Lincoln ?USA Wrestling, the national governing body for amateur wrestling in the United States, named Nebraska’s Mark Manning and Oklahoma State’s John Smith as coaches of the 2009 U.S. Freestyle World Team on Tuesday.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
Manning will work with USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones and the rest of the national coaching staff to lead the U.S. delegation at the 2009 World Wrestling Championships in Herning, Denmark, on Sept. 21-27. Manning was selected by USA Wrestling’s Freestyle Coach Selection Committee and approved by USA Wrestling’s Executive Committee.
“This is a very important time for USA Wrestling, and the guys who make this team, to set a new standard of excellence,” Manning said. “This is a great challenge, but one in which we must work hard. We need to bring the right mindset to the World Championships to take a step toward being dominant in freestyle wrestling again.”
Manning has extensive coaching experience on the international level, including head coaching responsibilities for the 2001 U.S. Freestyle World Team. He was an assistant coach on the 1997 U.S. World Team and a staff member of numerous other U.S. World and Olympic teams.
The athletes representing the U.S. at the 2009 World Championships will be determined at the World Team Trials in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on May 30-31. Nebraska club coaches Trent and Travis Paulson are the No. 1 seeds at 66 (145.5 lbs) and 74 kilograms (163 lbs) respectively.