University and FILA Cadet Nationals look for continued growth in Ohio

By Gary Abbott
USA Wrestling/Themat.com
gabbott@usawrestling.org

One of USA Wrestling’s most active and growing age-group national competitions is moving to a new city in 2007. USA Wrestling has announced that the ASICS University National Championships and FILA Cadet National Championships for men will be held in Akron, Ohio, April 20-22.

Anybody who has attended this event understands its importance in the development of outstanding wrestlers for the United States. Both of the age levels which compete there are critical in helping create future World and Olympic medalists for our nation.

The 2007 University Nationals features wrestlers who are 18-24 years old and have graduated from high school. This includes star athletes from our college wrestling programs, both current wrestlers and alumni, as well as competitors from the U.S. military programs and the U.S. Olympic Education Programs.

The FILA Cadet Nationals feature 15-17 year-old athletes, many who are among the most successful in the United States on the high school level.

This competition has been held for many years at Northwestern Univ. in Evanston, Ill., and the tournament has grown in size and prestige. The quality of the competition continued to improve, and numerous athletes who wrestled there have gone on to success at the next level. The hosts at Northwestern did an outstanding job promoting the competition and helping build a tournament to be proud of.

Currently, about 1,000 athletes enter the combined University Nationals and FILA Cadet Nationals. Last year, there were 351 freestyle wrestlers and 112 Greco-Roman wrestlers in the University division, and a record 362 freestyle athletes and 202 Greco-Roman athletes in the FILA Cadet tournament. The facilities for the competition was pushed to its limit in terms of space, making it necessary to seek a larger competition venue.

The event this year will be hosted by The University of Akron in its state-of-the-art intercollegiate Athletics Field House. The Athletics Field House at the University of Akron opened in August, 2004, and has 120,000 square feet of activity space. It has hosted numerous major competitions, most specifically in track in field.

At this facility, the combined University Nationals and FILA Cadet Nationals will have sufficient space and accommodations to handle the needs of the tournament, as well as considerable room to grow.

There are many other things that make the location of the combined event very positive for the sport. USA Wrestling will be partnering with a number of groups in Ohio who will assist in making the competition a first-class event.

The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the competition is the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission (GCSC). This is an experienced and talented group, which works full-time to provide sports events to enhance the community in the Greater Cleveland area. The GCSC has managed a number of top-notch wrestling tournaments in the past, and is very excited about working on this USA Wrestling event.

The event will be sponsored by the Kent State University wrestling program, along with USA Wrestling/Ohio. This brings together a top Div. I wrestling team, along with the resources of USA Wrestling’s active state association in Ohio. The other partner is the University of Akron, which takes great pride in its facilities and its ability to support outstanding events.

The event has significance as a qualifying activity for age-group competition opportunities within USA Wrestling.

Finalists in the University Nationals in both styles qualify to participate in the U.S. Senior World Team Trials in Las Vegas, Nev., June 8-10.

The top three place winners at the FILA Cadet Nationals qualify for their state’s Cadet Nationals team above the state limit (and must adhere to all state policies).

FILA Cadet and University qualifiers will receive information regarding an international tour opportunity from USA Wrestling’s National Developmental coaches upon completion of the event.

In addition, this event is also a qualifying tournament for Funded Access at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC). Wrestlers who qualify for Funded Access receive free room and board and an opportunity to train with USA Wrestling, working with the athletes and the coaches at the USOTC.

With a new location, wrestling fans from Ohio and the surrounding states will have a chance to see these great wrestlers in action. Consider some of the stars who competed in the event last year:

University: Kole Conrad and Roger Kish of Minnesota, Andy and Nick Simmons of Michigan State, Trent and Travis Paulson of Iowa State, Jake Herbert of Northwestern, J.D. Bergman of Ohio State, Spenser Mango and Jake Curby of the USOEC and many others

FILA Cadet: Andrew Long of Iowa, Eric Grajales of Florida, Michael Mangrum of Washington, Jake Deitchler of Minnesota, Michael Chaires of New York, Logan Steiber of Ohio, Tony Ramos of Illinois, Nate Moore of Iowa, Corey Jantzen of New York, Zack Kemmerer of Pennsylvania, Kirk Smith of Idaho and many others.

It is not too early to look forward to April and the ASICS University and FILA Cadet Nationals.

Gary Abbott is the Director of Communications and Special Projects for USA Wrestling and is a founder of the National Wrestling Media Association and is a 2005 recipient of the NWCA Meritorious Service Award.

Gary Abbott