This clash marks the first time a wrestling competition of this magnitude has been held in northwest Iowa. The United States contingent will be led by Mark Manning, head coach at the University of Nebraska and the 2001 World Team Coach. He was also an assistant Olympic coach last year.
Turkey is consistently one of the top two or three teams in the world.
The Turks, fresh from the World Cup, will be very strong. Manning will lead the U.S. team against the same Turkish national team that will compete at the 2001 World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling, May 5-6, in Baltimore. Many of the athletes on both squads have extensive experience on the national and international freestyle scene. The dual is sponsored by the Siouxland Amateur Wrestling Council, which plans to make this an annual event. All the competing wrestlers have extensive international experience.