April 22, 2003
COLUMBIA, Mo. -
Freshman wrestler Ben Askren (Hartland, Wisconsin/Arrowhead) qualified to compete at the 2003 USA Wrestling World Team Freestyle Trials in Indianapolis, Indiana on June 20-22 this past weekend after winning the Northern Plains Regional in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Askren, competing at the 84 kilogram weight, defeated Sean Harrington of the New York Athletic Club, 8-4 in the finals to secure the birth.
Askren was competing as a member of the Missouri Elite wrestling team. The team is a club team coached by Tiger Head Coach Brian Smith and consists of Tiger wrestlers and other amateur wrestlers from the state of Missouri.
Askren redshirted this past season for the Tigers as a freshman and will have four years of eligibility. He wrestled in open tournaments for the Tigers at 174-pounds where he compiled a record of 24-8. He placed in six open tournaments, winning the 174-pound championships in both the Missouri Valley College Open and the Roger Denker Open. He also competed in the prestigious Midlands Tournament. He is projected to compete for the 174-pound starting spot for the Tigers next season and is currently ranked 12th in the Intermat 2003-04 preseason poll.
"This is a great chance for Askren," said Smith. "He's only 18 years old and yet he is competing with these grown men who have been competing nationally and internationally for many years now. This is going to be a great experience for Ben and I know that he's excited about this opportunity."
The 2003 USA Wrestling World Team Trials serves as the USA Wrestling's qualifying tournament for the 2003 World Championships and Pan American Games. Athletes that are expected to compete are US World Team member Cael Sanderson, 2000 Olympic Champion Rulon Gardner, 2001 World silver medalist Toccara Montgomery, 2000 Olympian Kerry McCoy, 2002 World Champion Dremiel Byers are just some of the stars that will compete. Askren will be competing in the same weight class as Sanderson, the former Iowa State Cyclone star.
NOTES FROM THE MAT: 13 Missouri wrestlers will be competing in the University Freestyle Nationals at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois this weekend (April 23-26).