Minnesota Golden Gopher wrestlers Zach Sanders, Jake Deitchler, will help represent the United States at the 2008 Junior World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey July 29-August 3. Sanders (Wabasha, Minn.) qualified by winning the 55 kg./121 lbs. freestyle division at last weekend’s FILA Junior World Team Trials in Colorado Springs, Col., and incoming Gopher recruit Deitchler (Ramsey, Minn.) did the same in the 66 kg./145 lbs. Greco-Roman division.

Rising sophomore Ben Berhow finished second at the Trials in the 120 kg/264.5 lbs. freestyle division and will serve as an alternate on the team, while rising junior Brent Eidenschink was the runner up at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. in Greco-Roman and will also serve as an alternate in both styles. Both Berhow and Eidenschink will wrestle both styles when they represent their country June 20-22 at the Junior Pan American Championships in Cuenca, Ecuador.

Sanders defeated David Taylor in two of three championship round matches to qualify for his first-ever U.S. Junior World Team, while Deitchler (who will also compete for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team in mid-June) defeated Esai Dominguez in the final two matches of their best-of-three battle.

Deitchler 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials will take place June 13-15 in Las Vegas, Nev., and Deitchler will be competing for a spot on the Greco-Roman team at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Sanders, who was redshirted last season, finished second at FILA Junior Nationals last month.