FARGO, N.D. - Every year, the nation's best young wrestlers come together for the world's largest wrestling competition, the ASICS/Vaughan Junior and Cadet Nationals at the FargoDome in Fargo, N.D.

This competition produces great stories of champions, many who go on to glory in college wrestling, and ultimately at the World and Olympic levels. This marks the 41st anniversary of the Junior Nationals event, which was first held in 1971 in Iowa City, Iowa.

The tournament is scheduled for July 16-23 and is expected to feature outstanding wrestlers in every weight class.

USA Wrestling has official state association team standings in all the divisions held in Fargo, adding to the tradition of state wrestling pride exhibited at this event.

The ASICS/Vaughan Junior Nationals features high school wrestlers in grades 9-12. Every year, the Junior division features talented athletes who are proven winners, as well as many top young stars who are making names for themselves.

Last year, Freddie Rodriguez of Michigan became only the second wrestler to ever win the coveted USA Wrestling Triple Crown on the Junior level, by claiming folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman Junior National titles in the same year. Rodriguez is eligible to return to Fargo this year and go for another Junior Triple Crown, after winning the 2011 USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals at 119 pounds.

Also returning is a double champion from the 2010 Junior Nationals, Tyler Liberatore of Florida, who was a winner of both the freestyle and Greco-Roman titles at 130 pounds.

Along with Rodriguez and Liberatore, 2010 Junior National freestyle champions who are eligible to return are Matt Garelli of Illinois (98), Eddie Klimara of Illinois (125), Austin Ormsbee of New Jersey (135), Alex Dieringer of Wisconsin (145), Destin McCauley of Minnesota (152), Logan Storley of South Dakota (171), Morgan McIntosh of California (189), Tanner Hall of Idaho (215) and Greg Kuhar of Ohio (285).

2010 Junior freestyle runners-up who can return include Mark Raghunandan of New York (98), Ruben Navejas of Washington (105), Evan Silver of Maryland (112), Hunter Weber of Wisconsin (119), Zach Horan of Pennsylvania (125), Matt Kelliher of Minnesota (130), Terrell Willbourn of Missouri (135), Edwin Cooper of Illinois (140), Matt Hickman of California (152), Matthew Riley of Iowa (189), Cody Krumwiede of Iowa (215) and Chris Lopez of Illinois (285).

2010 Junior National Greco-Roman champions who are eligible to compete in Fargo, along with Rodriguez and Libertore, are Colton Howell of Missouri (98), Tyler Fraley of New Jersey (112), Val Rauser of Montana (119), Rossi Bruno of Florida (125), Taylor Moeder of Kansas (135), Elijah Sullivan of Iowa (140), Dylan Reel of Illinois (160), Devin Peterson of Wisconsin (171), Lucas Sheridan of California (189) and Orry Elor of California (285).

Runners-up in the Junior Greco-Roman Nationals last year who can return are Jason Munoz of Wisconsin (98), Ryan McQuade of Wisconsin (112), Nathan Kraisser of Maryland (119), Grant LaMont of Utah (125), Ronnie Garbinsky of Pennsylvania (130), Jarod Donar of Wisconsin (135), Jesse Baldazo of California (140), Andy Rico of Texas (145), Kyle Crutchmer of Oklahoma (160), Drake Stein of Indiana (189), Tanner Hall of Idaho (215) and Donnie Longendyke of Minnesota (285).

Many of last year's Cadet National champions are expected to move up into the Junior ranks this year and challenge for titles and All-American honors

Last year, the team champion in Junior freestyle was Illinois, followed by Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. In Junior Greco-Roman, Illinois also captured the title last year, with Wisconsin, California, Florida and Minnesota in the top five.

Another indication of the strength of the state teams are the results from the 2011 Junior National Duals, held this June in Oklahoma City, Okla. Illinois was the team champion in both styles at the Junior Duals this year. In Greco-Roman, Illinois defeated Wisconsin in the finals, with Florida, Minnesota and California completing the top five squads. In freestyle, Illinois won the finals bout against Oklahoma, followed in the team standings by Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin.

The women's freestyle division, now in its 11th year, has grown in size and quality every season, and promises to be very competitive again this year.

Three star wrestlers are eligible to seek their third career Junior Nationals title this year, Emily Webster of Missouri (98), Brienna Delgado of South Carolina (132) and Julia Salata of Michigan (146).

In total, there are 11 Junior National women's champions eligible to return. Included are sisters Mindy and Chrissy Chow of Hawaii, who were co-champions at 124 last summer. Others champions who can return include Haley Augello of Illinois (102), Megan Yamaguchi of Hawaii (109), Kayla Brendlinger of Pennsylvania (116), Krista Revelle of Kansas (139), Kim Spiegel of Pennsylvania (153) and Miriam Moreno of Texas (190).

This year’s field could be extremely loaded, as 18 finalists are eligible to return. Last year’s runners-up who could be in the field are Allene Somera of Hawaii (98), Quinn Nagatani of Hawaii (102), Sarah Hildebrandt of Indiana (116), Jenna Burkert of New York (132), Tamyra Mensah of Texas (139), Demi Strub of Indiana (146) and Tonya Keegan of Pennsylvania (153).

The Junior National team champions in women's freestyle last year was California, followed by Texas, Hawaii, Pennsylvania and Washington.

The Women's National Junior Duals have returned to Fargo, after a year that it was not held there. Since the Women's Duals were created, California has won the team title three times and Texas has won it twice. No other state has won a Women’s Junior National Duals title.

The Cadet Nationals are for wrestlers who are 15 and 16 years old, some of the best young talents in the country.

Last year, Mitch Sliga of Indiana was able to win the Cadet Triple Crown at 189 pounds as a first-year Cadet, winning Cadet National titles in all three styles. Sliga is eligible to return to the Cadet Nationals this year, but can not win another Triple Crown, as he placed fourth at the 2011 USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals this year.

2010 Cadet National freestyle champions who are eligible to return are Brent Fleetwood of Delaware (84), Ronnie Bresser of Oregon (91) and Chance Marsteller of Pennsylvania (145). Cadet Nationals freestyle runner-ups who can return as Cadets are Tyler Casamenti of New Jersey (84), Noah Teaney of Missouri (91), Darian Cruz of Pennsylvania (98), Bryce Brill of Illinois (119) and Eric Morris of Pennsylvania (152).

2010 Cadet National Greco-Roman champions who are eligible to return include Dylan Lucas of Florida (91), Joseph McKenna of New Jersey (98) and Hayden Tuma of Idaho (119). Cadet National Greco-Roman runners-up from last year who are still in the Cadet division are Hunter Kelley of Georgia (84) and Burke Paddock of New York (152).

The team champions in Cadet freestyle last year was Illinois, followed by Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Ohio. In Greco-Roman, Pennsylvania captured the team title, with Illinois, Florida, Wisconsin and Georgia rounding out the top five.

The 2011 Cadet National Duals were held in Daytona Beach, Fla. this June and showcased many of the stars expected in Fargo. Illinois had a great performance again this year, winning the team title in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. Illinois defeated Pennsylvania in the Greco-Roman finals, with Michigan, New Jersey and Wisconsin rounding out the top five teams. In freestyle, Illinois defeated New Jersey in the championship match, followed by Oklahoma, Michigan and Wisconsin in the standings.

For the first time, there will be a Cadet National tournament for girls in Fargo, an opportunity for the top 15 and 16 year olds to show their abilities on the national level. Many of these athletes competed in the Cadet division at the 2011 Girls Folkstyle National Championships in Oklahoma and will be looking for success in the inaugural Cadet Nationals in freestyle for girls. Some of the Cadet athletes who are high school students may also enter the Junior division, seeking All-American honors at both age groups.

The ASICS/Vaughan Junior Nationals and the Cadet Nationals brings together hundreds of wrestling volunteers, including referees, pairing officials, coaches, state leaders and tournament operation workers, all who provide the opportunity for more than 4,000 athletes to pursue their dreams.

For updated articles, features and results from Fargo, visit TheMat.com (www.themat.com).

There will be live webcasts each day from Fargo on a number of selected mats, which can be found on TheMat.tv, USA Wrestling’s new video portal, as well as on the homepage of TheMat.com.

SCHEDULE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS IN FARGO
Sunday, July 17 – Cadet Women finals at 9:00 a.m. Central
Monday, July 18 – Cadet Greco-Roman finals at 2:00 p.m. Central
Tuesday, July 19 – Junior Greco-Roman finals at 5:00 p.m. Central
Wednesday, July 20 – Junior Women finals at 11:30 a.m. Central
Thursday, July 21 – Junior Women Duals final session at 9:30 a.m. Central
Friday, July 22 – Cadet freestyle finals at 2:00 p.m. Central
Saturday, July 23 –Junior freestyle finals at 11:30 a.m. Central