TIRAPELLE, TWO-TIME CALIFORNIA CHAMPION SELECTED TO DAPPER DAN CLASSIC U.S. TEAM

PITTSBURGH – Alex Tirapelle, a two-time California state champion, has been selected to the United States team for the 27^th annual Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic scheduled for Saturday, March 24 at the University of Pittsburgh’s Fitzgerald Field House.

Tirapelle will compete at 140 pounds.

Tirapelle, of Clovis, Calif., went 53-3 in winning the state championship as a junior and was 55-2 as a sophomore.

He went 27-17 as a freshman.

Tirapelle was a Wendy’s High School Heisman state finalist.

He is the top-ranked student in high school class of nearly 700 students.

The Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic, partially funded by UPMC Health System, benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania.

The Wrestling Classic, dubbed "The Rose Bowl of Wrestling," is the premier high school all-star dual meet in the United States.

The preliminary match will feature WPIAL stars going against Minnesota’s best at 5:30 p.m. The main event – Pennsylvania versus the USA will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Pennsylvania leads the all-time series 15-10-1.

Tickets for the Wrestling Classic are $12 for reserved seats and $8 for general admission. They can be purchased at Wright Automotive Group in Wexford, Canon-McMillan High School or by mail to Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic, P.O. Box 957, Pittsburgh, PA 15230, or online at www.wrestlingclassic.com.

Contacts:

Frank Vulcano Jr. Co-Director Principal Dapper Dan Wrestling Classic 225 Fair Meadow Circle  Houston, PA 15342  Work: 412-896-2345 Fax: 412-384-2030  E-mail: vulcanojr@hotmail.com

John E. Sacco Sacco Consulting 813 Crest Drive Monessen, PA 15062 Work: 412-281-4408 Home: 724-684-6031 Fax: 412-471-7203 E-mail: sacman@usaor.net