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Former National Champion Brad Vering and 2000 Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner each claimed a spot on the United States Greco-Roman wrestling team that will be competiting at the 2004 Olympics in Greece after winning the U.S. Olympic team trials on Sunday, May 23.
Vering, a Howells, Neb., native is the second native Nebraskan to earn a spot on the Olympic wresting team. Vering defeated Jake Clark, 2-0 in the best-of-three match. Vering posted 5-1 and 3-1 victories over Clark.
Gardner, who defeated Russian Aleksandr Karelin for the gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, won the two-day mini tournament to face off against top-seeded Dremiel Byers. Gardner defeated Byers, 2-1 in overtime in both matches to claim a spot of the Olympic team.
Former Husker national champion Tolly Thompson and two-time All-American Justin Ruiz finished second in their respective classes after dropping their best of three matches to Kerry McCoy and Garrett Lowney, respectively.