USA Wrestling stories & update – Jan. 11
Posted on | January 12, 2012 | No Comments
Greetings – Each week this year, from now through the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Iowa City and the Summer Olympic Games in London, England, USA Wrestling will send a short email, with updates on the sport as well as story ideas on our athletes and activities. The idea is to make them brief and timely, allowing media to do necessary follow-up as appropriate. Let us know how else we can help you.
Current news items
- U.S. women to compete in Mongolia and Russia in January
http://www.themat.com/section.
- Metcalf, Mocco win international bouts during intermission of Iowa v Oklahoma State dual
http://www.themat.com/section.
- Cliff Keen WC’s Jimmy Kennedy making big gains in freestyle
http://www.themat.com/section.
- Team USA mentors Denver high school students on being champions in life
http://www.themat.com/section.
Things to watch ahead
- National Team Training Camps in Colorado Springs in January – Camps for all three Olympic style programs set at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in January, in addition to regular resident athlete practices.
- Competitions which will feature U.S. athletes in the month ahead include:
– January 14-15 – Mongolia Open, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (W)
– January 21 – Guelph Open, Guelph, Canada (W)
– January 27 – 29 – Ivan Yarygin Memorial, Krasnoyarsk, Russia (FS/W)
– January 28 – Kiki Cup – duals; Colorado Springs, Colo. (GR)
– January 28 – WCWA Women College Nationals, King College, Tenn. (OTrials qualifier)
– Feb. 2 –4 – Dave Schultz Memorial, Colorado Springs, Colo. (GR/FS/W)
This week’s USA Wrestling Story Ideas
(more detailed information available)
- 2008 World champion and Olympian Clarissa Chun hungry for more gold – Hawaii native Clarissa Chun had a breakthrough year in 2008, winning a World gold medal and placing fifth at the Olympic Games at 48 kg. She has continued to excel, making two more World Teams, with a 2011 World fifth place. One of the veterans on Women’s Team USA, Chun is seeking to be the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling.
- World champion and soldier Dremiel Byers has 3 World medals but seeks Olympic gold – Dremiel Byers, North Carolina native and member of the Army World Class Athlete program, won a World gold in 2002, a World silver in 2009 and a World bronze in 2007 at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. He also made the 2008 Olympic team but fell short of a medal. Byers remains No. 1 in the USA with eyes focused on London and another chance for an Olympic medal. An interesting fact – Byers, who serves in the Army, was born on September 11.
- Will Chun or Bernard be the first two-time U.S. Olympian in women’s wrestling – Clarissa Chun and Ali Bernard were teammates on the 2008 Beijing Olympic team in women’s freestyle, both placing fifth. Women’s wrestling was added to the Olympics in 2004 with four weight classes and no U.S. woman has made two teams. Both Chun and Bernard are No. 1 in the USA going into 2012 Olympic Trials process. Can they become the first repeat team members?
- Son of Olympic coach, Reece Humphrey seeks his own Olympic glory – 2011 U.S. Freestyle World Team member Reece Humphrey is adding to a family legacy. His dad, Jim Humphrey, was a 1977 World silver medalist in freestyle, and head coach of the 1988 U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team. Both were stars at Ohio State. A two-time University World medalist, Reece was ninth at the 2011 World Championships at 60 kg/132 lbs. Reece, an Indiananative, enters the Olympic year at No. 1, and looks to get a medal of his own.
- “Flying Squirrel” inventor Ellis Coleman seeks spot on the Olympic Team – One of the most popular sports videos in 2011 was the Flying Squirrel move from U.S. Greco-Roman star Ellis Coleman during the 2011 Junior World Greco-Roman Championships. Illinois native Coleman jumped over top of his Iranian opponent, landed and threw him for three points. Captured on Romanian TV, the video had over 4.5 million views on YouTube. Coleman dropped in weight and is a top Olympic hopeful at 60 kg/132 lbs. where he won titles this fall at the Sunkist Kids International and the New York Athletic Club International.
Wrestling Clippings
NY POST: Kurt Angle seeks spot on Olympic Team
STAR TRIBUNE: Concussions force U’s Deitchler to end wrestling career
Media Credential applications for download
U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Wrestling Media Application (Iowa City, April 21-22)
http://www.themat.com/events/
2012 USA Wrestling National Events Media Application (all major events on one form)
http://www.themat.com/events/
USA Wrestling Communications Staff
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