State College, Pa., March 5, 2002 - Penn State wrestling coaching assistant Ross Thatcher was named to the seven-member Greco-Roman team when USA Wrestling announced the U.S. lineup for the 2002 Pan American Championships, set for Caracas, Venezuela, March 14-17.

Held three of every four years during the non-Pan American Games years, the Pan American Championships features the best wrestlers in North, Central and South America. The Greco-Roman tournament will be held March 14-15.

Thatcher, who competes for the New York Athletic Club and won the Dave Schultz Memorial International Tournament on Feb. 10, was selected for the U.S. team based on his top five placing at the 2001 Nationals. Thatcher finished fourth. He will compete at 211.5 pounds in Venezuela. The U.S. Greco-Roman team will be led by three U.S. National Champions.

Thatcher, a 2000 All-American at Penn State, will travel with the Penn State team to both the Big Ten Championships (March 9-10) and NCAA Championships (March 21-23) and wrestle at the Pan American Championships during the intervening weekend.