PHOENIX -- A group of Valley wrestlers will head to Las Vegas next month for Olympic trials while their coach stays behind in an Arizona jail cell, the victim of what he calls a politically motivated vendetta.

IMAGES: Wrestling Practice

Roman Wroclawski was arrested by the Polish government last fall in what he said was retaliation for a book he wrote criticizing Poland's treatment of its athletes.

Wroclawski, a former world champion described as "the Michael Jordan of wrestling" by one of his protégés, moved to the U.S. from Poland in the 1990s and coached American Rulon Gardner to what is considered the greatest upset in Olympic wrestling history in 2000.

Now, four of his trainees from the American Pankration Gym in Peoria are poised to qualify for the U.S. Olympic wrestling team. They'll have to do it without their coach.

"We need him. U.S. wrestling needs him. I need him," wrestler Jeff Funicello said.

Wroclawski is being detained in a Florence jail while he awaits an extradition hearing. The Polish government had him arrested on suspicion of committing fraud in the early 1990s.

Wroclawski denied the charge and said the alleged crime happened too long ago to even be prosecuted.

A hearing next week will decide whether Wroclawski can post bail. An extradition hearing later this summer will determine whether he'll be sent back to Poland.

Wroclawski said he fears for his life if he is extradited and believes he would be killed by the Polish government in a so-called "accident."

Meanwhile, his wrestlers said they need Wroclawski to stand a chance at the Olympic qualifying round.

"Whether I make the Olympics or not, the U.S. Olympic team needs him," Funicello said.

The qualifying round takes place in mid-June.

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