is the international dual meet championships, one of the most important events of the year. The top eight teams in the world will compete in dual meets. This year’s field includes Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Mongolia, Russia, Turkey and the United States.
Fans are encouraged to order their World Cup tickets in advance, to get the best seat locations.
All-Session tickets are available, as well as Single-Day tickets. Fans can purchase All-Session tickets for $60 for General Admission and $85 for Preferred Seating. Single-Day tickets, on either Saturday or Sunday, are $35 for General Admission and $55 for Preferred Seating. Fees apply for tickets purchased through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com
A group discount offer for clubs is also available. There is a 20% discount for all USA Wrestling members. Both offers can also be found at www.wrestlingworldcup.com
Varner will be available to meet fans and sign autographs on behalf of California USA Wrestling, and will also help promote the upcoming Freestyle Wrestling World Cup at the Forum in Los Angeles, April 11-12.
Varner will be competing at 97 kg/213.75 lbs. at the Freestyle World Cup, the first time in many year he will compete in front of family and friends in his state.
He was a two-time California state champion and was Outstanding Wrestler at the 2005 California State Championships. His high school career record was 159-10 with 132 falls. Varner went on to Iowa State, where he was a two-time NCAA champion and four-time NCAA finalist.
Returning to the California State Championships is always a great experience for Jake, who takes great pride in his wrestling achievements there.
“I think the first time I returned to the see the state meet was in 2001. I went because I was leading the parade of champions that year. I also came back again after I won the Olympic gold. But it was only two times since I graduated high school. It is an awesome thing going there. Once you go away to college, you don’t’ get to follow the high school action closely anymore. It was a fun tournament to wrestle in and a fun tournament to watch. And it’s a one division state tournament, so the action is pretty intense. It is good to be there and to give back to wrestling in California,” said Varner.
While there, Varner will encourage fans to come out to the World Cup, to support him, as well as the entire U.S. World Cup team. Going home to wrestle is something he looks forward doing again.
“It will be cool to compete in the World Cup back home. The last time I wrestled in California was my senior year, when the NWCA All-Star match was held in California. The time before that was in my redshirt freshman year. It has been quite a while since I’ve wrestled in California. I’ll not only be competing in the United States, but I’ll be in my home state,” said Varner.
The World Cup is the international dual meet championships, one of the most important events of the year. The top eight teams in the world will compete in dual meets. This year’s field includes Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Mongolia, Russia, Turkey and the United States.
Fans are encouraged to order their World Cup tickets in advance, to get the best seat locations.
All-Session tickets are available, as well as Single-Day tickets. Fans can purchase All-Session tickets for $60 for General Admission and $85 for Preferred Seating. Single-Day tickets, on either Saturday or Sunday, are $35 for General Admission and $55 for Preferred Seating. Fees apply for tickets purchased through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com
A group discount offer for clubs is also available. There is a 20% discount for all USA Wrestling members. Both offers can also be found at www.wrestlingworldcup.com
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