The United States will participate in the 2010 Junior Pan American Championships, set for Managua, Nicaragua, July 9-11. This event features athletes 17-20 years old featuring nations in North, Central and South America.

The Greco-Roman competition will be held on Friday, with the women’s freestyle competition on Saturday and the men’s freestyle competition on Sunday.

All eight members U.S. women’s team were either runners-up or placed true second at the Body Bar FILA Junior Nationals in Kissimmee, Fla. in May.

Included on the team are four wrestlers who are ranked in the top five of their weight divisions on the Senior level in the United States: Carlene Sluberski (Fredonia, N.Y./USOEC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Schuyler Brown (Montpelier, Va./Gator WC) at 59 kg/130 lbs., Lauren Louive (Massillon, Ohio/Univ. of the Cumberlands) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. and Brittney Roberts (Santa Fe, Texas/Gator WC/OCU) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.

There will be one men’s team entered, with all of the U.S. athletes competing in both the Greco-Roman and men’s freestyle divisions. The team was formed by athletes who were successful in the FILA Junior World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Colo. in May, as well as the FILA Junior Nationals in Cleveland, Ohio in April.

FILA Junior World Team Trials runners-up on the team include Steve Matson (Prospect, Conn./Tugman) at 50 kg/110 lbs. in freestyle as well as Toby Erickson (Helena, Montana/Bronco WC) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman.

In the 2009 Pan American Junior Championships, which were held in Mexico, the United States won nine gold medals, including four in Greco-Roman, three in women’s freestyle and two in men’s freestyle. None of the athletes who won gold medals last year are on the USA team this year.

JUNIOR PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Managua, Nicaragua, July 9-11

U.S. Men’s Freestyle and Greco-Roman team
50 kg/110 lbs. – Steve Matson, Prospect, Conn. (Tugman)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Carson Kuhn, Sandy, Utah (Vandit)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Dmitry Ryabchinsky, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Brooklyn WC/NYAC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Destin McCauley, Burnsville, Minn. (Apple Valley WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Caleb Smith, Patoka, Ind. (MO West)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Ryan Hope, Carol Stream, Ill. (USOEC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Robert Isley, Toledo, Ohio
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Toby Erickson, Helena, Montana (Bronco WC)
Coaches – Chris James, Pueblo West, Colo.; Chris Ayres, Pennington, N.J.

U.S. Women’s Freestyle Team
44 kg/97 lbs. – Taylor Busboom, Spring, Texas (Gator WC/OCU)
48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Carlene Sluberski, Fredonia, N.Y. (USOEC)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Sarah Hildebrandt, Granger, Ind. (Team Indiana-PWC)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Tanya Kusse, Webster, N.Y. (Team Titan Worldwide)
59 kg/130 lbs. – Schuyler Brown, Montpelier, Va. (Gator WC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Lauren Louive, Massillon, Ohio (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Brittney Roberts, Santa Fe, Texas (Gator WC/OCU)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Jordan Hagerman, Nevada, Mo. (Missouri Valley)
Coaches – Donny Stephens, West Covina, Calif.; Brian Jackson, Arnold, Mo.; Katie Cygan, Colorado Springs, Colo.

JUNIOR PAN AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE

Friday, July 9
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Greco-Roman elimination rounds
7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Greco-Roman finals

Saturday, July 10
3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Women’s freestyle elimination rounds
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. – Women’s freestyle finals

Sunday, July 11
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Men’s freestyle elimination rounds
4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Men’s freestyle finals