U.S. World Freestyle Team to train in public in Fargo, N.D. during the ASICS Junior/Cadet Nationals, July 26-31
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
The 2005 U.S. World Team in freestyle wrestling will conduct its first training camp in preparation for the World Championships in Fargo, N.D., July 25-31.
These training sessions will occur during the week of the ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet National Championships, held that week at the Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State Univ. This is annually the world’s largest wrestling competition, with over 4,500 participants.
The training camp will be conducted by USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson of Colorado Springs, Colo., along with 2005 U.S. World Team Coaches Mike Duroe of Iowa City, Iowa and Joe Seay of Chattanooga, Tenn.
The U.S. World Freestyle Team was formed with the champions from the 2004 World Team Trials in Ames, Iowa, June 18-19. The team is a mix of veterans and tough young emerging talents, a group that should challenge for the team title at the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Sept. 26 “Oct. 2.
Leading the team is 1998 World champion and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Sammie Henson (St. Louis, Mo./Sunkist Kids) at 55 kg/121 lbs. A pair of teammates on the 2004 Olympic team are on the squad, 2001 World bronze medalist Joe Williams (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Daniel Cormier (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Cormier was fourth and Williams fifth at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Making his third U.S. World Team is Chris Bono (Gilbert, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
Three members of the teams will be competing in their first World Championships: Michael Lightner (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs., Mo Lawal (Colorado Springs, Colo/Gator WC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Tolly Thompson, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Jackson is very excited about the opportunity for the U.S. team to get important training achieved that week, as well as the promotional aspect of this unique training situation.
“Our best fans will have an opportunity to see our World Team train and prepare for the upcoming World Championships,” said Jackson. “The developmental wrestlers who are competing at the ASICS Junior/Cadet Nationals will also benefit. It is good for the future of these young wrestlers to see the World Team athletes in training.”
The U.S. World Freestyle Team will use this training camp as an opportunity for valuable competitive matches. Jackson will have the athletes compete in public in a tournament similar to the World Championships. Top officials will conduct these matches, just like in competition. It will be a “mock-World Championships,” with at least three matches for each athlete in a short period of time. Practice and competition sessions are open to the public to watch and enjoy.
“People will be able to watch these athletes compete in these matches, along with their scheduled
practices,” said Jackson.
The team will also provide an autograph session on Friday, July 29 from 11:30 a.m. “12:30 p.m. at the FargoDome.
FREESTYLE WORLD TEAM TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE
Tuesday, July 26
10:00 a.m. “11:30 a.m. “Practice on mats #2 and #3 in FargoDome
3:30 p.m. “5:00 p.m. “Practice on mats #2 and #3 in FargoDome
Wednesday, July 27
10:00 a.m. “11:30 a.m. “Practice at Bison Sports Arena
4:30 p.m. “6:00 p.m. “Practice at Bison Sports Arena
Thursday, July 28
Athletes day off
Friday, July 29
11:30 a.m. “12:30 p.m. “Athlete autograph session at FargoDome
1:00 p.m. “2:30 p.m. “Live matches in the FargoDome
6:00 p.m. “7:30 p.m. “Running, weight training, individual preparations
Saturday, July 30
12:00 p.m. “1:30 p.m. “Live matches in the FargoDome
7:00 p.m. “8:00 p.m. “Running, weight training, individual preparations
Sunday, July 31
10:00 a.m. “11:30 a.m. “Practice at Bison Sports Arena Wrestling Room
4:30 p.m. “6:00 p.m. “Practice at Bison Sports Arena Wrestling Room
U.S. WORLD FREESTYLE WRESTLING TEAM
55 kg/121 lbs. “Sammie Henson, St. Louis, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. “Michael Lightner, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. “Chris Bono, Gilbert, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. “Joe Williams, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
84 kg/185 lbs. “Mo Lawal, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. “Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. “Tolly Thompson, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
National Freestyle Coach Kevin Jackson of Colorado Springs, Colo
World Team Coach Mike Duroe of Iowa City, Iowa
World Team Coach Joe Seay of Chattanooga, Tenn.
Wrestling Gear
