WHO: Rob Eiter.
WHAT: Top-ranked U.S. wrestler in the 105.5-pound weight class.
WHERE: Eiter, 28, has built a distinguished resume since his competitive days at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights. He is a four-time national champion who has made two appearances at world championships, finishing ninth in 1993 and seventh last year. The 5-foot-2-inch Eiter graduated from Arizona State in 1991 with a psychology degree and is an assistant wrestling coach at Clarion (Pa.) University.
WHEN: Eiter will defend his national title at the U.S. championships next week in Las Vegas. The top six finishers, along with five regional qualifiers, advance to the Olympic trials June 7-8 in Spokane, Wash. Only one wrestler in each weight class makes the Olympic team. Eiter just missed in 1992, losing the final wrestle-off to former mentor Tim Vanni, and was the Olympic alternate.
WHY: The United States has not won an Olympic medal in this weight class since 1984, but Eiter should be in the mix if he makes the team, having beaten most of the major players at least once–with the notable exception of Russia’s Vugar Orudjev, the reigning world champ.
