Wrestling: Two Advance in Olympic Qualifiers
May 22, 2008 02:44 PM | General
May 22, 2008
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Two members of the Mylan Olympic Development Program advanced to the finals of the USA Wrestling Olympic qualifiers after placing seventh or higher at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev.
Danny Felix, representing the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club, finished third in the 55 kg/121 pound freestyle division to advance to the next U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials on June 13-15 in Las Vegas. He is currently ranked No. 6 in the U.S. Senior Freestyle rankings by TheMat.com
Felix has competed in the Olympic Trial finals twice in his career, finishing second at the qualifiers in 2000 and third in 2004.
“At this point in my career these are the most important trials that I’ve wrestled in,” said Felix. “This is my last time competing in the Olympics and I’m going to give it 110 percent. I have no regrets.”
Nick Preston will also compete in the second leg of the Summer Olympic Qualifiers after finishing seventh in the 96 kg/211.5 pound freestyle division. Preston is ranked No. 10 in the U.S. Senior Freestyle rankings and also wrestles for the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club. In 2004, he competed at the final Olympic Trials in the 84 kg/185 pound division and finished at 2-2.
“This experience has been great so far,” said Preston. “I am very excited for the opportunity to compete in June and I’ve been training very hard. I would like to acknowledge the Sunkist Kids for allowing me this opportunity to compete.”
The Olympic Trials in mid-June are the final qualifiers for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. Each division champion in men’s freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle earns an automatic bid to the 2008 USA Wrestling Team.
The Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club is a non-profit organization based in Scottsdale, Ariz. The club has produced several Olympians, including 2000 Heavyweight Champion Rulon Gardner and 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist and current Iowa State Head Coach Cael Sanderson.
Three-time NCAA Champion Greg Jones and All-American Matt Lebe are recent WVU alumni who have competed for the Sunkist Kids.
West Virginia University served as host to the Sunkist Kids National Training Program for USA Wrestling in 2004. Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club and USA Wrestling created a five-year partnership with WVU during that time to make it an official training site for the development of Olympic wrestlers.
