Youth wrestlers Cole Smith, Wes Turner and Tyler Campbell, of the local South Coast Grapplers wrestling organization, will compete in the 2008 Reno Worlds invitational wrestling tournament in Reno, Nev.

The tournament is prestigious, with participants from over 40 states and a few from outside the United States.

“There’s not a qualifier for it, but they do want to know what kind of tournaments the kids have won,” said South Coast Grapplers head coach Derek Hite. “They’re not looking for first-year wrestlers to make the trip to be out right away.”

Hite is not able to make the trip with the boys, however their fathers as well as assistant coach David Laird will be there to show support and guidance.

With the impressive list of results, the wrestlers seem to have paid their dues in getting an invitation.

Smith has built quite a resume, taking top honors at the 2008 Oregon State Collegiate Championships after two fifth-place finishes and a third in previous years. The 58-pounder has swept the Western Oregon Classic Qualifier three years running, in addition to garnering a fourth-place finish at the 2007 Northwest Regional Collegiate Championships. In 2007, he placed fourth at the Oregon Classic and then improved one spot to third in the 2008 tournament. Smith also won the I-5 Championship in 2007.

Weighing in at 64 pounds and joining Smith on the trip to Reno is Campbell, who took fifth in 2007 and seventh in 2008 at the Oregon State Collegiate Championships. Campbell also grabbed third-place at the 2006 Western Oregon Classic Qualifier, then improved a position in 2007 and finally won the tournament in 2008. In 2007, he was able to win the I-5 Championships while taking fourth at the Northwest Regional Collegiate Championships.

Rounding out the group is 61-pound Turner, who is a recent addition to the South Coast Grappler squad.

“This is my fourth year with Cole and Tyler, and my first with Wes,” said Hite.

Despite Turner’s late addition, he is as qualified as any with three years experience at the Worlds tournament, including a fifth-place finish in 2005. In this year’s Western Oregon Classic Qualifier, he placed second after taking first place in 2005. Turner has also placed high in numerous smaller tournaments.

The financial burden of the tournament is heavy, with the cost hovering around $1,000 per wrestler. Smith and Campbell have gone to great lengths to pay for the six-day trip, with such efforts as a can/bottle drive, public donation requests and asking local businesses for assistance.

Turner’s journey isn’t quite so difficult because he has family living near the tournament and has competed in Reno the past three years.

“Three-quarters of their money has come from the community,” said Hite. “I think that’s awesome.”

— Staff Intern Lucas Clark contributed to this story.