BUDAPEST, Hungary – The first four U.S. women’s freestyle wrestlers have weighed in and received their draws for Thursday’s competition.

2008 Junior World champion Adeline Gray (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) will be wrestling in her third Junior World Championships. She will draw Maria Selmaier of Germany in her first match.

Competing at 44 kg/97 lbs will be Erin Golston (Lake in the Hills, Ill./New York AC/USOEC), who was also a member of the 2010 U.S. Junior World Team. Her first opponent will be Aidana Utegulova of Kazakhstan.

The two other wrestlers are competing in their first Junior World Championships, Carlene Sluberski (Fredonia, N.Y./New York AC/USOEC) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and Jenna Burkert (Rocky Point, N.Y./New York AC/USOEC) at 59 kg/130 lbs.

Sluberski opens with Patimat Bagomedova of Azerbaijan while Burkert will face Natalia Maslouskaya of Belarus.

“Overall, our thoughts are positive. We are looking forward to competing. I think we have a very good chance. We will see how things play out tomorrow. Adeline Gray will lead the team tomorrow, a World champion. We have three other fairly inexperienced athletes, but we looking for some good performances from them,” said Izzy Izboinikov, USA Wrestling Assistant National Women’s Coach.

FILA Juniors are athletes who are 17-20 years old. Many of the athletes who are successful at the Junior World Championships go on to win World and Olympic medals for their nations.

The USA is looking to improve on its sixth-place finish in women’s freestyle at the 2010 Junior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Bucharest, Romania, July 26-31

U.S. Junior World Women’s Team

44 kg/97 lbs. – Erin Golston, Lake in the Hills, Ill. (New York AC/USOEC)
Vs. Aidana Utegulova (Kazakhstan)

51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Carlene Sluberski, Fredonia, N.Y. (New York AC/USOEC)
Vs. Patimat Bagomedova (Azerbaijan)

59 kg/130 lbs. – Jenna Burkert, Rocky Point, N.Y. (New York AC/USOEC)
Vs. Natalia Maslouskaya (Belarus)

67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
Vs. Maria Selmaier (Germany)