BUCHAREST, Romania – The first four U.S. men’s freestyle wrestlers have weighed in and received their draws for Saturday’s action at the 2011 FILA Junior World Championships.

The team is a mix of top young college stars as well as some of the nation’s best high school talents.

The only U.S. freestyle team athlete with previous Junior World experience is Nick Roberts (Hooversville, Pa./Young Guns) at 50 kg/110 lbs. Roberts placed fifth at the 2010 Junior World Championships at this weight class.

He will face Alireza Ghorban Hatami (Iran) in his first match.

Three of the four athletes competing on Saturday were high school students last year, Roberts, plus Taylor Massa (St. Johns, Mich./Massa’s Maniacs) at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Tanner Hall (Meridian, Idaho/New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. All three of them competed in the 2011 Junior World Cup in Germany. Massa won a bronze, Hall was fourth and Roberts was fifth.

Massa will wrestle Ibrahim Yusubov of Azerbaijan to start off, and Hall drew Yushvir Yudhvir of India.

The college wrestler competing on Saturday is Logan Stieber (Monroeville, Ohio/New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. who wrestles for Ohio State. Stieber has placed a number of times at the U.S. Senior Open and has extensive experience.

Stieber draws Sayatbek Okassov of Kazakhstan.

“We had a really good camp. We have great kids on the team and good training partners and great coaches we brought here with me, Bloomsburg head coach John Stutzman and former Developmental Coach Doc Bennett,” said National Freestyle Developmental Coach Bill Zadick. “I feel very good about their preparation. We should be ready to compete. But it is no different than the Senior level, it’s not all about preparation. You have to lay it on the line when the whistle blows.”

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.

JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Bucharest, Romania, July 30

U.S. freestyle wrestlers draws for Saturday

50 kg/110 lbs. – Nick Roberts, Hooversville, Pa. (Young Guns)
vs. Alireza Ghorban Hatami (Iran)

60 kg/132 lbs. – Logan Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (New York AC)
vs. Sayatbek Okassov (Kazakhstan)

74 kg/163 lbs. – Taylor Massa, St. Johns, Mich. (Massa’s Maniacs)
vs. Ibrahim Yusubov (Azerbaijan)

96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Tanner Hall, Meridian, Idaho (New York AC)
Vs. Yushvir Yudhvir (India)