Clinch Gear™ Athlete Jake Varner Qualifies For London Olympics

Two-time NCAA champion clinches spot on U.S. freestyle wrestling team

(DENVER) – April 26, 2012 – Clinch Gear™, a leading performance training apparel brand, is proud to announce athlete Jake Varner has qualified for the 2012 London Olympics. Varner, a two-time NCAA champion at Iowa State University, will represent the U.S. wrestling team in 96 kg freestyle.

Varner won the best-of-three championship match against Tommy Rowlands at the U.S. Olympics trials this past weekend in Iowa City. Varner used last-second takedowns to win the second and third periods of the first match and won a 2-0, 1-0 decision for the win.

“We are very proud of Jake and his recent accomplishments,” said Clinch Gear CEO Bruce Pettet. “For wrestling, there is no bigger stage than the Olympics and Clinch Gear is excited to be along for the ride. Jake continues to show an unmatched commitment and dedication to his sport something that we strongly believe Clinch Gear also represents within amateur wrestling. We will continue to work with Jake in the coming months providing him with the most innovative performance apparel available that will help him perform at his highest level.”
Varner, a bronze medalist at last year's World Championships, is considered a medal favorite in London. The 96 kg Olympic tournament takes place on the Games' final day, August 12.
“I’ve learned and grown as an athlete on many levels since last year’s World Championships,” Varner said. “My goal is not to be just an Olympian, but to be an Olympic champion. With the support of my family, teammates, coaches, Nittany Lion Wrestling Club and Clinch Gear, I am confident I can win gold in London.”

Varner joins MMA legend Dan Henderson on the list of Olympians on the Clinch Gear roster. Henderson represented the U.S. on the Greco Roman wrestling team in the 1992 and 1996 Olympics Games.

About Clinch Gear™

Founded in 2003, Clinch Gear™ is a leading performance sports apparel brand for athletes and training enthusiasts, with a rich history in mixed martial arts and amateur wrestling. Clinch Gear maintains a singular focus on product innovation, consistently seeking to elevate industry standards for performance, quality and fit. Clinch Gear is headquartered in Denver, and is part of the Collective Licensing International portfolio of youth lifestyle and performance brands including Airwalk®, Above The Rim®, Vision Street Wear®, SIMS®, LaMar® and LTD®, World Snowboarding Championships™ and Hind® brands.  For more information, visit http://www.clinchgear.com/