Campus to Host Inaugural America’s Cup of Wrestling

High School Teams From Southern California, Michigan, New Jersey and Nevada to Compete

May 20, 2010

From Sports Information

The National United Wrestling Association for Youth will present its America’s Cup, an inaugural tournament featuring the top high school wrestlers from California, Michigan, New Jersey and Nevada, June 4 at Cal State Fullerton’s Titan Gym and at Clovis High School June 5.

The event is sponsored by the Committee for the Preservation of California Collegiate Wrestling and its subsidiary, the State of California Wrestling Alliance, and will benefit the Fullerton wrestling program. The event will showcase the talents of some of the nation’s top wrestlers while promoting an exchange of cultural, geographical and personal experiences.

The winning team will receive the America’s Cup and the right to defend it in their state the following year. The host state will provide regional teams and multiple venues to showcase not only its wrestling diversity but to provide multiple geographical experiences for the participants. The June 4-5 events will be streamed live nationally at www.savecaliforniawrestling.com for the price of admission, which is $10.

At the June 4 event in Fullerton, regional teams from San Diego and the Southern California area will compete in a tandem dual format against state teams from Michigan, New Jersey and Nevada. The honorary coach for San Diego will be Byron Campbell, who is the current head coach at San Diego’s only collegiate wrestling program, Palomar Junior College.

“We are proud that the top programs in San Diego have taken the lead on ensuring the participation of not only their section but also the best kids in San Diego in this year’s event,” said Ryan Halsey, a co-founder of the Committee for the Preservation of California Collegiate Wrestling and San Diego County native.

The Southern California team will be led by long-time Cerritos College Coach Donny Garriot.

Ernest Ciaccio, who is a regional director for NUWAY stated: “This exchange is the first in a series of events that will enable us to protect, preserve and advance our sport at every level,” said Ernest Ciaccio, a regional for NUWAY, about the Cal State Fullerton-based event. “(Cal State Fullerton’s) Coach Dan Hicks has done a great job in developing a model to self-fund his program under the threat of discontinuation. This is our way of doing what we can to help him financially while getting some of the top kids in the country on his campus and fans in his gym. College administrators need to know that wrestling is important in California and we hope events like this one will make that clear.”

A list of participants and further details available at the Fullerton Titans website.