Amy Whitbeck of Duanesburg, N.Y. has been making news within wrestling for many years. After many placements on the national level in age-group women's wrestling, Whitbeck has now earned the right to represent her nation at the World Championships for the first time.

On Saturday, Whitbeck won the Body Bar FILA Junior National Championships at 44 kg/97 lbs., earning a spot on the U.S. World Team that will compete at the 2007 Junior World Championships in Beijing, China. 

"I felt pretty good out there," said Whitbeck after her victory. "I am very excited about going to the World Championships."

Whitbeck has been very successful in previous USA Wrestling events, getting more experience each year. Last year, she was a FILA Cadet Nationals champion and placed third at the Junior National Championships in Fargo, N.D.

She has also garnered tremendous attention for her high school wrestling achievements competing against boys. For the second straight year, Whitbeck qualified for the New York State High School Championships. Last year, she was the first girl to compete in the state meet against boys. This year, as a junior, Whitbeck had a 2-2 record in the tournament, and was a match away from the medal rounds.

Whitbeck said she was not satisfied with her performance at the state meet, because a wrestler she beat at the Sectional tournament ended up placing at state and she did not. Her toughness and high expectations are among the reasons Whitbeck has been so successful in wrestling.

"It is a combination of things," said Jack Prest, New York's Women's Junior Nationals coach and one of Whitbeck's coaches here this weekend. "She is from a rural area. She is on a farm with animals. She is an excellent barrel racer, and is very competitive in sports outside of wrestling. She is also an Olympic lifter. She competes at so many things. All of this plays into her wrestling."

Whitbeck made a decision to drop some weight and compete in the lowest division at the Body Bar FILA Junior National Championships, wrestling at the 44 kg/97 lbs. weight class on Saturday, after competing at 103 pounds during the high school season. 

"I decided to go down in weight," said Whitbeck. "I stuck with the decision. It has been awhile to get here."

In 2006, Nicole Woody of Maryland won the FILA Junior Nationals and went on to win a Junior World gold medal. This year, Woody moved up to 48 kg/105.5 lbs. this year.

Whitbeck took full advantage of her opportunity at the FILA Junior Nationals. She won four matches, capturing every period of her competition. Among her victories was a 1-0, 3-0 decision over runner-up Michelle Quiles (Sheridan, N.Y./Fredonia).

"I was real concerned how she would react to her weight control, but she got stronger with every match," said Prest. "Each and every time, she was more confident. She wrestled her usual type of matches, where she is in control and hits her shots."

Whitbeck shared the credit for her success with a number of people who have helped her to improve.

"My high school coaches and my club coaches, and (USA Wrestling Women's Developmental) Coach Izzy (Izboinikov have all helped me," said Whitbeck. 

Whitbeck's high school coach is the legendary Joe Bena, who was also a high school coach for 1984 Olympic champion Jeff Blatnick and 1988 Olympian Andy Seras, when he was coaching at Niskayuna High School. Not at Duanesburg, Bena is working with another potential Olympian, although this time in women's freestyle.

"It is something I want to do in the future, but I want to stay in the present right now," said Whitbeck of her Olympic aspirations.

Her present now consists of a trip to Junior World Championships in China this summer, as well as her senior year in high school in the fall. You can expect to hear more about Amy Whitbeck…