Four local wrestlers are currently participating in a national developmental camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

The matmen, all members of the USA Cobra Montana Wrestling program, will spend the week working out with the U.S. National Team under the guidance of the U.S. Olympic Team coaching staff.

The four wrestlers are Jade Rauser of Townsend; Valyen Rauser of Townsend; Britton Thompson of Townsend and Toby Erickson of East Helena. The Townsend wrestlers are freshmen at Broadwater High School and Erickson is a Junior at Helena High.

"Training at the OTC is a major step for these young men," commented Cobra head coach, Ken Thompson. "Ike Anderson of the Olympic Training Center has already reported back to me regarding their maturity and mat skills. He expressed his gratitude that our program had prepared them so well. The way they are conducting themselves should make us all proud."

World Championship runner-up, Mike Zadick (originally of Great Falls) is one of the National Team training partners working with the developmental camp. Britton Thompson and the Rausers trained with Zadick's brother, 2006 World Champ, Bill Zadick, at a training camp a few months ago as well.

"The guys have always respected the Zadicks as great examples of Montana wrestling," says Thompson. "It's really special for them to get to train with athletes they've looked up to since they were little kids. The Zadick boys trained for years at USA Cobra Oregon-which our club is a spinoff of. The Zadick's father was their main coach and he just visited our club last week. It was a nice surprise to look over during a weeknight practice and see one of Montana's most successful wrestling coaches watching our guys at work. He was a little bit surprised to see that we allowed parents into the practice room and even had a female wrestler in the room. Times have changed a bit."