Often, the best indicator between an average and a great wrestler is how often do they compete in tournaments. To truly build on wrestling abilities, wrestlers need to find a way to get more "mat-time". Getting more matches is a must if a wrestler wants to improve for next year. Just hanging up the shoes for the spring, summer, and fall is one of the worst mistakes a committed wrestler can make. Many wrestlers actually compete in more matches in the spring and summer than they do in their high school season. The key is finding quality tournaments that will challenge a wrestler's ability. USA Wrestling's National Coaches Education Program highly recommends that wrestlers participate in the spring and summer freestyle and Greco-Roman schedule. "The USA Wrestling Regional Championships will give high school wrestlers the challenge they are looking for in the sport of wrestling. The competition is outstanding and it will help build any wrestler for greater future success," states Pete Isais USA Wrestling Events Director and former assistant coach for the North Dakota State University, a powerhouse in Division II wrestling. Any wrestler looking to take the step to greater success will want to be a part of this year's Regional Championships. The spring and summer tournaments for years have featured future amateur wrestling superstars in the making. The likes of Eric Guerrero, Les Gutches, Lincoln McIlravy, and Tommy Rowlands participated often in USA Wrestling tournaments. If wrestlers are really determined to improve then they'll go where the action is and wrestle in these tournaments. Do a little research into your state's USA Wrestling Tournament schedule. Some states have district or regional tournaments prior to the state USA Wrestling tournament. Other states only offer a state tournament. Find out what USA Wrestling tournaments are offered in your area. Mark those dates down on your calendar and take the time to wrestle in them. A quality USA Wrestling competition will go a long way in improving any wrestler's prowess on the mat. Next you'll need to know what age group you will be wrestling in. In the USA Wrestling system high school competitors are actually broken up into two age groups Cadets and Juniors. If you were born in this range 1986-87, you are a Cadet. If you were born in this range 09/01/82 and after, you are a Junior. (For more information on the age groups and weights for USA Wrestling tournaments click here. Juniors can wrestle in any Regional tournament and are not restricted by a qualifying process by state organizations. Attending and placing at a Regional is an important step for determined wrestlers. The Junior Regional Tournament schedule for 2002 is: March 23-24, Northwest Regional Championships, Battle Ground, Washington (Junior/Senior/Greco-Roman/Freestyle/Women) contact Merle Crockett (360-263-4947) March 27-30, Northern Plains Regional Championships, LaCrosse, Wisconsin (Junior/Senior/Greco-Roman/Freestyle/Women) contact Dave Rudrud (608-781-2096). March 28-30, Rocky Mountain Regional Championships, Laramie, Wyoming (Junior/Senior/Greco-Roman/Freestyle/Women) contact Bruce Hemphill (307-766-4092) April 5-7, Northeast Regional Championships, Brockport, New York (Junior/Senior/Greco-Roman/Freestyle/Women) contact Don Murray (716-395-5360) April 6-7, Central Regional Championships, Jeffersonville, Indiana (Junior/Senior/Greco-Roman/Freestyle/Women) contact Mike Dowden (317-780-1885) April 12-14, Southeast Regional Championships, New Orleans, Louisiana, (Junior/Senior/Greco-Roman/Freestyle/Women) contact Jim Ravannack (504-455-4216) April 19-20, Southern Plains Regional Championships, Tulsa, Oklahoma, (Junior/Senior/Greco-Roman/Freestyle/Women) contact Cory Clayton (918-449-9685) April 24-26, West Regional Championships, Las Vegas, Nevada, (Junior/Greco-Roman/Freestyle/Women) contact Larry Barnson (702-735-5862) While Juniors can travel the country and wrestle in a number of Regional Championships, the Kids and Cadet divisions have more restrictions. Kids and Cadets may need to qualify through a state process before wrestling in Regional Championship. Additionally, Kids and Cadets must wrestle only in their own geographic regional. The Kids and Cadet schedule for Regional Championships is: May 17-19, Northeast Regional Championships, Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, (Kids/Cadet: Greco-Roman/Freestyle) contact Bill Crum (425-672-3948) May 24-27, Southeast Regional Championships, Jacksonville, Florida, (Kids/Cadet: Greco-Roman/Freestyle) contact Gary Townsend (561-736-0250) May 31-June 2, Central Regional Championship, TBA, Ohio, (Kids/Cadet: Greco-Roman/Freestyle) contact Tom Knupp (330-867-6474) June 12-15, Northern Plains Regional Championship, Waterloo, Iowa (Kids/Cadet: Greco-Roman/Freestyle) contact Steve Wachal (319-822-7748) June 15-16, Southern Plains Regional Championships, Dallas, Texas (Kids/Cadet: Greco-Roman/Freestyle) contact Al Rodger (800-276-6344) June 17-22, Western Regional Championships, Butte, Montana (Kids/Cadet: Greco-Roman/Freestyle) contact Don Tamietti (406-723-2192) Cadets and Juniors are offered the opportunity to wrestle in Regional competitions. The goal in attending these Regional Championships is placement so that a wrestler can test himself against the very best national competition in Fargo July 20-27th at the ASICS Tiger National Championships. To put it mildly, wrestling in Fargo is a BIG DEAL! And, for those that place or win their bracket at the Cadet and Junior National Championships it's even a BIGGER DEAL!!!! Taking the challenge of the USA Wrestling schedule will make a difference in any wrestler's competitive ability. From the district and state freestyle and Greco-Roman Championships to the Regional Championships a greater commitment to the sport of wrestling is the prize that awaits any high school wrestler. According to Pete Isais, "USA Wrestling for many years has been shaping and building the greatest wrestlers in the country; we hope that even more high school wrestlers and coaches will join us this year in growing the great sport of amateur wrestling. *********************************************************************** The National Coaches Education Program has provided this article to help coaches educate their wrestlers on the year-round opportunities available to them in the sport of wrestling. Coaches are encouraged to involve themselves with USA Wrestling, the National Governing Body of amateur wrestling. For more information on the National Coaches Education Program of USA Wrestling contact Ted Witulski, at (719) 598-8181 or email twitulski@usawrestling.org