U.S. sets lineup for Pan Am Championships in Guatemala City, April 28-30
John Fuller/USA Wrestling
USA Wrestling has finalized its lineup for a men’s freestyle team at the 2005 Pan Am Championships set to be held in Guatemala City, Guatemala, April 28-30.
The team will include four NCAA All-Americans from 2005, including NCAA finalists Ben Askren (Hartland, Wis./Missouri) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Cole Konrad (Freedom, Wis./Minnesota) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.
Askren, a sophomore at Missouri, has placed second at the last two NCAA Championships. He placed sixth at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in men’s freestyle. He recently placed second at the University National Championships.
Konrad, a sophomore at Minnesota, placed second at the NCAA Championships this year. He placed fourth in the NCAA in 2004. Konrad also placed sixth at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, but in Greco-Roman.
Also competing for the U.S. will be NCAA All-Americans Tom Clum (Arvada, Colo./Wisconsin) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Matt Pell (Luxemburg, Wis./Missouri) at 74 kg/163 lbs.
Clum, a junior at Wisconsin, was a Big Ten champion in 2004, and placed third at the NCAA Tournament in 2005. He has qualified for the NCAA Tournament three times. He won a silver medal at last year’s Pan Am Championships.
Pell, a sophomore at Missouri, placed seventh at the NCAA Tournament this year competing at 184 lbs. He recently won a title at the University National Championships.
Rounding out the U.S. team are Ron Tarquinio (McDonald, Pa./Pittsburgh) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Daren Burns (Catawba, N.C./North Carolina-Greensboro) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
Tarquinio, a junior at Pittsburgh, has qualified for the NCAA Tournament three times.
Burns, a sophomore at North Carolina-Greensboro, is a two-time Southern Conference champion. He was the surprise of this year’s NCAA Tournament, making it to the quarterfinal round.
Coaching the squad will be Northwestern Univ. head coach Tim Cysewski (Evanston, Ill.) and high school coach Cliff Laughlin (Idaho Falls, Idaho).
The U.S. will not send teams to the Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle tournaments at the Pan Am Games.
Last year at the Pan Am Championships, the U.S. squad won seven medals, led by gold medalist Nick Simmons at 55 kg/121 lbs.
Pan Am Championships
at Guatemala City, Guatemala, April 28-30
U.S. Roster
60 kg/132 lbs. “Tom Clum, Arvada, Colo. (Wisconsin)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. “Ron Tarquinio, McDonald, Pa. (Pittsburgh)
74 kg/163 lbs. “Matt Pell, Luxemburg, Wis. (Missouri)
84 kg/185 lbs. “Ben Askren, Hartland, Wis. (Missouri)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. “Daren Burns, Catawba, N.C. (North Carolina-Greensboro)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. “Cole Konrad, Freedom, Wis. (Minnesota)
Coaches: Tim Cysewski, Evanston, Ill. and Cliff Laughlin, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Wrestling Gear
