UPDATE: Henderson, Saunders, Fraser, Burroughs, Ghaffari, Chun among stars at Victory Tour in Detroit, Sept. 9

Celebration photos of two-time Olympian and MMA star Dan Henderson, four-time World champion Tricia Saunders and Olympic champion Steve Fraser, all who will be in Detroit at the Victory Tour event on Saturday night.


It will be a star-studded cast of wrestling legends who are among the special celebrity guests at the #EveryoneWrestles Victory Tour at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Mich., Saturday, September 9, which will raise money for wrestling programs and promote the sport across the country.


The event, which starts at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, is literally a who’s who within the wrestling community, with a special focus on greats with a strong connection to Michigan.


Included among these stars are as many as six Olympic medalists and 10 World medalists, including two Olympic champions, five World champions and eight Olympians. The group features six NCAA champions, and the coach of a Div. I NCAA championship team.


The event will also celebrate the historic 2017 U.S. World Team, which just returned from Paris France. The men’s freestyle team won the World Team title for the first time in 22 years, and only the third time in history. The women’s freestyle team placed second in the World for the first time since 2003. In all three Olympic disciplines, Team USA won nine medals, including three golds, three silvers and three bronzes.


If you attend the #EveryoneWrestles Victory Tour, you will join these celebrities:


• Two-time Olympic Greco-Roman wrestler and MMA superstar Dan Henderson

• Four-time World champion Tricia Saunders

• 2012 Olympic champion and four-time World champion Jordan Burroughs

• 1984 Olympic champion and 2007 World Team champion coach Steve Fraser

• 1996 Olympic silver medalist and three-time World medalist Matt Ghaffari

• 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and 2008 World champion Clarissa Chun

• Three-time World champion and 1980 Olympian Lee Kemp

• 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and 2017 World bronze medalist J’den Cox

• 2006 World champion and 2017 World Team champion coach Bill Zadick

• 1968 Olympic silver medalist and 1971 World silver medalist Don Behm

• United States Marine Corps Major General Paul Kennedy

• Two-time World silver medalist Alli Ragan

• Three-time NCAA champion Mark Churella

• 2017 World bronze medalist Becka Leathers

• Retired Michigan State coach Grady Peninger, who led Spartans to 1967 NCAA title

• 2005-2008 Greco-Roman Team Leader and Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services John Bardis

• Four-time NCAA Div. II national champion Dan Russell

• 2017 Junior World Greco-Roman champion Kamal Bey

• USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender

• 2009-2012 Greco-Roman Team Leader Dave Barry

• 2017 U.S. Greco-Roman World Team coach Herb House


Included in the formal program will be John Bardis, the Assistant Secretary Health and Human Services, who will talk about what our kids are up against in today’s society. Mark Churella, a wrestling legend in Michigan, has led the effort to revitalize wrestling in Detroit schools through Beat the Streets. Major General Paul Kennedy of the USMC, will talk about the fighting spirit America needs and shared by wrestlers and Marines.


The Michigan connection is very strong. Four-time World champion Tricia Saunders learned how to wrestle as a kid in Ann Arbor. Olympic champion Steve Fraser was a high school star from Hazel Park, and a two-time All-American for the University of Michigan. Three-time NCAA champion for Michigan, Mark Churella, hailed from Farmington. Olympic and World medalist Don Behm was a two-time All-American for Michigan State. Grady Peninger coached at Michigan State for 23 years, including a 1967 national championship team and seven straight Big Ten titles. Other prominent Michigan wrestling leaders are also expected to attend.


The #EveryoneWrestles Victory Tour, as well as a free World Medalist Wrestling Clinic set for Cobo Center on Saturday morning, are included in Marine Week Detroit, a major community activity.


Marine Week, hosted by the United States Marine Corps in one city per year, is a celebration of Community, Country and Corps – providing the American public the experience of directly connecting with hundreds of Marines. From Sept. 6–10, Marine Week Detroit will feature hands-on static displays, live demonstrations, time-honored Marine Corps traditions, musical performances and other events to showcase the history, military capabilities and community involvement of the Corps. The United States Marine Corps is a sponsor of USA Wrestling.


Get more information on Marine Week Detroit at the link below
http://usmarineweek.com/


The Cobo Center is located at 1 Washington Boulevard in Detroit. For more information on this Victory Tour event and others, visit USWrestlingFoundation.com/victory