Athletes in individual sports often develop key traits like self-determination, self-discipline, self-confidence, and self-reliance. Yet, despite the solitary nature of competition, their journeys are rarely traveled alone. Behind many standout performances are coaches, trainers, sparring partners, family members, and communities who help pave the way. That support system becomes particularly visible during the summer stretch when multiple national-level competitions take place in wrestling and track and field.
Each year, late June through July marks a critical season for young athletes hoping to compete on some of the sport’s biggest youth stages: the US Marine Corps National Finals in Fargo, Nike Outdoor Nationals, the New Balance Outdoor Nationals, and the USA Track & Field Junior Olympics. For wrestlers and runners across the country, earning a spot in these events requires relentless training and competitive success. But qualifying is just the first hurdle. The financial demands of traveling and competing often present another major challenge. This year more than $750,000 was raised on GoFundMe to help the nearly 600 wrestlers and runners asking for help to compete in just these four events
The Premier Competitions
US Marine Corps National Wrestling Finals (Fargo): Held annually at the FargoDome in Fargo, North Dakota, this tournament has been the premier youth wrestling event since 1971, featuring wrestlers in grades 9-12 competing in both freestyle and Greco-Roman styles. The first Junior Nationals included two future Olympians among its champions: Joe Corso of Iowa and Jimmy Carr of Pennsylvania. Notable alumni include Mike Zadick (Montana), a 2006 World silver medalist and 2008 Olympian; Steve Mocco (New Jersey), a four-time tournament champion; and Troy Nickerson (New York), current head coach at Northern Colorado who won five Fargo titles. The tournament has produced dozens of World and Olympic champions for the United States.
Nike Outdoor Nationals: Held annually at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, this American middle school and high school track and field championship has been organized by the National Scholastic Athletic Foundation since 1990 and has hosted many national records. The meeting was previously sponsored by New Balance, but Nike took over sponsorship in 2022. Recent standout athletes include Jane Hedengren, who holds multiple national records including the indoor and outdoor mile, two-mile, and 5000m, with a remarkable 15:13.26 in the 5000m. The competition also featured athletes like Amir Thompson, son of Olympians Marion Jones and Obadele Thompson.
New Balance Outdoor Nationals: Held at Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia on the third weekend in June each year, this meet has been organized by the National Scholastic Athletic Foundation since 1990. The 2025 event welcomed over 8,000 athletes and featured 5 national records. Notable alumni include Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Olympic gold medalist and world record-holder in the 400m hurdles), Athing Mu (Olympic gold medalist and American record-holder in the 800m), and Noah Lyles (World champion sprinter and 200m specialist).
USA Track & Field Junior Olympics: This national championship event typically takes place in late July, with recent editions held at venues like Texas A&M University. Athletes must qualify through regional competitions to earn spots at the national championships. Many future Olympians came through the youth track and field system, including Carl Lewis, who began competing in long jump at age 13 and achieved fourth ranking on the all-time World Junior list, and Allyson Felix, who discovered her athletic talents in ninth grade and finished seventh in the 200 meters at the CIF California State Meet just ten weeks after her first tryout.
The Financial Challenge
Unlike team sports, where resources are sometimes pooled or subsidized, individual athletes often face these costs alone. With no collective funding or school programs to offset expenses, many turn to grassroots fundraising efforts, particularly GoFundMe.
GoFundMe has emerged as a popular solution for youth athletes and their families. The platform, which has facilitated over $40 billion in donations from more than 150 million donors since 2010, offers families a safe and effective alternative to older fundraising methods like car washes or candy sales, which have limited reach. The platform allows athletes to tap into a wider community of support, often well beyond their hometowns.
The impact of that support can extend far beyond a single meet or match. For many, these competitions double as recruiting showcases, where one standout performance might draw attention from college programs and lead to scholarship opportunities. In this way, individual donations can become the catalyst for life-changing outcomes.
While the athletes may step onto the mat or line up at the starting blocks alone, their journeys are marked by collective effort. And when competition begins, they carry with them not only their own ambition, but the support of everyone who helped get them there.
Sources: USA Wrestling, National Scholastic Athletic Foundation, FloWrestling, Wikipedia, GoFundMe statistics
