Youngsters and wrestling enthusiasts planning to attend the National Champ Wrestling Camp will get a special treat.

Several NCAA wrestling champions are schedule to help coach and run clinics at the camp, which will be held daily at Royal High from July 26-30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Some of the special guests will include Jake Herbert, who won two college titles at Northwestern; Gene Mills, a two-time champ from Syracuse and a former U.S. Olympian; Paul Keysaw, a college champion from Cal State Bakersfield and former Moorpark College coach; and Adam Tirapelle, a national champion from Illinois.

"We don't get that kind of personnel coming into our town that much," said Rich Carrillo, Royal's wrestling coach.

Carrillo, who is also an instructor at the weeklong camp, hopes as many as 50 of the 70 Highlander grapplers will participate in the camp.

The fourth-year head coach hopes the young campers will glean lessons from the experienced counselors. The campers will learn skills in all three major styles of wrestling: freestyle, Greco-Roman and folkstyle.

"Building skills in wrestling is about building character for the future," Carrillo said. "Just the opportunity to be in the same room with these guys, it doesn't come along that often, and it's pretty important to seize that opportunity."

Proceeds from the camp will benefit Royal's wrestling team, the coach said.

The camp director is El Dorado High coach Steve Lawson, also a decorated grappler.

Aimed for youngsters ages 518, the camp costs $200 a person.

For more information about National Champ Wrestling Camp or the Royal program, visit www.royalwrestling.org. — Eliav Appelbaum