Nation's Leading Junior and Cadet Wrestlers Ready for Asics Tiger Junior Nationals and AdvoCare Cade
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Jason Owens (USA Wrestling)
07/12/2001
America's best young wrestlers will return to Fargo, N.D. from July 21-28 for a week of wall to wall wrestling action at the Asics/Vaughan Junior Nationals and AdvoCare Cadet Nationals. This is the 31st annual Junior National tournament and the ninth consecutive year the FargoDome at North Dakota State University will host the most prestigious Junior wrestling tournament in the country. It is the sixth consecutive year the Junior and Cadet Nationals have combined in Fargo to create the largest wrestling tournament in the world. Not only do these events provide a setting for the country's young wrestlers to show off their skills, but they are a preview of senior U.S. wrestling teams to come. Some of America's most honored champions have burst onto the scene at the Junior Nationals, which feature wrestlers in grades 9-12. This includes the most decorated wrestler in world history, Bruce Baumgartner, who went on to claim 13 international medals with four Olympic medals and nine World Championship medals. Baumgartner, who is now the president of USA Wrestling, was a Junior National Champion from New Jersey in 1978. This year's Junior National field has its own share of headliners led by Asics Tiger High School All-American First Team member Steven Mocco of New Jersey (275). Mocco is looking to win the freestyle heavyweight title while holding his opposition scoreless for the third consecutive year. Fellow Asics Tiger All-American First Team member Nick Simmons of Michigan (114.5) is looking to secure his chapter in the record book by winning his fourth career Junior National title at freestyle, which would tie him with Alan Fried of Ohio (1986-1989) for the most Junior freestyle titles in history. Those aren't the only big names, though. Several other past champions are eligible to wrestle at both the Junior and Cadet level. Other returning Junior National freestyle champions are Sammy Vigil of Colorado (98), Nathan Kendjorsky of Ohio (105.5), Teyon Ware of Oklahoma (132) and Jake Rosholt of Idaho (178). Returning Junior National Greco-Roman Champions are Willie Holst of Wisconsin (98), Eric Stevenson of Oregon (105), Cam Jones of Utah (123), Harry Lester of Ohio (132), Matt Nagel of Oklahoma (143) and Kenneth Cook of California (154). The Cadet Nationals is also returning several past champions. The Cadet Nationals features 15 and 16-year-olds battling for national titles and All-American honors. The freestyle tournament is returning two national champions: Tyler Safratowich of Minnesota (83.5) and Charlie Falck of Minnesota (88). Returning Greco-Roman national champions include Gabriel Mooney of Minnesota (88), Matt Bauman of Wisconsin (182.5), Grant Miller of Illinois (209) and Patrick Barrentine of Ohio (242). There will also be several runners-up from the 2000 Junior Nationals eligible for action this year. The 2000 Junior National Freestyle runners-up returning are Brock Zollinger of Idaho (98), Anthony Rodriguez of California (105.5), Darrell Vasquez of California (114.5), Cory Cooperman of New Jersey (123), Andy Simmons of Michigan (132), Troy Letters of Pennsylvania (154) and Ryan Halsey of California (178). The returning Junior National Greco-Roman runners-up are Sterling Oglesby of Wyoming (98), Darryl Spackman of Utah (105.5), Shawn Bunch of Kansas (114.5) and Cain Velasquez of Arizona (220). 2001 Competition Schedule Saturday, July 21 Parade of USAW State Associations between 3:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. Cadet Greco-Roman Preliminaries between 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. Sunday, July 22 Cadet Greco-Roman Preliminaries between 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Junior Greco-Roman Preliminaries between 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. Monday, July 23 Cadet Greco-Roman Preliminaries between 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Junior Greco-Roman Preliminaries between 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Cadet Greco-Roman Medal Matches (3rd, 5th, 7th) between 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Junior Greco-Roman Preliminaries between 4:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. Cadet Greco Roman Finals and Awards between 6:45 p.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 24 Junior Greco-Roman Preliminaries between 9a.m. - 12 p.m. Junior Greco-Roman Medal Matches (3rd, 5th, 7th) between 4 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Junior Greco-Roman Finals and Awards between 6:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 25 Cadet Freestyle Preliminaries between 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. Thursday July, 26 Cadet Freestyle Preliminaries between 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Junior Freestyle Preliminaries between 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. Friday, July 27 Cadet Freestyle Preliminaries between 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Junior Freestyle Preliminaries between 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Cadet Freestyle Medal Match (3rd, 5th, 7th) between 2 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Junior Freestyle Preliminaries between 4:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Cadet Freestyle Finals and Awards between 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday, July 28 Junior Freestyle Preliminaries between 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Junior Freestyle Medal Matches (3rd, 5th, 7th) between 2 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Junior Freestyle Finals and Awards between 4:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.