BRAMA, Jan. 25, 2000, 10:00pm EST

World Champion Elbrus Tedeev headlines Ukraine team
for World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling in Fairfax, Va., Feb. 5-6

Ukraine has announced its lineup of athletes that will compete at the World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling to be held at the Patriot Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Feb. 5-6.

Leading the Ukraine team will be two-time World Champion Elbus Tedeev at 138.75 pounds. Tedeev won World titles in 1995 and 1999. He won a bronze medal at the 1996 Olympic Games. In addition, Tedeev also claimed the 1999 European Championships title.

Two other World medalists are included on the Ukrainian team: Alexandre Zakharuk at 119 pounds and Merabi Valiev at 286 pounds.

Zakharuk won a bronze medal at the 1999 World Championships. He has won the gold medal at the European Championships for three straight years (1997-99). He also placed fourth in the 1997 World Championships.

Valiev won a silver medal at the 1993 World Championships, and placed seventh in the 1996 Olympic Games. He was fourth in the 1994 World Championships, and was the 1994 European champion.

Two other past World placewinners are also on the team: Alik Muzaev at 167.5 pounds and Sergei Pryadun at 213.75 pounds. Muzaev was eighth in the 1999 World Championships, while Pryadun placed fifth in the 1997 World Championships.

Rounding out the Ukrainian team are Vasil Fedoryshyn at 127.75 pounds, Orest Skobelsky at 152 pounds and Taras Danko at 187.25 pounds.

Ukraine is traditionally one of the best freestyle wrestling teams in Europe and on the international scene. Ukraine placed second place in the 1997 World Championships and fourth in the 1998 World Championships as a team.

The strongest field in the history of the World Cup is expected, with six of the top eight teams at the most recent World Freestyle Wrestling Championships confirmed to participate. It will certainly be an exciting preview of the competition at the 2000 Olympic Games.

Along with Ukraine, the field for the 2000 World Cup includes Russia, Cuba, Iran, Turkey, and the host United States. Each of the teams will compete against the other nations in dual meet action. In addition, individual medals will be awarded at each of the eight weight classes.

Four sessions of wrestling will be held. On Saturday, Feb. 5, session times are 12:00 noon and 7:00 p.m. On Sunday, Feb. 6, session times are at 11:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

A variety of ticket price packages are available. The best bargains are the All-Session Tickets, which cost $99 for Seating A (best locations), $75 for Seating B and $55 for Seating C. Individual session tickets will become available on January 15.

For more information, contact Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling at 719-598-8181.

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