Former Illinois wrestler and current assistant coach Mike Poeta was named to the U.S. World Cup team for freestyle wrestling on Tuesday. There was a wrestle-off scheduled between Poeta and Travis Paulson, but it was canceled and Poeta was named to the team.

“I’m just excited that I can focus my training on Russia, not a wrestle-off before that,” Poeta said in a press release. “For the other six guys on the team, it’s been like that since Jan. 22, so I’m glad I can put everything toward the World Cup. This is the top eight teams from last year’s World Championships and we’re the seventh seed, so we’re going to be wrestling a lot of guys who medaled at the World Championships.”

Poeta, a former-three-time All-American, will wrestle at 74kg/163 lbs for the U.S. in the World Cup, a dual-meet tournament featuring the world’s top eight teams. The tournament will take place on March 6 and 7 in Mahachkala, Russia.

Jock Jams tickets still available

Tickets for Jock Jams, a talent show being put on by Illinois student-athletes, will be on sale today. Tickets will be sold from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Scott Hall and beginning at 6 p.m. at the door at Huff Hall. Tickets are also available from any athlete and at the Irwin Academic Center in Room 206, daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event takes place Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Huff Hall.

Daily Illini staff reporting