June 13, 2005

Cedar Falls, Iowa -

University of Northern Iowa assistant wrestling coach Tolly Thompson and former wrestlers Sean Stender, Duaine Martin and Mark Rial have qualified for the World Team Trials this weekend (June 18-19th) in Ames, Iowa. The competition will be held at James H. Hilton Coliseum.

Tolly Thompson (Freestyle, 120 kg/264.5 lb.) is in his fifth year with the UNI wrestling program as an assistant coach. He finished second at the 2004 Olympic Trials and at the 2003 U.S. Open and World Team Trials. Thompson is a member of the Sunkist Kids Club and has spent six years on Team USA.

Sean Stender (Freestyle, 96 kg/211.5 lb) was a three-time All-American at UNI 2002-2005, placing second in March at the 2005 NCAA Championships at 197 pounds. He qualified for the World Team Trials by becoming the Northern Plains Regional Champion. Stender is a member of the Panther Wrestling Club.

Duaine Martin (Greco-Roman, 60 kg/132 lb.) wrestled for UNI 1989-90, becoming an All-American at 126 pounds at the 1990 NCAA Championships. Martin wrestles for the U.S. Army and placed fourth at the 2005 U.S. Nationals.

Mark Rial (Greco-Roman, 66 kg/145.5 lb.) wrestled for UNI 1999-2001, qualifying for the NCAA Championships as a senior at 141 pounds. He placed fourth at the 2005 U.S. Nationals and is a member of the Gator Wrestling Club.

ABOUT THE WORLD TEAM TRIALS

1. The Challenge Tournament features all wrestlers who qualified for the World Team Trials other than the 2005 U.S. National Champion. The winner of the Challenge Tournament moves on to the Final World Team Trials to wrestle the 2005 U.S. National Champion in a best two (2) out of three (3) match series.

2. The Final World Team Trials are the best two (2) out of three (3) matches between the 2005 Challenge Tournament Champion and the 2005 U.S. National Champion. The winner of the Final World Team Trials will represent the United States at the 2005 World Wrestling Championships.

3. The National Team True Third Place Matches determine final National Team placement if the second (2nd) and third (3rd) place wrestlers from the Challenge Tournament did not wrestle in the Challenge Tournament.