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American Readies for Midlands Tournament
Eagles to compete at 39th annual holiday event

December 13, 2001

WASHINGTON -- American wrestling will ring out 2001 in Evanston, Ill. at the 39th annual Midlands Tournament held at Northwestern University. The team will compete in the two-day event from Dec. 29-30 at the Welsh-Ryan Arena.

The Northwestern sports information department recently announced that Olympic Gold Medalist Rulon Gardner will make a special appearance at the annual event. Gardner won the gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olmpics as a heavyweight after defeating Alexander Karelin Karoylen of Russia. This win marked one of the biggest upsets in wrestling history, as Karoylen had not lost in 13 years of international competition.

Gardner wrestled at the Midlands Tournament a total of three times and won at his last visit in 1995. Tournament representatives will present Gardner with the special Honorary Midlands Champion Award this year for his contributions to the sport at the collegiate level and beyond. Gardner will greet fans and sign autographs on the 29th at Welsh-Ryan Arena. He will also speak to a youth wrestling group as part of the Evanston YMCA "Beat the Streets" program.

American senior Marc Hoffer (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Central) enters the tournament as InterMat's No. 16 wrestler in the nation at 149 lbs. The Wrestling Mall has Hoffer ranked No. 19 in the nation. He recently recorded three pins at the Kent State Duals on Sunday, Dec. 9. American grappled against Kent State, Mercyhurst, and Baldwin-Wallace in the four-way competition.

Defending NCAA and Midlands team champion Minnesota will lead the way on the mats this year in Evanston. Seven of the nation's top ten teams will be present in an attempt to prevent a repeat by the Gophers. The Midlands Tournament has been a traditional indicator of a team's postseason performance, as many team winners at Midlands have later won their conference titles and many times the NCAA title.

To purchase tickets to the annual Midlands event, visit www.nusports.fansonly.com/tickets/gen-info-tix.html#office for ticket office numbers and hours. For additional information on events in Chicago, Ill. and the surrounding suburbs (including Evanston), visit www.home.digitalcity.com/chicago and click on the holiday entertainment toolbar.