A Special Wrestle-off for the spot on the 2009 U.S. FILA Junior World Greco-Roman Team at 60 kg/132 lbs. has been set for Rochester, Minn. on Wednesday, June 17.

A best-of-three series will be held between 2009 FILA Junior Nationals champion Jimmy Chase (Carol Stream, Ill./Pinnacle School of Wrestling) and Justin LaValle (Burnsville, Minn./Minnesota Storm), who won the title at the 2009 FILA Junior World Team Trials.

In the qualification procedures for this year in Greco-Roman, any FILA Junior Nationals champions who also placed in the top seven at the U.S. Senior Nationals had the right to delay the best-of-three series to a later date.

Chase, who won the FILA Junior Nationals in Las Vegas in April, also placed seventh at the U.S. Senior Greco-Roman Nationals at 60 kg/132 lbs. Chase was the only athlete who met this condition and chose to delay his championship series.

Chase skipped the FILA Junior World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo. in May, and attended the U.S. Senior World Team Trials in Council Bluffs, Iowa the next weekend. Chase went 0-2 at the World Team Trials event.

LaValle, who was third at the 2009 FILA Junior Nationals, won the title at the FILA Junior World Team Trials. He defeated Vincente Gallegos (Denver, Colo./Denver All-Stars) in two straight matches to earn the right to challenge Chase.

"LaValle looked very good at the FILA Junior World Team Trials," said USA Wrestling National Greco-Roman Developmental Coach Ike Anderson. "Both of these guys are high school wrestlers. It should be a very good series. Both have been focusing on their Greco-Roman extensively this spring. LaValle is strong on his feet, and Chase is dangerous in par terre."

The Special Wrestle-off will be held alongside the USA Wrestling Cadet National Duals, which are being hosted at the University Center Rochester - Sports Center in Rochester, Minn., June 17-21.

The first match of the best-of-three series is set for 3:00 p.m., with the second match to be held 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first match. If a third match is needed, that will be held 30 minutes after the second match concludes.

FILA JUNIOR WORLD TEAM SPECIAL WRESTLE-OFF
At Rochester, Minn., June 17

Best of three series in Greco-Roman

60 kg/132 lbs. -Jimmy Chase, Carol Stream, Ill. (Pinnacle School of Wrestling) vs. Justin LaValle (Burnsville, Minn./Minnesota Storm)