U.S. and international stars to compete at Dave Schultz Memorial International, Feb. 1-3

Kamal Bey, a 2016 U.S. Open champion, is expected to compete in Greco-Roman at the 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial International. Photo by Kadir Caliskan.


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Tentative rosters have been submitted for the 2017 Dave Schultz Memorial International, and there will be a talented field of U.S. and international competitors competing this week.


This annual international event, entering its 19th year, will be held in Sports Center I at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs Colo. Feb. 1-3. It is being held one day earlier in the week than it has in past years. Greco-Roman will compete on Wednesday, men’s freestyle on Thursday, and women’s freestyle on Friday.


The international teams expected to compete include Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, Honduras, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.


Women Olympians set to wrestle at this year’s tournament include two-time Olympian Elena Pirozhkova at 69 kg/152 lbs. and 2012 Olympian Kelsey Campbell at 55 kg/121 lbs. from the United States. Pirozhkova was also a 2012 World Champion.


Two-time Olympian Ben Provisor at 85 kg/187 lbs. and 2016 Olympian Jesse Thielke at 59 kg/130 lbs. are also expected to compete for the United States. 2016 Olympian Murat Ramonov, Kyrgyzstan, is in the Greco-Roman field at 130 kg/286 lbs. 2016 Junior World Champion Tamerlan Shadukaev of Kazakhstan will compete in Greco-Roman at 75 kg/ 165 lbs.


Pavlo Olinyk of Ukraine, a two-time World bronze medalist, is entered in men’s freestyle. Bulgaria’s 2016 Olympian Borislav Novachkov is also expected to compete in men’s freestyle at 65 kg/143 lbs. Bulgaria is also bringing a 2016 Junior World champion in freestyle, Dimitar Ivanov at 61 kg/134 lbs.


The U.S. men’s freestyle field includes 2009 Junior World champion Dom Bradley at 120 kg/275 lbs. and 2009 Junior World bronze medalist Jordan Oliver at 65 kg/143 lbs.


Junior World medalists in women’s freestyle from the USA are three-time medalist Erin Golston at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. and two-time medalist Kayla Miracle. Others Junior World medalists from Team USA include Maya Nelson and Alexis Porter, both competing at 63 kg/138.75 lbs.


Three-time Junior World Champion and three-time Cadet World Champion Masako Furuichi from Japan is expected to enter at 75 kg/165 lbs. in the Women’s freestyle division. 2016 Junior World champion Ayana Gempei of Japan will be at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Two other Japanese women who have won Cadet World titles, three-time gold medalist Kika Kagata at 48 kg and one-time champion Yui Sakano at 60 kg/132 lbs. are also on the roster.


Top athletes include numerous World and Olympic Team members as well as age-group World medalists.

Greco- Roman (competes Wednesday, Feb. 1)

• Jesse Theilke, United States, 59 kg- 2016 Olympian, 2012 Junior World bronze medalist

• Ben Provisor, United States, 85 kg- 2012 and 2016 Olympian, 2011 Pan American Games silver medalist

• G’Angelo Hancock, United States, 98 kg- 2016 Junior World bronze medalist

• Tamerlan Shadukaev, Kazakhstan, 74 kg- 2016 Junior World Champion

• Kevin Mejia, Honduras, 98 kg, 2015 Pan American Games silver medalist

• Murat Ramonov, Kyrgyzstan, 130 kg, 2016 Olympian

• Kamarridin Zayniddinov, Kyrgyzstan, 59 kg, 2013 Cadet World bronze medalist

Men’s Freestyle (competes Thursday, Feb. 2)

• Pavlo Olinyk, Ukraine, 97 kg, 2013 and 2015 World bronze medalist

• Dimitar Ivanov, Bulgaria, 61 kg- 2015 Junior World Champion

• Borislav Novachkov, 61 kg- 2016 Olympian

• Dearth Capellan, Canada, 57 kg- 2016 Pan American Champion, 2014 Pan American Champion

• Steven Takahashi, Canada, 57 kg- 2015 Pan American bronze medalist, 2014 Pan American bronze medalist

• Yajyuro Yamasaki, Japan, 74 kg, 2014 Youth Olympic Games champion

• Wilhelm Meyer, South Africa, 74 kg, 2016 African bronze medalist

• Dom Bradley, United States, 125 kg, 2009 Junior World champion

• Jordan Oliver, United States, 2009 Junior World bronze medalist

Women’s Freestyle (competes Friday, Feb. 3)

• Erin Golston, United States, 48 kg- 2013 Junior World silver medalist, 2011 and 2012 Junior World bronze medalist

• Kelsey Campbell, United States, 55 kg- 2016 Olympian, 2012 and 2016 U.S. Olympic Team member, 2016 Pan American Champion

• Kayla Miracle, United States, 58 kg- 2016 Junior World bronze medalist, 2014 Junior World bronze medalist

• Maya Nelson, United States, 63 kg- 2016 Junior World bronze medalist

• Jennifer Page, United States, 63 kg- 2013 Junior World bronze medalist, 2015 Pan American champion,

• Alexis Porter, United States, 63 kg- 2016 Junior World bronze medalist

• Elena Pirozhkova, United States, 69 kg- 2012 and 2016 Olympian, 2012 World Champion, Four-time World medalist

• Natasha Kramble, Canada, 48 kg- 2016 Pan American silver medalist

• Justina DiStasio, Canada, 75 kg- 2016 Pan American Champion, 2015 Pan American Champion, 2014 Pan American bronze medalist

• Ayana Gempei, Japan, 63 kg- 2016 Junior World Champion

• Maskao Furuichi, Japan, 75 kg- Three-time Junior World Champion (2014-16), Three-time Cadet World Champion (2011-2013)

• Kika Kagata, Japan, 48 kg, 2012-14 Cadet World champion

• Yui Sakano, Japan, 60 kg, 2011 Cadet World champion


Additional athletes could register on site, including some other athletes with major achievements.


The event is held in memory of the late Dave Schultz, an Olympic and World champion for the United States who was an international ambassador of goodwill through the sport.


The Dave Schultz Memorial International is included in the series of events which serve as qualifiers for the 2017 U.S. World Team Trials. Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle U.S. World Team Trials will take place April 27 -28 in Las Vegas, Nev., while the men’s freestyle U.S. World Team Trials will take place June 6-7 in Lincoln, Neb. There will be as many as 24 World Trials berths up for grabs in this competition.


The event will be streamed live each day by Flowrestling.


The event sponsors are the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Colorado Springs Sports Corporation and Olympic City USA.

Click here for Dave Schultz Memorial International Team Rosters

Click here for U.S. entries for the Dave Schultz Memorial International

DAVE SCHULTZ MEMORIAL INTERNATIONAL

At Colorado Springs, Colo., February 1-3


Event Schedule

Wednesday, February 1

Greco-Roman Weights (59 kg, 66 kg, 71 kg, 75 kg, 80 kg, 98 kg, 130 kg)

9:00 a.m. - Session I

4:00 p.m. to conclusion – Session II, including finals

Thursday, February 2

Men’s freestyle Weights (57 kg, 61 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 74 kg, 86 kg, 97 kg, 125 kg)

9:00 a.m. – Session I

4:00 p.m. to conclusion- Session II, including finals

Friday, February 3

Women’s freestyle weights (48 kg, 53 kg, 55 kg, 58 kg, 60 kg, 63 kg, 69 kg, 75 kg)

9:00 a.m. – Session I

2:30 p.m. to conclusion – Session II, including finals