USA Wrestling's 2004-05 Ultimate Challenge Series of folkstyle wrestling is halfway completed, with five events already held in late 2004, and five more events scheduled for the winter and spring of 2005.    The popular youth wrestling series expanded this year to 10 quality events, and the competition level has been spectacular.     For the first event of the New Year, the Ultimate Challenge Series moves to the great wrestling state of Oklahoma for the U.S. Junior Open Championships. The event, slated for Oklahoma City, January 7-8, 2005, is expected to draw nearly 1,500 participants.    Finalists will be announced and showcased in a Parade of Champions before the final bouts. In its 29th year, the Junior Open Championship will stay with tradition in awarding its champions special U.S. Junior Open Championship rings. Gold Outstanding Wrestler rings will be awarded in each age division as well.    For information, contact Carl Mize at 405-990-3255.    The Ultimate Challenge Series moves back West for the first ever Sunkist Kids Ultimate Challenge - Youth Folkstyle, January 15-16, 2005. The Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club is excited to be hosting its first Ultimate Challenge Series event, after running the prestigious Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open for the past 20 years. The event will take place in Wells Fargo Arena on the campus of Arizona State University.      The event will include a few extras that promise to make this a truly unique and exceptional event. Tournament champion awards will include a southwest flavor that will certainly be different from all other kids' events.  Participants will be treated to a free clinic by six-time World Champion and two-time Olympic Champion Sergei Beloglazov immediately following weigh-ins the night before competition. Finally, the Kids event will be followed by a dual meet featuring national powerhouse Arizona State and Cal-State Fullerton.    For information, visit the web page at http://www.sunkistkids.com    The large and successful Liberty Nationals will be held at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo. on Feb. 26. This tournament has developed a large and loyal following from youth wrestlers across the nation, and is recognized for quality competition and outstanding awards.    At the Liberty Nationals, champions and outstanding wrestlers are awarded with an impressive classic wrestling position trophy. Wrestlers who win both the Dixie Nationals and the Liberty Nationals, events hosted by wrestling leader Bill Gossett, will be awarded the new American Crown Award, a custom-made statue of the Greek God Atlas.    For information, visit the web page at http://www.libertynationalswrestling.com    The Virginia Challenge/USAW Wrestle-FEST 2005 will be held at Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, Va., March 11-13. This is the only Ultimate Challenge Series event that is hosted in the Mid-Atlantic region, a thriving wrestling area.    There are two events that will score points within the Series, the Middle School National Open and the Youth National Open. These competitions are for athletes from third through eighth grades. Two other major events, the USAW/Virginia Freshman State Championships, as well as the Virginia Challenge Match for high school champions, make this an amazing wrestling opportunity.    "There is something for everyone at Wrestle-FEST," said organizer Frank Lipoli. "With these four outstanding tournaments, as well as the attractions of the Hampton Roads area, it has truly become a wrestling destination."    For information, visit the web page at http://www.virginiachallenge.org     As in years past, the 2004-05 Ultimate Challenge Series will culminate with USA Wrestling's Folkstyle National Championships, set for the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, April 1-3. Champions at this event are recognized as the USA Wrestling folkstyle national champions for the year.    Added emphasis has been given to the Folkstyle National Championships within the Ultimate Challenge Series, as the top eight award winners will receive double the points for placing in USA Wrestling's premier youth folkstyle event.    Wrestling legend Dan Gable, considered the nation's most respected wrestler and coach, will make a special appearance to meet with the participants at the USA Wrestling Folkstyle National Championships. There have been many improvements in the event operations this year, in order to provide an outstanding experience for wrestlers and their families.    For information, visit the web page at http://www.uni.edu/unidome/2005USAWrestling.asp    A point system based on individual event placing tracks the results of each athlete. At the end of the ten-event series, nine Dominator belts will be awarded to the top point scorers in three age divisions. The age divisions are Division I (9 & 10 year olds), Division II (11 & 12 year olds) and Division III (13-15 year olds).    Athletes and families can check the standings in the Ultimate Challenge Series by visiting TheMat.com at www.themat.com    For more information, contact Travis Shives of USA Wrestling at 719-598-8181 or at tshives@usawrestling.org