By Shannyn J. Gillespie

Team USA is set to compete at the FILA Junior World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, July 29-August 3, 2008 and four U.S. Olympic Education Center freestyle resident athletes lead the way.

Alyssa Lampe (Tomahawk, Wis.) won a bronze medal at the 2007 version of Jr. Worlds at 48 kg/105.5 lbs while newcomers Helen Maroulis (Rockville, Md.) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs., Schuyler Brown (Montpelier, Va.) at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., and Adeline Gray (Littleton, Colo.) at 67 kg/147.5 lbs will compete in their first major international event.

Maroulis and Gray will be high school seniors at Marquette Senior High School in Marquette, MI.

Two Jr. World veterans for Team USA are 2007 Jr. World silver medalist Tatiana Padilla (Azusa, Calif.) at 59 kg/130 lbs and Paige Rife (Fowlerville, Mich.) at 72 kg/158.5 lbs who returns for her second Jr. Worlds.

Rounding out the squad for Team USA in their first Jr. World Championships are high school senior Victoria Anthony (Huntington Beach, Calif.) at 44 kg/97 lbs. and Michaela Hutchison (Soldotna, Alaska) at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Padilla has graduated from high school and plans on attending Lindenwood College (Missouri) while Hutchison also graduated high school this year and is scheduled to attend Boise State University this fall.

The Fédération Internationale des Luttes Associées or FILA (international federation for wrestling) created a website that includes 2008 Jr. World Championship pictures, up-to-date results, live matches, & team scores; view www.fila-wrestling.com/istanbul08/ for more info.

Team USA roster

44 kg Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calif.
48 kg Alyssa Lampe, Tomahawk, Wis. (USOEC)
51 kg Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (USOEC/New York AC)
55 kg Michaela Hutchison, Soldotna, Alaska (BSU)
59 kg Tatiana Padilla, Azusa, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
63 kg Schuyler Brown, Montpelier, Va. (USOEC)
67 kg Adeline Gray, Littleton, Colo. (USOEC)
72 kg Paige Rife, Fowlerville, Mich. (Cumberlands)

Coach Rob Eiter
Coach Donnie Stephens
Coach Vladislav “Izzy” Izboinikov

Jr. World Championships Schedule

Thursday July 31, 2008
44 kg, 51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg
(Anthony, Maroulis, Padilla, Gray)

Friday August 1, 2008
48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg
(Lampe, Hutchison, Brown, Rife)