The FILA Junior World Team Trials has provided a stage for future American stars to perform and excel on their way to ultimately earning spots on Team USA at the Senior level.

This year's FILA Junior World Team Camp and Trials for freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling is being held May 20-26. The training camps and competition will be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The week will start with a camp and conclude with the FILA Junior World Team Trials competition on Friday, May 25, and Saturday, May 26. The winners in each weight class advance to the FILA Junior World Championships on Aug. 21-26 in Beijing, China.

2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas and 2006 World bronze medalist Donny Pritzlaff are among the American wrestlers who have won Junior World titles. 2007 U.S. Nationals champion Tommy Rowlands was a Junior World silver medalist.

"This is an extremely important event and a big step toward developing our future Olympians," said Dave Bennett, USA Wrestling's National Developmental Freestyle Coach. "If you look at those wrestlers who have won at the FILA Junior World level in the past you will find some of our top people on it."

Two-time U.S. Nationals champion Henry Cejudo won a silver medal at the 2006 Junior World Championships. Cejudo is eligible to compete again this year, but his focus right now is on Senior-level events. He is scheduled to compete at the Pan Am Championships on May 20 in El Salvador before taking the No. 1 seed into the U.S. World Team Trials on June 10 in Las Vegas.

Champions from April's FILA Junior Nationals in Las Vegas from the eight FILA weight classes earn an automatic berth into the finals of the FILA Junior World Team Trials. If the champion from the FILA Junior Nationals does not enter, the highest finisher in attendance from the FILA Junior Nationals will earn the automatic berth into the best-of-3 finals of the FILA Junior World Team Trials.

The eight weight classes used in the FILA Junior World meet are 50 kg/110 lbs., 55 kg/121 lbs., 60 kg/132 lbs., 66 kg/145.5 lbs., 74 kg/163 lbs., 84 kg/185 lbs., 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Freestyle champions from the FILA Junior Nationals include David Taylor of Ohio at 50 kg/110 lbs., Tyler Graff of the Loveland Wrestling Academy at 55 kg/121 lbs., Todd Schavrien of the Sunkist Kids at 60 kg/132 lbs., Brian Spangler of the Sunkist Kids at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., Zack Kemmerer of the Sunkist Kids at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Bubba Jenkins of Penn State at 70 kg/154.25 lbs., Dave Rella of Penn State at 74 kg/163 lbs., Kirk Smith of the Bronco Club at 79 kg/174 lbs., Brent Chriswell of River City at 84 kg/185 lbs., Taylor Moore at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Dom Bradley of Mo West Championship Wrestling Club at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Returning FILA Junior World Team Trials champion Pat McCaffrey also is expected to compete at 55 kg/121 lbs. McCaffrey was a Junior World bronze medalist at 50 kg/110 lbs. in 2005 and 2006.

Greco-Roman champions from the FILA Junior Nationals include Justin Forrest of Mo West Championship Wrestling Club at 50 kg/110 lbs., Nikko Triggas of CYC at 55 kg/121 lbs., Michael Mangrum of Vision Quest Wrestling Club at 60 kg/132 lbs., Eli Hutchison of Bronco Club at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., John Dibala of the U.S. Olympic Education Center at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Vincent Salminen of MinnKota Wrestling Club at 70 kg/154.25 lbs., Tim Patrick of Orange Crush at 74 kg/163 lbs., Brandon Sitch of the Minnesota Storm at 79 kg/174 lbs., Brice Arand of Orange Crush at 84 kg/185 lbs., Robbie Smith of the New York AC at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Erik Nye of Northern Xtreme at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Nye won both freestyle and Greco-Roman divisions at the 2006 FILA Junior World Team Trials. Nye placed fifth at the 2006 Junior World Championships in freestyle. Nye may end up battling Kenny Lester, the University Nationals champion in Greco-Roman at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Smith is a returning FILA Junior World Team Trials champion in Greco-Roman. He placed ninth last year at the Junior World meet. Smith recently won the University Nationals in Greco-Roman.

Returning FILA Junior World Team Trials champion Eric Grajales of Florida also is expected to compete in Greco-Roman at 55 kg/121 lbs. Grajales also is a Junior Nationals champion.

"This event will be very competitive and fun to watch," said Ike Anderson, USA Wrestling's National Developmental Greco-Roman Coach. "It should be a real strong tournament where we may see a couple of upsets."

FILA JUNIOR WORLD TEAM TRIALS SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 24
4 p.m. - Medical check and weigh-in (Olympic Training Center wrestling room); Greco-Roman weights: 50 kg/110 lbs., 55 kg/121 lbs., 60 kg/132 lbs., 66 kg/132 lbs. Freestyle weights: 74 kg/163 lbs., 84 kg/185 lbs., 96 kg/211.5 lbs., 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Friday, May 25
9 a.m.-conclusion - Challenge Tournament at Olympic Training Center. Greco-Roman weights: 50 kg/110 lbs., 55 kg/121 lbs., 60 kg/132 lbs., 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Freestyle weights: 74 kg/163 lbs., 84 kg/185 lbs., 96 kg/211.5 lbs., 120 kg/264.5 lbs. All qualified wrestlers participate with the exception of the highest place finisher from the 2007 FILA Junior National Championship in attendance.

2 p.m.-conclusion - Finals. Greco-Roman weights: 50 kg/110 lbs., 55 kg/121 lbs., 60 kg/132 lbs., 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Freestyle weights: 74 kg/163 lbs., 84 kg/185 lbs., 96 kg/211.5 lbs., 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Best-of-3 championship series with the champion of the Challenge Tournament facing the highest place finisher from the 2007 FILA Junior National Championship in attendance.

4 p.m. - Medical check and weigh-in (Olympic Training Center wrestling room). Greco-Roman weights: 74 kg/163 lbs., 84 kg/185 lbs., 96 kg/211.5 lbs., 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Freestyle weights: 50 kg/110 lbs., 55 kg/121 lbs., 60 kg/132 lbs., 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

Saturday, May 26

9 a.m.-conclusion - Challenge Tournament at Olympic Training Center. Greco-Roman weights: 74 kg/163 lbs., 84 kg/185 lbs., 96 kg/211.5 lbs., 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Freestyle weights: 50 kg/110 lbs., 55 kg/121 lbs., 60 kg/132 lbs., 66 kg/145.5 lbs. All qualified wrestlers participate with the exception of the highest place finisher from the 2007 FILA Junior National Championship in attendance.

2 p.m.-conclusion - Finals. Greco-Roman weights: 74 kg/163 lbs., 84 kg/185 lbs., 96 kg/211.5 lbs., 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Freestyle weights: 50 kg/110 lbs., 55 kg/121 lbs., 60 kg/132 lbs., 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Best-of-3 championship series with the champion of the Challenge Tournament facing the highest place finisher from the 2007 FILA Junior National Championship in attendance.