The FILA Junior National Championships in men’s freestyle on Sunday is also a qualifying event for a new international event, the FILA Junior World Cup in Leipzig, Germany, May 26-30.

“I’m very excited with the opportunity for the United States to compete in the, first ever, Junior Freestyle World cup,” said National Freestyle Development coach, Bill Zadick. “It will be an unparalleled experience for our Junior athletes and our developmental program to compete with these other countries and athletes.”

The results from the FILA Junior Nationals will determine an athlete for each weight class for the U.S. FILA Junior World Cup Team.

A second athlete could qualify for the team through the U.S. Open, by placing in the top six in their weight class. The athlete must be FILA Junior eligible.

If more than one athlete in the U.S. Open in the top six of the division and is age group eligible, the highest place winner will be taken, in rank order. 

In the event there are two qualified athletes at a weight, then bothathletes may go to the Junior World Cup, one from the FILA Junior Nationals and one from the U.S. Open. The Junior World Cup Coach will determine which athlete competes in which match at the event.

FILA has created the new FILA Junior World Cup in  freestyle. It is a dual meet tournament mirroring the Senior-level World Cup including the top wrestling countries from around the world.

The teams who will compete are based upon performance at the Junior World Championships last year in Hungary. Nations that will participate include Russia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, Iran, United States,  Japan and Germany.

This is an unparalleled international wrestling experience for both the individual athletes selected to attend and the United States Development Program. The event will guarantee athletes as many as four international matches and the opportunity to help the United States to win the Junior World Cup Team Title.

“I know it will be a great opportunity for our young men to win a Junior World Cup crown,” said Zadick. “Also, the chance for growth and learning on the international level is something that we in the United States often don’t have until we are on the Senior level.”