AU's Mark Cody Coaching at the World Team Trials

June 17, 2005

AMES, Iowa - American University head wrestling coach Mark Cody will be coaching among some of the amateur wrestling world's elite this weekend at the World Team Trials held in Ames, Iowa.

Cody will be a member of the coaching staff for the Gator Wrestling Club, which is now in it's fourth year of existence. The Gator Club has two members with No. 1 rankings, but Cody will also be coaching former Nebraska standouts Brad Vering and Tolly Thompson. Thompson, a No. 1 ranked wrestler at 120 kgs, is a national team member and was a former NCAA National Champion. Vering is also ranked tops at 84 kgs, wrestled in the 2004 Olympic Games and was also a NCAA Champion while wrestling for the Cornhuskers.

The tournament, which is being held in Ames, Iowa on the campus of Iowa State will determine who represents Team USA at the World Championships that will be held in Budapest, Hungary in September. The champion at each weight class will make the trip to the World Championships to compete for the United States.

"The members of the Gator Club have just come off of last week's training camp in New Orleans, myself and the rest of the coaching staff feel the team is in good shape for this weekend," said Cody. "The Gator Club has two guys that are favorites to make it to Budapest, but we have many other athletes that are capable of upsetting the No. 1 guys."

In 2004-05, Cody led the Eagles to the to the program's most successful season to date. AU senior Daniel Waters (Laurel, Del./Sussex Technical) became the school's first All-American wrestler, as the Eagles had an unprecedented four wrestlers compete at the national tournament. American also finished higher in the team standings, coming in 32nd place, than ever before at the 2005 NCAA National Championship. Freshman Josh Glenn (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) was honored as the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association's Freshman of the Year.