Oct. 16, 2009
- Carver-Hawkeye Arena Revitalization
- Order 2009-10 Hawkeye Wrestling Tickets
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- Big Ten Network highlights
MOUNT VERNON, IA — A team of top U.S. wrestlers will compete in a freestyle dual meet against a team from Russsia in Mount Vernon, Iowa on Wednesday, November 18.
It will be held at the Small Multi-Sports Center at Cornell College. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with wrestling starting at 7:00 p.m. The local organizing committee is the Hawkeye Wrestling Club.
“I am fired up about this,” said Terry Brands, coach for the Hawkeye Wrestling Club and an assistant wrestling coach at the Univ. of Iowa. “We have high expectations for both teams. We look forward to this event.”
Tickets will cost $10 for adults and $5 for students. Information on how to purchase tickets will be announced shortly.
The U.S. team will very strong. Three U.S. Olympic team members, all who were also stars for the Univ. of Iowa, will compete in the event.
2008 U.S. Olympians Mike Zadick (Solon, Iowa/Gator WC), Doug Schwab (Coralville, Iowa/Gator WC) and Steve Mocco (Coralville, Iowa/New York AC) will be in the U.S. lineup. Schwab and Mocco both won NCAA Div. I titles for Iowa, while Zadick was an All-American for the Hawkeyes. Zadick won a World silver medal for the United States in 2006.
Zadick will compete at 60 kg/132 lbs., Schwab will wrestle at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Mocco will compete at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Two of the other U.S. team members train full-time in Iowa City. Paul Donahoe, a past NCAA champion for Nebraska, will compete at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Lloyd Rogers, who starred at Tennessee-Chattanooga, will wrestle at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Also in the lineup is Bryce Hasseman (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 84 kg/185 lbs.. Hasseman climbed to the No. 2 position on Freestyle Team USA last season while training in Iowa City under coach Terry Brands.
Competing at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. will be Kyle Cerminara (Edinboro, Pa./New York AC), who was the 2009 U.S. Nationals runner-up at this weight class. Cerminara was an NCAA All-American for the Univ. of Buffalo.
Russia is the defending World Team champions in freestyle wrestling, and has been a long-time rival for international supremacy with the United States. The Russian lineup has not yet been finalized, but should include a number of athletes who have won medals on the international level. The Russian team is also expected to compete in other dual meets in Illinois and New York, as well as wrestle in the New York AC International Open in New York City on November 22.
“We have a very strong group of American athletes,” said Hawkeye Wrestling Club coach Mike Duroe, who is the head wrestling coach at Cornell College. “I have seen so many of our guys develop over the years and I think we will be extremely competitive. The Russians are always tough but there will definitely be a hometown advantage competing so close to Iowa City. We will have a lot of Hawkeye fans there and even more USA Wrestling fans!”
Duroe is excited that Cornell College will host the event. His goal is to pack more than 2,000 fans in the arena, which will provide an outstanding atmosphere and intensity for the dual meet.
“We have hosted so many exciting events here at the college and Cornell has an amazing history in the sport of wrestling,” said Duroe. “It goes back to the 1940’s and 1950’s when Cornell would sell out the gym for major meets. It is a great thing for Cornell and Mt. Vernon to host a meet of this magnitude. It brings positive attention to the College and the community. The interest in wrestling on the high school, college and international levels is very big here and in the surrounding area and I am confident this international event will get a lot of interest.”
Information on the Russian team lineup and other details about the dual meet will be announced when available.
For information about the event, contact Hawkeye Wrestling Club board member Darin Williams at 319-389-6400.
USA vs. RUSSIA FREESTYLE WRESTLING DUAL
At Mount Vernon, Iowa, November 18
Tentative U.S. lineup
55 kg/121 lbs. – Paul Donahoe, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Mike Zadick, Solon, Iowa (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Doug Schwab, Coralville, Iowa (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Lloyd Rogers, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Bryce Hasseman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Kyle Cerminara, Edinboro, Pa. (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Steve Mocco, Coralville, Iowa (New York AC)