Oregon State To Host West Regional Olympic Wrestling Trials Mar. 24-26
March 14, 2000
CORVALLIS, Ore. - - Nearly 400 wrestlers will be competing for the right to continue in their quest for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team at the West Regional Olympic Wrestling Trials at Gill Coliseum Mar. 24-26. Competition will run from 11a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
The Northwest Junior Regional Championships will be held in conjunction with the Regional Olympic Trials.
The West Regional will be the first of five regional tournaments that qualify aspiring Olympians for the final U.S. Olympic trials in Dallas, Texas.
"These guys are top-ranked, world-class athletes and many have been ranked in their class since they got out of college," said OSU head wrestling coach Joe Wells. Most have been on the national team for years."
Tickets are on sale now through the OSU ticket office, the cost is $25 for a three-day pass, and $10 for an all-day pass. For ticket information and purchases, call 1-800-GO-BEAVS. Seating will be general admission and in the balcony only.
Members of this year's OSU wrestling team will be among the entrants in the three-day event. Former Oregon State assistant wrestling coach Randy Couture - a past U.S. champion - is registered to compete, as well as Terry and Troy Steiner. The Steiners were both three-time All-Americans and NCAA Champions while at Iowa, and later coached as assistants at OSU in the mid-1990s.
"Most of the wrestlers are on the winter tournament schedule," said Wells. "Some have been wrestling in Asia, but mostly in Europe. They've been getting a lot of practice and will be in great shape. This will be their first opportunity to nail down a spot for the U.S. Olympic trials."
The event will include junior, senior, and women's Freestyle and Greco Roman competition. High school wrestlers will be competing for the right to go to the ASICS Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D. in July.
