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Former Cyclone, Hawkeye face off for final U.S. wrestling spot
Best-of-three series will determine representative for World Championships.

By DAN McCOOL
REGISTER STAFF WRITER


August 16, 2007
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The final spot on the United States' seven-member freestyle wrestling team for the World Championships will be determined today in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Nate Gallick, a former NCAA champion at Iowa State, meets Iowa strength coach Mike Zadick, a former three-time all-American for the Hawkeyes, in a best-of-three series to find the team's 132-pound representative beginning at 1:30 p.m.

The second match will be staged at 2:30, with a third bout - if needed - set for 3:15.

Neither wrestler was available for comment Wednesday.

Gallick, who is seeking his first berth on a senior-level world team, has won each of the past three matches against Zadick, a silver medalist in the 2006 World Championships and in the 2007 Pan American Games.

Their most recent meeting was in the finals of the National Open in Las Vegas, Nev., in April, but Gallick sustained a foot injury that prevented him from competing in the World team trials in June.

Zadick won the 132-pound championship at the trials, setting up another meeting with Gallick, who will be an assistant coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga this winter.

Because of his status as the reigning national champion, Gallick was able to petition for a wrestle-off at a later date.

The world tournament, involving Greco-Roman and men's and women's freestyle, will be Sept. 17-23 in Baku, Azerbaijan.