FARGO, N.D.  Ryan Berger has taken his wrestling act on the road this week.

   And taken the national competition by storm.

   The two-time state champion from Mahomet-Seymour High School won all 10 of his matches to capture the 143-pound Greco-Roman title at the ASICS Tiger Junior National Championships.

   "He wrestled extremely intelligently," M-S coach Rob Porter said Wednesday, a day after Berger clinched the national crown. "He didn''t put himself in a bad position the entire tournament."

   Berger, who is headed to the University of Illinois on a wrestling scholarship, allowed one point while advancing to the championship match.

   There, Berger almost met his match in Pat Cadwallader of Anaheim, Calif., before pulling out an 8-7 overtime victory.

   "Ryan had to come back a couple of times," said Porter, pointing to deficits of 3-0 and 7-6 that Berger faced before rallying to force the match beyond regulation.

   Berger is the second Mahomet wrestler in as many years to reach the title round of the junior nationals. Former M-S and future Illini teammate John Lockhart placed second in his weight class in 1997.

   Berger also will compete in the junior national freestyle tournament, which begins later this week. He''ll be joined in the meet by Illini recruit and two-time state champion Matt Lackey of Moline.

   Besides Berger, two other Illini signees placed in the Greco-Roman junior nationals.

   At 123 pounds, Kelly Madden of Pekin finished fifth, rolling to an 11-1 technical fall over Paul Gross of Grass Valley, Calif., in his final match.

   Nick Curby of LaGrange Lyons, a 19112-pounder, also placed fifth. He defeated Jake Hutchins of Rice, Minn., 10-6, to wrap up that spot.