Three Members of Wrestling Staff to Participate in 2005 World Championships

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The World Wrestling Championships, which begin Monday in Budapest, Hungary, will have a distinctive UTC flavor.

Three members of the UTC coaching staff are members of the USA Wrestling National Team, including Mocs’ Head Coach Joe Seay, who is one of two U.S. Freestyle coaches.

Two new UTC assistant coaches, Chris Bono and Sammie Henson, are competing next week as members of the U.S. National Team in the freestyle tournament.

Bono is the top-ranked U.S. wrestler at 66 kilograms (145.5 pounds) while Henson ranks first at 55 kilograms (121 pounds).

Bono, an NCAA Champion from Iowa State, is a three-time U.S. World Team member, a two-time U.S. Nationals Champion and a 2003 World Cup Gold Medalist.

Henson is a graduate of Missouri who won two NCAA titles while competing for the Tigers. He is a 1998 World Champion, a 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist and a three-time U.S. Nationals Champion.

Seay was hired by UTC in May of this year to replace former Head Coach Terry Brands. Seay served as head coach of the 1996 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Wrestling Team which produced three Gold Medal winners. He has led U.S. freestyle teams to World Team titles in 1993 and 1995. Prior to his arrival in Chattanooga, Seay won two NCAA team championships as the head coach at Oklahoma State and earned seven NCAA Division II National titles while the head coach at Cal State-Bakersfield.

The World Championships conclude Wednesday.