WINTER TOURS: U.S. athletes kick off 2008 with trips to Russia, Turkey and France

al season charges into full swing as the United States men’s and women’s freestyle, and Greco-Roman teams finalize their Winter Tour schedules.

The men’s freestyle squad will kick off its schedule when it competes in the Yariguine International on Jan. 25-27 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Past World champion Bill Zadick and World silver medalist Mike Zadick are scheduled to make the trip to Russia as is past World bronze medalist Donny Pritzlaff.

The 2007 U.S. World Team in Greco-Roman, the reigning World champions, will travel to Istanbul, Turkey on Jan. 19-28. Past World champion Dremiel Byers headlines the American roster along with World silver medalist Brad Vering and World bronze medalists Lindsey Durlacher and Justin Ruiz. 2007 World Team members Joe Betterman and T.C. Dantzler also will travel to Turkey.

The U.S. also will send Greco-Roman athletes to Creteil, France from Jan. 21-28. Headlining the list of athletes on that trip is 2006 World Team member Jacob Clark along with National Team member R.C. Johnson.

The U.S. also will send a women’s team to the Yariguine event in Russia. Past World champion Iris Smith and World bronze medalist Sally Roberts are among the women making the trip. 2006 World Team member Mary Kelly also is on the U.S. roster as is Elena Pirozhkov, who was born in Russia.

USA WRESTLING WINTER TOURS (JANUARY)

MEN’S FREESTYLE

Jan. 25-27 – Ivan Yariguine International, Krasnoyarsk, Russia

Athletes entered

55 kg/121 lbs. – Matt Azevedo, Pismo Beach, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Vic Moreno, Palo Alto, Calif. (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Zach Roberson, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Mike Zadick, Solon, Iowa (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Shawn Bunch, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Jared Lawrence, Roseville, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Eric Larkin, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Casey Cunningham, Mt. Pleasant, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Ramico Blackmon, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Donny Pritzlaff, Madison, Wis. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Lee Fullhart, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Damion Hahn, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Chris Pendleton, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Les Sigman, Omaha, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)

Coaches – Terry Brands, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Ed Geise; Sean Bormet, Naperville, Ill.

GRECO-ROMAN

Jan. 26-27 – Vehbi Emre Golden Grand Prix, Istanbul, Turkey

Athletes entered

55 kg/121 lbs. – Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Joe Betterman, Chicago, Ill. (New York AC/USOEC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Mark Rial, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Adam Wheeler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Russ Davie, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

Coaches – Steve Fraser, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Momir Petkovic, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Shon Lewis, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Rich Estrella, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Jan. 26-27 – Cristo Lutte International, Creteil, France

Athletes entered

55 kg/121 lbs. – Anthony Brooker, Cheyenne, Wyo.
60 kg/132 lbs. – Donovan DePatto, Jacksonville, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Jacob Hey, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Justin Forrest
84 kg/185 lbs. – Jake Clark, Topsail Island, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Justin Millard, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – R.C. Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – David Arendt (U.S. Marines)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Cole Konrad, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)

Coaches – Dan Hicks, Triangle, Va.; Anatoly Petrosyan, Colorado Springs, Colo.

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE

Jan. 25-27 – Ivan Yariguine International, Krasnoyarsk, Russia

Athletes entered

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Mary Kelly, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Sara Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Alaina Berube, Escanaba, Mich. (New York AC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)

Coaches – Terry Steiner, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Kevin Bl

al season charges into full swing as the United States men’s and women’s freestyle, and Greco-Roman teams finalize their Winter Tour schedules.

The men’s freestyle squad will kick off its schedule when it competes in the Yariguine International on Jan. 25-27 in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Past World champion Bill Zadick and World silver medalist Mike Zadick are scheduled to make the trip to Russia as is past World bronze medalist Donny Pritzlaff.

The 2007 U.S. World Team in Greco-Roman, the reigning World champions, will travel to Istanbul, Turkey on Jan. 19-28. Past World champion Dremiel Byers headlines the American roster along with World silver medalist Brad Vering and World bronze medalists Lindsey Durlacher and Justin Ruiz. 2007 World Team members Joe Betterman and T.C. Dantzler also will travel to Turkey.

The U.S. also will send Greco-Roman athletes to Creteil, France from Jan. 21-28. Headlining the list of athletes on that trip is 2006 World Team member Jacob Clark along with National Team member R.C. Johnson.

The U.S. also will send a women’s team to the Yariguine event in Russia. Past World champion Iris Smith and World bronze medalist Sally Roberts are among the women making the trip. 2006 World Team member Mary Kelly also is on the U.S. roster as is Elena Pirozhkov, who was born in Russia.

USA WRESTLING WINTER TOURS (JANUARY)

MEN’S FREESTYLE

Jan. 25-27 – Ivan Yariguine International, Krasnoyarsk, Russia

Athletes entered

55 kg/121 lbs. – Matt Azevedo, Pismo Beach, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Vic Moreno, Palo Alto, Calif. (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Zach Roberson, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Mike Zadick, Solon, Iowa (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Shawn Bunch, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Jared Lawrence, Roseville, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Eric Larkin, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Casey Cunningham, Mt. Pleasant, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Ramico Blackmon, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Donny Pritzlaff, Madison, Wis. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Lee Fullhart, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Damion Hahn, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Chris Pendleton, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tommy Rowlands, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Les Sigman, Omaha, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)

Coaches – Terry Brands, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Ed Geise; Sean Bormet, Naperville, Ill.

GRECO-ROMAN

Jan. 26-27 – Vehbi Emre Golden Grand Prix, Istanbul, Turkey

Athletes entered

55 kg/121 lbs. – Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Joe Betterman, Chicago, Ill. (New York AC/USOEC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Mark Rial, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Justin Ruiz, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Adam Wheeler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Russ Davie, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)

Coaches – Steve Fraser, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Momir Petkovic, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Shon Lewis, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Rich Estrella, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Jan. 26-27 – Cristo Lutte International, Creteil, France

Athletes entered

55 kg/121 lbs. – Anthony Brooker, Cheyenne, Wyo.
60 kg/132 lbs. – Donovan DePatto, Jacksonville, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Jacob Hey, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Justin Forrest
84 kg/185 lbs. – Jake Clark, Topsail Island, N.C. (U.S. Marines)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Justin Millard, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – R.C. Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – David Arendt (U.S. Marines)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Cole Konrad, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)

Coaches – Dan Hicks, Triangle, Va.; Anatoly Petrosyan, Colorado Springs, Colo.

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE

Jan. 25-27 – Ivan Yariguine International, Krasnoyarsk, Russia

Athletes entered

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Mary Kelly, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Sara Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Alaina Berube, Escanaba, Mich. (New York AC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Randi Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Elena Pirozhkov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)

Coaches – Terry Steiner, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Kevin Bl