U.S. looks for success in all three styles at FILA Junior World Championships in Guatemala, Aug. 28 - Sept. 3

Craig Sesker USA Wrestling
08/24/2006

The storylines are numerous and the possibilities are seemingly endless for the United States to make a strong showing in men’s and women’s freestyle, and Greco-Roman wrestling at the FILA Junior World Championships on Aug. 28-Sept. 3 in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./Univ. of Regina) is shooting for her third Junior World title in women’s freestyle. She will compete at 72 kg/158.5 pounds. Bernard captured gold medals at this event in 2003 and 2005.

Teammates Dany Hedin (Kailua, Hawaii/USOEC/NYAC) and Heather Martin (Wellington, Ohio/Univ. of Cumberlands/NYAC) are seeking to move up one spot after winning Junior World silver medals last year. Hedin will compete at 55 kg/121 pounds and Martin at 67 kg/147.5 pounds.

Another wrestler to watch on the women’s team is an emerging star in Jackie Cataline, who placed second at the U.S. Nationals and third at the U.S. World Team Trials. Cataline (Corona, Calif./Cataline’s Wildcat WC) will compete at 63 kg/138.75 pounds. The recent high-school graduate was named ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year.

“We are bringing a really strong team down there,” said Izzy Izboinikov, USA Wrestling’s National Women’s Developmental Coach. “Three of our women are returning medalists. This is an outstanding opportunity for our young women to compete against some of the best wrestlers in the world. I am very excited about our chances.”

Rising star Henry Cejudo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) is focused on improving on last year’s fifth-place performance at the Junior World meet. Cejudo has enjoyed a strong season in freestyle on the Senior level at 55 kg/121 pounds. Cejudo, who just finished high school, won the U.S. Nationals and placed second to past World champion Sammie Henson at the U.S. World Team Trials.

Also in freestyle, Patrick McCaffrey (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) is a returning medalist at 50 kg/110 pounds after earning a bronze at the 2005 Junior World Championships. Brent Metcalf (Davison, Mich.) is another bright young star to watch in freestyle at 66 kg/145.5 pounds. Metcalf was a six-time Junior Nationals champion.

“I am excited about our Junior World Team,” said Dave Bennett, USA Wrestling’s National Developmental Freestyle Coach. “They have been working hard in training camp and have had the opportunity to train with the Senior Team for about 10 days. Their attitude, conditioning and preparation is good and their expectations are high.”

Spenser Mango (Flourissant, Mo./USOEC/Gator WC) will look to cap a superb season by winning his second World title in Greco-Roman. Mango, who competes at 55 kg/121 pounds, won the World University title earlier this year. Mango was second at the U.S. Nationals this year on the Senior level.

Chas Betts, who is Mango’s teammate at the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan, won a silver medal this year at the World University Championships. Betts (St. Michael, Minn./USOEC/Minnesota Storm) will compete at 84 kg/185 pounds in Guatemala.

“Our team is looking good,” said Ike Anderson, USA Wrestling’s National Developmental Coach. “We have a chance of winning two to three medals at the Junior Worlds, and having a real good performance.”

Heavyweight Erik Nye (Red Bluff, Calif.) will compete for the U.S. in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, and is considered by his coaches to be a legitimate medal threat in both styles.

FILA JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE
AUG. 28-SEPT. 3, GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA

Monday, Aug. 28
6:30-7 p.m. – Greco-Roman Weigh-ins (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
Tuesday, Aug. 29
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Greco-Roman competition (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
4:30-5 p.m. – Greco-Roman Weigh-ins (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
5-6 p.m. – Greco-Roman competition (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
6-7 p.m. – Opening ceremony
7-9 p.m. – Greco-Roman finals (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
Wednesday, Aug. 30
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Greco-Roman competition (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
5-6 p.m. – Greco-Roman competition (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
6:30-7 p.m. – Women’s freestyle Weigh-ins (44 kg, 51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
6-8 p.m. – Greco-Roman finals (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
Thursday, Aug. 31
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Women’s freestyle competition (44 kg, 51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
4:30-5 p.m. – Women’s freestyle Weigh-ins (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg)
5-6 p.m. – Women’s freestyle competition (44 kg, 51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
6-8 p.m. – Women’s freestyle finals (44 kg, 51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
Friday, Sept. 1
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Women’s freestyle competition (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg)
5-6 p.m. – Women’s freestyle competition (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg)
6:30-7 p.m. – Men’s freestyle Weigh-ins (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
6-8 p.m. – Women’s freestyle finals (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg)
Saturday, Sept. 2
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Men’s freestyle Weigh-ins (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
4:30-5 p.m. – Men’s freestyle Weigh-ins (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
5-6 p.m. – Men’s freestyle competition (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
6-8 p.m. – Men’s freestyle finals (50 kg, 60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
Sunday, Sept. 3
9 a.m.-1 p.m. – Men’s freestyle competition (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
4-5 p.m. – Men’s freestyle competition (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
5-7 p.m. – Men’s freestyle finals (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)

U.S. FILA JUNIOR WORLD TEAMS

FREESTYLE
50 kg/110 lbs. – Patrick McCaffrey, Glen Ellyn, Ill.
55 kg/121 lbs. – Henry Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Coleman Scott, Waynesburg, Pa. (Gator WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich.
74 kg/163 lbs. – Matt Coughlin, Evansville, Ind. (Hoosier WC)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Louis Caputo, Blue Springs, Mo. (Harvard WC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Max Askren, Hartland, Wis. (Sunkist Kids)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Erik Nye, Red Bluff, Calif.
Coaches – Jim Humphrey (Canal Winchester, Ohio), Yero Washington (Hoboken, N.J.), Dave Bennett (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

GRECO-ROMAN
50 kg/110 lbs. – Eric Grajales, Brandon, Fla.
55 kg/121 lbs. – Spenser Mango, Flourissant, Mo. (USOEC/Gator WC)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Brett Robbins, Bloomington, Ill. (Panther WC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Jason Robbins, Orlando, Fla. (Sunkist Kids)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Andrew Bisek, Chaska, Minn. (USOEC/Minnesota Storm)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Chas Betts, St. Michael, Minn. (USOEC/Minnesota Storm)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Robbie Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (NYAC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Erik Nye, Red Bluff, Calif.
Coaches – Gary Mayabb (Kansas City, Mo.), Mark Halvorson (Brentwood, Calif.), Ike Anderson (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

WOMEN’S FREESTYLE
44 kg/97 lbs. – Nicole Woody, Odenton, Md. (NYAC)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Sadie Kaneda, Honolulu, Hawaii (USOEC)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Jessica Medina, Pomona, Calif. (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Dany Hedin, Kailua, Hawaii (USOEC/NYAC)
59 kg/130 lbs. – Deanna Rix, South Berwick, Maine (NYAC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Jackie Cataline, Corona, Calif. (Cataline’s Wildcat WC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Heather Martin, Wellington, Ohio (Univ. of the Cumberlands/NYAC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Univ. of Regina)
Coaches – Trevor Keifer (Le Mesa, Calif.), Vladislav “Izzy” Izboinikov (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

Click here for tentative preliminary entry list