U.S. World Greco-Roman Team headed to Romania for training camp, tournament

Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
08/04/2006

The United States World Greco-Roman Team continues its preparations for the World Championships with a two-week trip to Europe.

All seven members of the U.S. World Team - Lindsey Durlacher, Joe Warren, Harry Lester, T.C. Dantzler, Jacob Clark, Justin Ruiz and Dremiel Byers - will take part in a joint training camp with other countries from Aug. 8-17 in Brasov, Romania.

The American team will then wrestle in a tournament - the Ion Cornianu Memorial International - there on Aug. 19-20.

Byers is a past World champion and Ruiz won a World bronze medal last year.

The World Championships are set for Sept. 26-Oct. 2 in Guangzhou, China.

Among the other countries expected to take part in the camp and competition are Russia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey, Hungary, France, Ukraine, Greece, Germany, Italy and Egypt.

“We are taking our No. 1 guys to Romania as a pre-World tour,” said Steve Fraser, USA Wrestling’s National Greco-Roman coach. “Our goal is to test where we are at so we can ‘get the bugs out,’ if you will. This tour will help out the areas that we still need work in. Plus the tour will get us international matches which will sharpen our focus and skills. We want to get into an intense competitive mindset, so we are geared up for the World Championships.”

National Team members Brad Vering and Russ Davie also will make the trip.

Fraser also will make the trip along with Momir Petkovic, USA Wrestling’s Assistant National Greco-Roman coach.

U.S. ROSTER FOR TRAINING CAMP, TOURNAMENT IN BRASOV, ROMANIA
2006 World Team members
55 kg/121 lbs. - Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Joe Warren (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Harry Lester (Akron, Ohio/USOEC/Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - T.C. Dantzler (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Jacob Clark (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marines)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Justin Ruiz (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army).
2006 National Team members
84 kg/185 lbs. - Brad Vering (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Russ Davie (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC)