Nation's top wrestlers to compete in U.S. World Team Trials in Stillwater, Okla., June 21-23

STILLWATER, Okla., June 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The top Olympic-caliber wrestlers in the United States will come together to battle for spots on Team USA at the 2013 ASICS U.S. World Team Trials at Gallagher-Iba Arena on the Oklahoma State campus, June 21-23. The event will feature the top hopefuls for the 2016 Olympic Games in the Senior division, as well as future Olympic hopefuls in the FILA Junior division.

The U.S. Senior World Team Trials will be hosted Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22, featuring athletes in the three Olympic styles of wrestling: men's freestyle, women's freestyle and Greco-Roman. Champions will qualify to represent the United States at the 2013 World Wrestling Championship in Budapest, Hungary, on Sept. 16-22.

Top stars are expected to compete, including Olympic and World champion Jordan Burroughs at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Olympic bronze medalist Coleman Scott at 60 kg/132 lbs., both in men's freestyle.

Joining Burroughs as past World champions in the field are two-time World champion Kristie Davis at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in women's freestyle, plus World champions Elena Pirozhkova at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Adeline Gray at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in women's freestyle and World champion Dremiel Byers at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman. Numerous past Olympians and World Team members will be in the field in all three styles.

Scott and Davis are among the local stars in the field. Scott was an NCAA champion at Oklahoma State and trains and coaches in Stillwater. Davis won two WCWA women's college national titles for Oklahoma City Univ.

2012 Olympian Sam Hazewinkel at 55 kg/121 lbs. and 2012 Olympic Trials runner-up Andrew Howe both train at the Univ. of Oklahoma. Stars who competed for Oklahoma State include U.S. Open champion Obe Blanc at 55 kg/121 lbs. and U.S. Open runners-up Jordan Oliver at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Clayton Foster at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Chris Pendleton at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. U.S. Open champion Brittney Roberts at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. is among the many women's entries from Oklahoma City Univ.

All of the weight classes will be very competitive, but wrestling fans are especially excited about the battle at 74 kg/163 lbs. in men's freestyle. World and Olympic champion Jordan Burroughs headlines the division. Expected to compete are four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake, U.S. Open runner-up David Taylor, Olympic Trials runner-up Andrew Howe, 2009 World Team member Trent Paulson, past U.S. Open runner-up Nick Marable and other stars.

Based upon the approved World Team Trials procedures, champions from the 2013 U.S. Open in Las Vegas in men's freestyle and women's freestyle will advance directly to the best-of-three Championship Series in their weight class. None of the Greco-Roman U.S. Open champions advance to the finals series, but will receive the top seed in the Challenge Tournament.

The U.S.  FILA Junior World Team Trials, featuring the nation's best 17-20 year old athletes in men's freestyle and Greco-Roman, is scheduled for Sunday, June 23. Champions will qualify to represent the United States at the 2013 FILA Junior World Wrestling Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria, August 13-18.

The ASICS U.S. World Team Trials has been declared an official event for Olympic Day 2013 by the U.S. Olympic Committee. Olympic Day is celebrated worldwide each year to promote the Olympic values and participation in sport across the globe, regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.

USA Wrestling has invited Olympians from all sports as guests at the World Team Trials as part of the Olympic Day celebration. Oklahoma Olympians who would like to attend as special guests of the hosts should contact Krista Graff of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame by email at [email protected] or by phone at 405-377-5243.

The local organizing committee for the event will include Oklahoma State University, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum and the Stillwater Wrestling Club.

All-session tickets are still available through the Oklahoma State ticket office or at theworldteamtrials.com. General admission is $30 and reserved 200-level tickets are $50. Single session tickets will also be sold for the event.

2013 ASICS U.S. WORLD TEAM TRIALS
At Stillwater, Okla. June 21-23

Event Schedule

Friday, June 21 – U.S. World Team Trials
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Session 1: Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Challenge Finals/Consolations and 3^rd Place, Challenge Tournament Finals

• Men's Freestyle: 60 kg, 74 kg and 96 kg
• Greco-Roman: 55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg and 120 kg
• Women's Freestyle: 55 kg and 72 kg

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Session 2: Final World Team Trials and True Second Matches

• Men's Freestyle: 60 kg, 74 kg and 96 kg
• Greco-Roman: 55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg and 120 kg
• Women's Freestyle: 55 kg and 72 kg

Saturday, June 22 – U.S. World Team Trials
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Session 1: Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Challenge Finals/Consolations and 3^rd Place, Challenge Tournament Finals

• Men's Freestyle: 55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg and 120 kg
• Greco-Roman: 60 kg, 74 kg and 96 kg
• Women's Freestyle: 48 kg and 63 kg

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Final World Team Trials and True Second Matches

• Men's Freestyle: 55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg and 120 kg
• Greco-Roman: 60 kg, 74 kg and 96 kg
• Women's Freestyle: 48 kg and 63 kg

Following the conclusion of competition – Presentation of the 2013 World Championship Teams

Sunday, June 23 – U.S. FILA Junior World Team Trials
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Challenge Tournament – Preliminaries, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals

• FILA Junior Greco-Roman: All Weights
• FILA Junior Freestyle: All Weights

3:00 – 5:00 p.m. – Final Trials: Match #1, Match #2 and Match #3 (if needed)

• FILA Junior Greco-Roman: All Weights
• FILA Junior Freestyle: All Weights

2013 U.S. Open National Champions

Freestyle Champions
55 kg/121 lbs. - Obe Blanc, Stillwater, Okla. (Titan Mercury WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Reece Humphrey, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Kellen Russell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC/Michigan RTC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Jordan Burroughs, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska RTC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Keith Gavin, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - J.D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC/Ohio RTC)
120 kg /264.5 lbs.- Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids/Ohio RTC)*

Greco-Roman Champions
55 kg/121 lbs. - Spenser Mango, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Joseph Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army WCAP)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Ellis Coleman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
74 kg/163 lbs.- Ben Provisor, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - John Wechter, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - David Arendt Jr., Camp Lejeune, N.C. (U.S. Marine Corps)

Women's Freestyle Champions
48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (Sunkist Kids)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Brittany Roberts, Santa Fe, Texas (OKCU Gator Women`s RTC)

*Dlagnev moves into best-of-three Championship Series after U.S. Open champion Dom Bradley withdrew from the World Team Trials.

SOURCE USA Wrestling