Coach Hull Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 2014 Junior National Duals June 23rd - June 30 Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma City University Freede Center Indiana Overview In years past, the Junior National Duals used to be one of the premier tournaments in the country for Indiana. It was a major privilege competing as a state with multiple IHSAA State Champions, 2xers and 3xers filling the lineup in an effort to bring a national dual championship back to Indiana. However, with the emergence of Folkstyle and Disney, many Indiana athletes and coaches got away from this event and we haven't been maximizing our potential in years past, even though everyone else has. Well, this year is looking to be different as we are focused on putting together an Indiana "Dream Team" to change the tide and reintroduce the privilege of wrestling at this event. We are getting a jump on spreading the word with this post to ensure we are filling the lineup with Indiana's best. We already have verbal commitments from several IHSAA State champions and some of Indiana's nationally ranked athletes, with some using this as their last tournament to represent Indiana before they leave for college. Athletes typically get in 7+ matches, the event is at a prestigious venue, the weather is great, there are many college coaches in attendance, the competition is fierce with various national champions and All-Americans competing, and undefeated wrestlers earn the title of the All-Dual Team. Many athletes use this a tune-up for Fargo as they will see many of the same wrestlers, and a topic of USAW is that members of the All-Dual team may possibly receive additional seeding criteria for Fargo. There will be an Indiana National Dual Camp, which is included in the cost, that features some of Indiana's best coaches and clinicians as well as the entire Cadet and Junior Dual Teams. Last year this included Leblanc (IU), Alex Tsirtsis (RWA), Steve Bradley (Lincoln), Nick Hull (IPWA), Thomas Pompeii (Indiana Tech), Brady Eppert (CIA), Andrew Nicola (Cumberland) and a few others. This year's camp will include the same high end coaching and competitive room. The Team Officially, the ISWA State Champion has the first right of refusal with 5 days to accept or decline their spot. After that, an ISWA committee (team leader, coaches, and director) uses it's discretion to ensure a full team team considering the ISWA state place winners and any petitions received. We are looking to take a full Junior Freestyle team and a full Junior Greco-Roman Team. The weight classes for this event are: 100, 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 145, 152, 160, 170, 182, 195, 220, 285. We understand that some individuals have the ability, and may prefer, to go both styles, however we would like to take two teams because of the grind involved on this national level. If, for whatever reason, the athlete is adamant about going both styles, the committee would be open to it and we will remain focused on success. Costs $580 for one style or $615 for both, which includes registration, transportation, lodging, etc. It does not include food. More information will be posted as we get closer to this event, but consider this Indiana's heads up in the meantime. This will be our year. Best Regards, Coach Hull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Hull Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 After this weekend at the ISWA Folkstyle State, we received great interest and bids from over a dozen notable Indiana wrestlers who are interested in competing for a spot on the Junior National Team!!! This is great news as the awareness seems to be picking up. Many are understanding the privilege associated with this event and it is looking like the team may be one of the strongest it has ever been in the past decade. Nevertheless, nothing is guaranteed so it is important everyone get ready for Freestyle and Greco as the season is upon us. If you don't wrestle both, you are not going to be as good at Folkstyle as you could if you did. Plain and simple. Go to the RTCs, go to the local F&G tournaments, push your parents and coaches to train F&G, wrestle at F&G state, wrestle the USAW regionals, etc. Illinois has been dominant over the past several years in F & G, winning both styles at not only Fargo, but the Junior and Cadet National Duals, as well as a 1st and 2nd finish at the Schoolboy National Duals. Although we are not as deep as an Illinois, PA or California, I would put our best Indiana kids up against anyone if our expectations are aligned with going out there on a mission to win a national championship - so let's do it Indiana!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Hull Posted April 10, 2014 Author Share Posted April 10, 2014 Reminding the Indiana wrestling community that the best of the best will be competing at the Junior National Dual Championships in Oklahoma City the last week of June. These are the top high school upperclassmen competing for their state in an attempt to win a national title. All of the best states are there including Illinois, California, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Michigan, Texas and many many others. At any time you may face a national champion, or Fargo All-American, or a nationally ranked ranked wrestler, time after time. At any given moment you're gonna see Nickal, Valencia brothers, Norstrem, Russell, Thorn, Stroker, Millholf, Sebastian, Benick, etc. etc. It's a great tune up for Fargo and you may have the opportunity to be nationally ranked at the conclusion of this tourney if one makes the Junior All-dual Team. We are looking to take a full Freestyle Team and full Greco Team out there to do some damage and compete for a national title using Indiana's best! There are more and more of Indiana's top studs giving their verbal commitments to join this team, which is essential and exciting. But remember, the 2014 ISWA F/G champ in each style have the first right of refusal for 5 days concluding F/G state, so don't bank on your petition. Win ISWA state to secure your spot! Remember, this is the best of the best. The camp will officially be at Hamilton Heights this year and it is also looking to be a nasty camp, featuring the entire Cadet and Junior Dual Teams, as well as some of Indiana's best clinicians including Tsirtsis, Vega, Bradley, etc. I so desperately want to post a tentative line-up because of the excitement leading up to this and verbal commitments but the smoke hasn't settled yet. We intend to get 7+ matches against the best and our only goal is a national title. Start saving, fundraising, getting sponsors, or whatever you need to do in order to make this happen. Gonna be a great time!!!! More info coming soon. Have a great week, Indiana! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Erikson Posted April 10, 2014 Share Posted April 10, 2014 Thank You Coach Hull for keeping the Duals on everyone's radar screens. As Coach Hull has stated we as a state would love nothing more than to show the rest of the country how good we are as a State. I think we took a big step in proving that by winning the Folkstyle Nationals last week in Iowa. I would like to continue that success by sending our best kids to Oklahoma City for the Juniors and to Florida for the Cadets. To do this we need your help Coaches, Parents and Wrestles to compete in the ISWA State Tournaments. The State Freestyle and State Greco Tournaments are the first step in the process of representing Team Indiana in their respective Dual meet Tournaments. More information will follow so continue training and we look forward to seeing you on the mats! Tom Erikson Team Leader Junior Duals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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