USAW announces U.S. Future Olympian Rankings

USA Wrestling has developed an exciting new program, the U.S. Future Olympian Rankings. The program is designed to recognize the performance of America's most talented age-group wrestlers, based upon actual results in major USA Wrestling events.

Included in the point system will be USA Wrestling events in the following age-group divisions: Intermediate, Novice, Schoolboy, Middle School, Cadet and Junior. In each of these age divisions, specific national and regional events in freestyle, Greco-Roman and folkstyle wrestling will be used to score points.

A few basics about the program:
1. The points will automatically accumulate throughout the season as USA Wrestling events are held. Wrestlers can check on their ranking by visiting TheMat.com (www.TheMat.com)

2. Wrestlers will be placed in the weight class where they competed at the last event of the year.

3. At the end of the membership year, the top three placewinners in each weight class at each age level will receive a special reward, and the top 25 in each weight class will receive a certificate.

4. The Top 10 point scorers in each age division will also be recognized at the end of the membership year.

The events which will be utilized for the U.S. Future Olympian Ranking in 2008-09 are as follows:
Intermediate (ages 9-10)
- All USA Wrestling Folkstyle Tour of America events
- ASICS Folkstyle National Championships
- Your region's USA Wrestling Kids Regional Championship (FS and GR)
- ASICS Kids Freestyle and Greco-Roman National Championships

Novice (ages 11-12)
- All USA Wrestling Folkstyle Tour of America events
- ASICS Folkstyle National Championships
- Your region's USA Wrestling Kids Regional Championship (FS and GR)
- ASICS Kids Freestyle and Greco-Roman National Championships Schoolboy (ages 13-14)
- All USA Wrestling Folkstyle Tour of America events
- ASICS Folkstyle National Championships
- Your region's USA Wrestling Kids Regional Championships (FS and GR)
- ASICS Kids Freestyle and Greco-Roman National Championships

Middle School (Grades 6-8)
- USA Wrestling Folkstyle Tour of America events
- USA Wrestling Middle School Folkstyle National Championships

Cadet (ages 15-16)
- ASICS Cadet Folkstyle National Championships
- All USA Wrestling Cadet Regional Championships (FS and GR)
- USA Wrestling FILA Cadet National Championships (FS and GR)
- Cadet National Championships (FS and GR)

Junior (Grades 9-12)
- ASICS Junior Folkstyle National Championships
- All USA Wrestling Junior Regional Championships (FS and GR)
- USA Wrestling FILA Cadet National Championships (FS and GR)
- USA Wrestling FILA Junior National Championships (FS and GR)
- ASICS/Vaughan National Championships (FS and GR)

To see the final 2007-2008 U.S. Future Olympian rankings, please visit the following URL address, then use the scroll bar to select the 2007-2008 rankings:
http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=4&page=kidrankings

USA Wrestling has also compiled season-ending national standings in each age division. Included is the First Team for the age group, which lists the point winners in each weight class. In addition, a Top 10 point scorers for each age group is also recognized.

To see the 2007-2008 U.S. Future Olympian Rankings national standings, visit:
http://www.themat.com/section.php?section_id=3&page=showarticle&ArticleID=19838

The first events that will included in this year's rankings are the USA Wrestling Folkstyle Tour of America events. This year's events will be:

December 5-6 - Salt Lake Slam, Salt Lake City, Utah
February 14-15 - The Georgia Grind, Atlanta, Ga.
March 21 - Dominate in the Dells, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

For more information on the Folkstyle Tour of America, and to register for the events, visit:
www.usafolkstyle.com

From that point on, wrestling and fans can follow the 2008-09 rankings as they are updated automatically throughout the USA Wrestling season.