This report was written by Kevin Black of Wisconsin, who served as the coach of the U.S. FILA Cadet Tour Team this summer

On August 3-12 I took a group of kids to Beijing, China for an exchange. Included in that group was our Womens FILA Cadet Team.  They qualified for the trip at the Body Bar in Colorado Springs. 
 
This was primarily an exchange, and we wrestled matches three nights.
 
The second night Tatiana Padilla of California (2x Junior National Champion) defeated the Chinese Junior National Champion in a great match. It looked like two Olympians wrestling, it was a great womens match. Tatiana scored a late takedown in the second period to win 1-1 and won the third period by defending the clinch of the Chinese wrestler.  The third night she lost to their senior world team member. She was outmatched in strength. She now knows she needs to work in the weight room if she wants to compete at the world/Olympic level.  It was a great experience for her to wrestle females of that level and stay close with them.
 
Samantha Lopez of California did great and she has a tremendous future.  She works hard and is always looking to improve.  She asked a lot of great questions and is a great student of the sport.  She is very enjoyable to be around and very coachable.
 
I was the head coach, my wife Liz was the team leader and John McGovern and Wil Kelly were assistants.  The tour also included 15 male wrestlers from across the United States. Other coaches included Tony Walters, Keith Eckert, Charles Shephard and Landon Lueck.
 
We traveled to the Great Wall of China at Badaling, the Ming Tombs, Forbidden City, Summer Palace and the old Beijing on the Hutong Tours.  We went to factories were jade, silk and pearls were made.  We also saw the site of many of the 2008 Olympic venues, including the enormous Olympic Stadium.  A few of the girls have their sights set on returning to Beijing in 2008.  
 
Training sessions were held at the Beijing Wrestling Club.  Athletes live on campus and train in their sport year-round, earning point towards graduation from the academy. The wrestling room featured three full-size competition mats.  The wrestling surface was approximately 135' x 50' and it was one mat (no seems).  20 climbing ropes hung from the high ceiling.  It was a very impressive wrestling room.
 
Overall, I thought that the trip was a great experience for everyone.  It gave us a chance to see how other cultures live and train.  You learn a lot about your training needs as an individual athlete when you are put in an unfamiliar environment.  You also begin to understand what your priorities are and need to be to become successful at a high level.  

It is also nice that the athletes had a chance to see a part of the world that we do not learn or know much about here in the US.  China is a country rich in history and it is great for kids to see while grow into mature adults.
 
First night (against Beijing Wrestling Club)
40 kg - Denisia Godfrey (Gillette, WY) lost (0-6, 0-7)
45 kg - Helen Timmons (Austin, TX) lost (0-2, 2-1, 1-2)
52 kg - Samantha Lopez (West Covina, CA) won (1-3, 2-1, 5-1) 
59 kg - forfeit
61 kg - Anneleise DeAragon (Sandpoint, ID) WBF (6-0, Fall 0:36)
66 kg - Paige Rife (Fowlerville, MI) LF (LF 1:04)
 
Second night
40 kg - Denisia Godfrey lost (0-6, 0-6)
45 kg - Helen Timmons won (2-0, 0-3, 4-1)
52 kg - Samantha Lopez WBF (7-1, Fall 1:44)
59 kg - Tatiana Padilla (LaVerne, CA) won (0-1, 1-1, 1-0)
61 kg - Anneleise DeAragon lost (1-7, 0-6)
66 kg - Paige Rife lost (4-6, 2-4)
 
Third night
40 kg - Denisia Godfrey lost (0-7, 0-6)
45 kg - Helen Timmons lost (1-3, 0-2)
52 kg - Samantha Lopez WBF (7-4, 3-4, Fall 1:15)
59 kg - Tatiana Padilla lost (0-1, 0-2)
61 kg - Anneleise DeAragon (0-4, 1-7)
66 kg - Paige Rife lost (1-3, 2-3)