By Shannyn J. Gillespie

The United States Olympic Education Center will bring in 6 athletes to start the 2010-2011 campaign lead by 2010 USA Wrestling Jr. National champion Kim Spiegel (PA) at 153 lbs (left photo) and Jr. National silver medalist at 165 lbs Lilia Gudzyuk (WA).

In addition to Spiegel and Gudzyuk, 2-time Jr. National All-American (top 8 placements at Jr. Nationals) Gabrielle Klein 63kg (WI) will join the USA Wrestling resident athlete program at the USOEC.

Britteny Taylor 48kg (NE), a 2009 Jr. National bronze medalist, will also train and compete at the USOEC in 2009-2010.

The remaining athletes who will join the USOEC freestyle team this year are Ashley Sherrill (TN), and former USOEC resident athlete Schuyler Brown 59kg (VA).

Brown boasts a third senior level national ranking per the USA Wrestling Current U.S. Senior Rankings.

Spiegel and Taylor will enter Marquette Senior High School this fall in Marquette, MI while Gudzyuk, Klein, Sherrill, and Brown will attend Northern Michigan University.

In February, 1989, the U.S. Olympic Committee named Northern Michigan University (NMU) as the nation's only United States Olympic Education Center (USOEC). The USOEC's main focus is the resident athlete training program, where athletes actively train for the Olympic Games while also continuing their education.

Generally, athletes in this program must be nationally ranked and also approved by their national governing body (NGB), the USOEC, and NMU. The USOEC has resident athlete training programs in freestyle wrestling, boxing, short track speedskating, Greco-Roman wrestling, and weightlifting.

For photos of Jr. Nationals 2010 please click here.

For more information about the USA Wrestling resident athlete program at the USOEC, please view freestylefemales.com.