Minnesota/USA Wrestling to host a Junior National Training Camp and Girls Developmental Camp in St.

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
05/01/2002


Minnesota/USA Wrestling, the state association in Minnesota, has announced a special Junior National Training Camp and Girls Developmental Camp prior to the ASICS Junior National Championships this summer.    History will be made in Fargo, N.D. this summer, when a girls division will be held at the ASICS Junior National Championships at the Fargodome for the first time alongside the Junior Nationals for boys.    The camp will be held at St. Benedict's University in St. Cloud, Minn., July 19-25. St. Cloud is located just 2.5 hours by car from Fargo, N.D. All USA Wrestling state associations are invited to send their Girls Junior National Teams to this camp to prepare for the championships in Fargo.    All high school girls from any state who are in grades 9-12 during the 2001-02 school year are eligible for the Junior Training Camp. The Developmental camp is for girls who are seven years old and above.    The Junior National Training Camp is designed to prepare high school girls to compete in the Junior Nationals. The focus will be on fundamentals and advanced techniques. Included in the preparation for the Junior Nationals will be live wrestling, conditioning, and mental preparation. This will be an intensive camp; athletes are expected to show up in shape and prepared for hard workouts.    The developmental camp for the younger wrestlers will focus on basic skills as a strong foundation to develop advanced wrestling techniques. The camp is designed to give the athletes a strong foundation for learning physical fitness, endurance training, proper nutrition and wrestling techniques. Mental preparation will also be addressed.     The coaching staff has been selected to give athletes a chance to learn from a variety of clinicians with many years of experience. Camp Director Eric Bettermann has numerous years of competitive and coaching experience. Bettermann is currently the State Women's Director and State Coach for Minnesota/USA Wrestling. Bettermann has competed on both the National and international level.     Other clinicians expected are 1996 Olympic silver medalist Brandon Paulson, 1996 Olympian Dave Zuniga, UM-Morris Women's Head Coach Doug Reese, St. Cloud Sting coach Scarlett Anderson, coach Larry Allen and others.    The cost will be $269 for athletes registered before June 7th and $289 after June 7th. The cost for coaches will be $225. An athlete will not be considered registered until payment is made in full. Space will be limited, so get your registration in early. Please make checks payable to MN/USA Wrestling. All campers must have a current USA Wrestling Card. Cards will be available for purchase at check-in.    A complete schedule has been created, with all session times and other activities planned. In addition to the camp clinicians, state women's coaches will have time to work with their teams individually during all open mat times.    Athletes are asked to bring plenty of workout gear. Washers and dryers will be available. Athletes are also reminded to bring a swimsuit, running shoes, alarm clock and anything else they may  need. A trainer will be present throughout the camp.  The state teams will be leaving from St. Benedict's directly for Fargo.     For questions, or to receive a complete brochure, contact Eric Bettermann at 651-503-5632 or by e-mail at ebetterm@hotmail.com.