XFM - extreme sports for men, by men

Wrestlers from the United States Olympic Education Center (USOEC) at Northern Michigan University competed in the 2nd Annual Olympic Challenge - International Edition on Feb. 20 at the Superior Dome in Marquette, Mich. The tournament featured matches between the USOEC women’s freestyle team and the Czech Republic, as well as matches between the USOEC men’s Greco-Roman team and the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program. The USOEC women’s team dominated the wrestlers from the Czech Republic, winning four of the five matches. The USOEC Olympic Challenge served not only as an opportunity for international competition for athletes, but also as a fundraiser for the families of two of Northern Michigan’s own-Toni Copeland, a USOEC wrestler, and Cass Huckabee, a student at Northern Michigan Univ. Both drowned last fall in Lake Superior. (Feb. 24) Clarissa Chun (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Sally Roberts (Federal Way, Wash.) won gold medals at the Vehbi Emre Golden Grand Prix in Izmir, Turkey. (Feb. 26) Tina Pihl (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and two-time World champion Kristie Marano (Albany, N.Y.) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. both captured gold medals on the final day of competition at the Vehbi Emre Golden Grand Prix in Izmir, Turkey. The United States placed second in the team standings behind host Turkey. For more information, log on to www.themat.com.