Mark Grey scores a takedown at the Junior/Cadet Nationals in Fargo. Grey was fifth in the 2011 Junior World Championships. Rob Preston photo

Many of the nation’s top young wrestlers who are in high school or college underclassmen will compete in the 2012 FILA Junior World Team Trials for men at Palmer High School in Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday, May 26.

FILA Junior wrestlers are athletes who are 17-20 years old. The champions in men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman at the event earn the right to represent the United States at the 2012 FILA Junior World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, Sept. 4-9.

On the FILA Junior level, a returning FILA Junior World medalist earns the right to sit out of the Challenge Tournament, moving right into the best-of-three Championship Series at the FILA Junior World Team Trials. However, this year, there are no returning FILA Junior World medalists who are eligible to return.

Therefore, the winners of the 2012 FILA Junior World Team Trials in the eight FILA Junior World weight classes, held in Madison, Wis., April 13-15, advance directly to the best-of-three Championship Series.

Five members of the 2011 U.S. FILA Junior World Team are eligible to try out again: Nick Roberts (Hooversville, Pa./Young Guns) at 50 kg/110 lbs., Mark Grey (Rockaway, N.J./Blair Academy) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Taylor Massa (St. Johns, Mich./Michigan Wrestling) at 74 kg/163 lbs., Tanner Hall (Meridian, Idaho/New York AC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. and Daniel Miller (Berlin, Md./Navy) at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

Grey placed fifth at the 2011 FILA Junior World Championships and Miller placed seventh, while the other three did not place in the top 10. Roberts was fifth in the 2010 FILA Junior World Championships.

Of the five returning World Team members in freestyle, Grey was the only one to win the FILA Junior Nationals title this year, taking the title at 60 kg/132 lbs. in Madison. Miller placed second at the FILA Junior Nationals this year, again at 120 kg/264.5 lbs.

There are four members of the 2011 U.S. FILA Junior World Team who are eligible to compete again this year: Jake Bellis (Bloomington, Ill./Iguana Greco) at 50 kg/110 lbs., Mike Fuenffinger (Hibbing, Minn./Minnesota Storm) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Jesse Thielke (Germantown, Wis./Sunkist Kids) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Marcus Finau (Ewa Beach, Hawaii/USOEC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. None of them placed in the top 10 at the FILA Junior World Championships.

Of the four Greco-Roman World Team members, Finau is the only one to win a FILA Junior Nationals title this year, defending his title at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Bellis placed second at the 2012 FILA Junior Nationals, competing up at 55 kg/121 lbs.

RaVaughn Perkins (Omaha, Neb./RP Nationals), who won the 2011 FILA Junior World Team Trials last year at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. is also eligible to return. Perkins lost a Special Wrestle-off for the Junior World Team last year to Ellis Coleman, who went on to win a Junior World bronze medal and is now a 2012 U.S. Olympian.

The FILA Junior World Team Trials is not an open event. Athletes must qualify to participate, based upon their placement at the 2012 FILA Junior National Championships, as well as achieving specific qualifying standards from other major competitions. 

FILA JUNIOR WORLD TEAM TRIALS
At Colorado Springs, Colo., May 25-26

Event Schedule

Friday, May 25

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Registration (Greco-Roman and freestyle)
6:45 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. – Medical Check (Greco-Roman and freestyle)
7:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Weigh-in (Greco-Roman and freestyle)

Saturday, May 26

9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. - Challenge Tournament (Greco-Roman and freestyle)
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Championship Series, Bouts 1, 2 and 3 - if necessary (Greco-Roman and freestyle)

2011 FILA Junior World Team Trials champions

Men’s freestyle
50 kg/110 lbs. – Nick Roberts, Hooversville, Pa. (Young Guns) 
55 kg/121 lbs. - Mark Grey, Rockaway, N.J. (Blair Academy)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Logan Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (Ohio RTC)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Josh Kindig, Auburn, Pa. (Gator WC)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Taylor Massa, St. Johns, Mich. (Michigan Wrestling)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Lee Munster, Fox Lake, Ill. (Northwestern)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Tanner Hall, Meridian, Idaho (New York AC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Daniel Miller, Berlin, Md. (Navy)

Greco-Roman
50 kg/110 lbs. – Jake Bellis, Bloomington, Ill. (Iguana Greco)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Mike Fuenffinger. Hibbing, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
60 kg/132 lbs.- Jesse Thielke, Germantown, Wis. (Sunkist Kids)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – RaVaughn Perkins. Omaha, Neb. (RP Nationals)*
74 kg/163 lbs. - Josh Castellano, Wood Dale, Ill. (USOEC)
84 kg/185 lbs.  –Joel Bauman, Kerkoven, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. – Marcus Finau, Ewa Beach, Hawaii (USOEC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs.  – Toby Erickson, East Helena, Montana (Bronco WC)
* Ellis Coleman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) beat Perkins in a Special Wrestle-off for the Junior World Team position

2012 FILA Junior Nationals champions

Men’s freestyle champions
50 kg/110 lbs. - Adrian Cordova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Westside)
55 kg/ 121 lbs. - Joey Dance, Christianburg, Va. (Virginia Elite)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Mark Grey, Rockaway, N.J. (Blair Academy)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Steven Rodrigues, Mt. Kisco, N.Y. (Illini Wrestling Club)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Destin McCauley, Burnsville, Minn. (Sunkist Kids)
70 kg/154 lbs. - Justin Deangelis, Tulsa, Okla. (Oklahoma Elite)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Nazar Kulchytskyy, Prairie du Chien, Wis. (World Class Wrestling)
79 kg/174 lbs. - Tyler Wilps, Oakdale, Pa. (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Patrick Downey, III, Oviedo, Fla. (Team OTC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Andrew Campolattano, Bound Brook, N.J. (RTC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Austin Marsden, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Gator/Cowboy)

Greco-Roman champions
50 kg/110 lbs. - Bobby Nachreiner, Hartford, Wis. (AWA)
55 kg/121 lbs. - Isaiah Varona, Homestead, Fla. (305 Wrestling / USOEC)
60 kg/132 lbs. - Joey DeNova, Fortston, Ga. (USOEC/NYAC) 
63 kg/138.75 lbs.- Tyler Fraley, Freehold, N.J. (Shamrock)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Nick Alvarez, Miami, Fla. (305 Wrestling / USOEC)
70 kg/154 lbs. - Brad Dolezal, Marshfield, Wis. (Minnesota Storm)
74 kg/163 lbs. - Caleb Smith, Pakota, Ind. (unattached)
79 kg/174 lbs. - Geordan Speiller, Oviedo, Fla. (Florida JETS)
84 kg/185 lbs. - Lucas Sheridan, Concord, Calif. (HWC / CYC)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. - Marcus Finau, Ewa Beach, Fla. (NYAC)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. - Adam Coon, Fowlerville, Mich. (WOW)