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Wrestling tournament brings tourism dollars to Fargo

FARGO — Take a look anywhere in Fargo and there's a good chance you'll see a wrestler.

The USA Junior National Championships are back in Fargo, and wrestlers from 48 states have flooded the metro for this year's tournament, which is a gateway for high school wrestlers with dreams of one day competing in the Olympics.

"This is the jumping-off point and this is the avenue that you go through just like United States Gymnastics or United States Basketball or anything else you see in the Olympics," said Oklahoma coach Wes Ruth.

According to the Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau, the wrestlers, their families and coaches spend over $1 million in the area during the week they're here.

Ruth brought over 100 athletes to compete this weekend. Even though wrestlers are known for cutting weight, at some point they still need to eat.

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"What you find is, these high-level kids pretty disciplined with their weights, I'm sure they avoid the restaurants, but they find their way to a Chic-fil-A or something like that pretty often as well," said Ruth.

With over 4,100 hungry wrestlers in town, business is booming for places like Red Pepper in Fargo. The restaurant said it sees at least 30 athletes come through its doors every day, bringing them a daily dose of an extra $300 of business.

"They see the size of our food too and they're like oh my god, freaking out and just to see their energy kind of helps us out too cause seeing their energy kind of gives us energy and they goof around with us which helps us get through the day which is amazing," said Red Pepper Employee, Katelyn Sullivan.

The USA Junior National Championships runs through July 19.

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