Yay! Yay! Yay! Bonnie, I hope we can sit together again!
Chicago Cup scheduled for Feb. 5
The inaugural Chicago Cup was a smashing success with 7,000 fans packing Northwestern’s Welsh-Ryan Arena last February to watch the United States battle Russia in freestyle wrestling.
World Sport Chicago and USA Wrestling, the organizers of the event, are looking to build on that success for the second edition of the Chicago Cup on Tuesday night, Feb. 5 at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
The World Champion U.S. Greco-Roman Team highlights another star-studded field for the 2008 Chicago Cup. The powerful U.S. team, which captured its first-ever World title last September, will face a team from Bulgaria in the Chicago Cup.
The U.S. Greco-Roman team is led by World champion
Dremiel Byers and World silver medalist
Brad Vering along with World bronze medalists Lindsey Durlacher,
Harry Lester and Justin Ruiz. The American team also includes World Team members T.C. Dantzler and
Joe Betterman.
The U.S. women’s freestyle team also will battle a squad from Poland in the four Olympic weight classes for women. The U.S. women’s squad will feature two-time World champion Kristie Marano, Olympic and World silver medalist
Sara McMann, World silver medalist Stephanie Murata and 2007 World Team member
Marcie Van Dusen.
Northwestern standout
Jake Herbert – a 2007 NCAA champion and 2008 Olympic hopeful – also is expected to compete in an exhibition match in men’s freestyle. Herbert is taking an Olympic redshirt this season and is ranked third in the U.S. in freestyle at 84 kg/185 lbs.
The event will benefit the U.S. teams as they continue preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Tickets for the event are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets will go on sale in early January. More information on ticket sales will be provided when it becomes available at
www.themat.com and
www.worldsportchicago.org
Bill Scherr, chairman of the board for World Sport Chicago, is hoping to build on the momentum of the first Chicago Cup.
“World Sport Chicago is excited about the 2008 edition of the Chicago Cup,” Scherr said. “I would venture that many of these same athletes will compete later this year at the Olympics in Beijing, giving Chicago sports fans a chance to preview Olympic wrestling at its best.”
World Sport Chicago is the group that is assisting the city of Chicago in its bid to land the 2016 Olympics. World Sport Chicago and USA Wrestling have joined forces to put on the Chicago Cup.
“USA Wrestling is excited to further develop our partnership with World Sports Chicago and Chicago 2016,” said Pete Isais, USA Wrestling’s Director of National Events. “The 2007 Chicago Cup was a huge success and with the announcement of the 2008 event we look forward to continuing to showcase international wrestling in the Chicago area. This year’s event will definitely have some great match ups for all wrestling fans to enjoy.”
Welsh-Ryan Arena was filled almost to capacity for the 2007 Chicago Cup despite a snowstorm that hit the Chicago area. The U.S. battled Russia in freestyle while two athletes from the U.S. also faced wrestlers from China in Greco-Roman. Two American women battled wrestlers from Canada.
Athletes who participated in the 2007 Chicago Cup met and had their photo taken with Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley at City Hall in Downtown Chicago on the morning of the Chicago Cup.
Chicago Cup 2008 
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