As we move into the men’s freestyle tournaments, it’s time for the first edition of In the House, a regular feature on TheMat.com during the USMC Junior/16U Nationals. This edition will mostly include big names in the sport who were here in the FargoDome during the first two days, which featured women’s wrestling.

You have to lead with 2008 Olympic champion and multiple-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo, who showed up in Fargo on Sunday night in time to see the women’s finals. He is staying for the boys competition, visiting with many friends, enjoying the action and featuring this event on his many social media platforms.

Henry was talking about his days competing at this event, where he had some amazing performances. Cejudo was a five-time Junior and 16U Nationals champion and six-time All-American. He won both freestyle and Greco-Roman in 2003 and 2004.

Of course, the winningest Olympic wrestler in U.S. history, four-time Olympic medalist and two-time Olympic champion Bruce Baumgartner was here in his leadership role as USA Wrestling’s President. Baumgartner has made a commitment to be in Fargo each year. (Baumgartner was a Junior National champion in freestyle in Iowa City in 1978, by the way).

Two-time Olympian and Senior World medalist Ali Sprenger (who competed under her maiden name Bernard) was here with Team Minnesota. Sprenger is the head coach of the women’s team at Augsburg.

There were a number of past Olympians on the men’s side who were out there coaching women. That included freestyle Olympian Andy Hrovat, who was coaching with Team Vermont, and Greco-Roman Olympians Ike Anderson, who was mentoring Team Colorado, and Robby Smith, who coaches with Team California.

Two-time Senior World bronze medalist Alyssa Lampe was coaching Team Oregon. Senior World bronze medalist Leigh Jaynes was coaching with Team Rhode Island.

Pat Smith, who won four NCAA Div. I titles for Oklahoma State and was an Olympic Trials runner-up in freestyle, was coaching women from Team Arkansas. Smith will be here all week also mentoring the Arkansas boys in both styles.

Emily Webster Tew, who won four WCWA national titles for Oklahoma City University and went undefeated for her college career, is now coaching for Team New Mexico.

Two-time NCAA champion Andrew Howe was coaching women wrestlers from his native Indiana.

Senior World Team member and USA Wrestling Board member Veronica Carlson was coaching a new girls team this year for Team North Carolina. For many years, Carlson coached the girls from her native state, Illinois.

Senior Greco-Roman World Team members Joe Betterman and Keith Sieracki were also in the house. Betterman is state chairperson in Colorado and coaches both men and women. Sieracki was coaching Team Texas athletes.

Current and past Women’s National Team members in the House during the women’s event included Na’Tasha Umemoto with Team Oregon, Xochitl Mota-Pettis with Team Texas, Lexie Basham with Team Texas, Samara Chavez with Team Texas, Alisha Howk with Team Wisconsin, Precious Weiser with Team Minnesota, Vayle Rae Baker is coaching Team Pennsylvania, Vanessa Oswalt with Team Ohio, Alara Boyd with Team Indiana and Ku’u Robinson with Team Hawaii.

Women’s college head coaches along with Sprenger in the house are Joe Norton of North Central, Alexio Garcia of McKendree, Sarah Allen of the University of the Cumberlands, Brazil Marquez of Lehigh, Kevin Corbett with Missouri Valley College, Shannyn Gillespie of Lakeland, Jake Kadel of William Penn, Jake Lords of Carl Albert CC, Amy Golding of Jamestown and others.

Women’s college assistant coaches seen on the floor included Weiser (with Augsburg), Gary Mayabb of the University of Iowa, Jesse Kirby of the University of the Cumberlands, Dylan Koontz of the University of Dubuque, Mia Macaluso of East Stroudsburg, Nathan Marek of Carl Albert and others.

If there are any coaches who were here for the women’s divisions who were left off the list, we can add you to our running list if you contact Gary Abbott at gabbott@usawrestling.org.

In the House: Olympic and UFC champ Henry Cejudo among celebs in the Dome during women’s event

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