We Own the Dome - Junior Women Freestyle
We, the wrestling community, routinely walk into Fargo (or other events/venues) with a preconceived idea of which are the teams (or states) and athletes to watch. Those you should keep an eye on. At the high school level it is Eastside in South Carolina or Camden in Georgia. At the national level we have a tendency to look at state dominance. NHSCA always seems to have tons of Pennsylvania athletes on the podium. Well, in Fargo it varies based on whether we’re talking the men or the women, Freestyle or Greco Roman.
The We Own the Dome Series came out of this … and at a very basic level, whether those long-held perceptions are true. We could have gone back to the beginning, but decided to focus our analysis on the last time the weights changed (that way we could look at each weight in greater detail, as well). For the women, that includes the last 6 years (although just 5 Fargo’s because of COVID). So, for this series, we examine all of the All Americans from 2017 through 2022.
Where did we get all of these results to do the analysis? Great question, and one that is easy to answer. Jason Bryant of Mat Talk Online has done much of the heavy lifting. The Fargo Almanac is a treasure trove of information and data about Fargo, from those NCAA Champions that made the podium in Fargo to the number of “Americans in Europe” (yes, that is an actual designation for one of the competing “states”) that have climbed the podium over the years. If you’re interested in knowing anything (and everything) about Fargo, it is the ultimate resource. As a result, it is where we turned to begin our analysis for this series. Lastly, if there any mistakes below, they’re made by SEWrestle (sometimes we get a bit shaky when we count above 5 or 6).
Who Owns the Dome in Junior Women Freestyle over the last 6 years?
Not much of a surprise considering they dominate 16U Women Freestyle as well … California. The ladies from the Golden State are simply built different. They always bring a large group, but it is more than that. Not only do they put their athletes on the podium, but they also have a tendency to bring home “stop signs”. In fact, over 5 “Fargo’s” - California has 11 Champions - that is more than 17 other states that had All Americans in that same time span (and equal to the number of All Americans that Georgia, Utah, and Virginia produced since 2017).
California (87)
Washington (48)
Texas (40)
Illinois (33)
Colorado (26)
Wisconsin (26)
New York (25)
Missouri (24)
Florida (20)
Pennsylvania (20)
SE Status: Georgia (as mentioned above) has 11 All Americans and is ranked 17th. South Carolina comes in #28 with 5 AA’s. Tennessee has 4 All Americans and Alabama and North Carolina have just one.
One thing that is always interesting to take a look at is the distribution across the different weight classes. Again - we have perceptions that the “lightweights” from this school, club, or state are the ones to watch or a state is known for being a state from their bigger guys or girls. So here is a breakdown of the number of All Americans by weight over the last 6 years:
100 lbs.
We OWN 100: California (8 the Gonzalez hammers - Brianna and Emilie made the finals opposite one another in 2021. No other California 100 lbers have made the finals since 2017. That said, California had 2 AA’s in 2017, 2 in 2018, 3 in 2021, and 1 last year).
Contenders:
Florida (6)
Hawaii (3)
Texas (3)
6 States with (2)
North Carolina (Heaven Fitch in 2019) has had 1 AA at 100 since 2017.
Worth Noting: Exceptionally strong weight for the ladies from the Sunshine State. Jessica Corredor and Katalina Bartelt claimed a spot on the podium twice while competing at 100 lbs. (Bartelt in 2017 and 2018) and Corredor in 2018 and 2019). Clare Booe and Kealonie Vega both made the podium … and both should be back hunting the top step again (whether that is at 100, 106 or 112) this summer. Erin Hikiji was a 2x All American for Hawaii.
106 lbs.
We OWN 106: California (5 All Americans since 2017 … but in reality 5 since 2021. California did not have a 106 lb. AA in 2017, 2018, or 2019. In 2021 they dominated - Paige Morales won the title (over anotehr Californian in Kiely Tabaldo) and California had 4 of the 8 spots on the podium.)
Contenders:
Pennsylvania (4)
Colorado (3)
Washington (3)
Nevada (3)
Missouri (3)
5 States with (2)
Florida and Georgia (U20 World Team Member Amani Jones was 4th in 2018) each have had 1 AA.
Worth Noting: Jaslynn Gallegos was a 2x AA at the weight for Colorado, Jenavi Alejandro did the same for Nevada, as did Faith Cole for Missouri. None of the three won a title. Florida’s lone AA was the 2022 National Champ at the weight - Clare Booe.
112 lbs.
We OWN 112: California and Texas (4 AA’s for each. California put 3 on the podium in 2021 or 2022 to put them in the hunt for the We OWN 112 Title. Texas relied on just two young women to put them on the map. Samara Chavez was 8th in 2018 and 2nd in 2021 and Avery Ashley finished 4th in 2021 and 6th last year). Neither state crowned an individual champ at 112,
Contenders:
Washington (3)
Pennsylvania (3)
Wisconsin (3)
Utah (3)
Nevada (3)
Arizona (3)
3 States have (2) including Georgia
Florida has had one (Hannah Hall)
Worth Noting: Georgia’s Kasey Baynon made it back to back AA’s for Georgia at 112 by taking 8th in 2017 and 3rd in 2018. Stefana Jelacic was a 2x All American at this weight for Arizona as was Peyton Prussin for Nevada (who took 2nd in 2018), and Kierstien Bush for Utah. The only champ from the top states came from Montana Delawder who took the title in 2019 for Pennsylvania.
117 lbs.
We OWN 117: California (9 All Americans in 5 “Fargo’s led by 2017 National Champion Alleida Martinez. The strength of the California 117’s is in their numbers though … 8 others stepped up to make the podium and California had at least 1 on the podium every year except 2021).
Contenders:
Washington (7)
Texas (4)
Oklahoma (3)
3 States with (2) including Florida
Worth Noting: Washington is nipping at California’s heels at 117 … and much of that had to do with the firepower they brought to Fargo in 2019. Holly Beaudoin, Jazmin Mercado, Molly Williams, and Phoenix Dubose each made the podium. Camille Fournier was a 2x All American for Texas at the weight and Florida relied on Juliana Diaz - who was also a 2x AA including the 2022 National Champ at the weight.
122 lbs.
We OWN 122: California (6 All Americans. Gracie Figueroa claimed a title in 2019. Jennifer Soto was 2nd in 2021).
Contenders:
Washington (5)
Pennsylvania (4)
New York (4)
Illinois (3)
3 States with (2)
Georgia (Amani Jones) and South Carolina (Zao Estrada in 2022) each have 1.
Worth Noting: Peyton Stroud, Shelby Moore, and Cameron Guerin led the way for Washington. Moore claimed a title in 2021 and Stroud was a 3x All Americans at the weight in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Cadence Diduch claimed a title for Illinois in 2022.
127 lbs.
We OWN 127: Illinois (5 All Americans with 2021 Champ Alexis Janiak claiming two of those spots (was 3rd in 2022)).
Contenders:
Wisconsin (4)
Hawaii (4)
Texas (4)
California (3)
Washington (3)
Colorado (3)
Florida (Karoline Ortiz) has had 1 AA since 2017
Worth Noting: Macey Kilty claimed a title for Wisconsin in 2017. Hawaii has 4 AA’s by 2 individuals (Lana Perez who was 2nd and 5th and Waipuilani Beauchamp who finished 3rd and 7th). Sarah Savidge claimed a title for Colorado in 2022 (and was also an AA in 2021 at the weight). 3x All American Xochitl Mota-Pettis leads the way for Texas with 2 titles (was champ in 2018 and 2019 after taking 4th in 2017).
132 lbs.
We OWN 132: California and Washington (5 All Americans each. Washington is led by Champs Kaylee Moore and London Houston who won titles in 2019 and 2021. Janida Garcia claimed a title for California last year for California).
Contenders:
Texas (3)
7 States with (2)
Florida (Abnelis Yambo won a title in 2018) and Tennessee (Emma Walker in 2019) each have had 1.
Worth Noting: Alexandria Liles won a title for Texas in 2017.
138 lbs.
We OWN 138: California (7 All Americans including 2021 Champ Savannah Gomez and 2x All American Aine Drury in 2018 and 2019).
Contenders:
Washington (4)
Texas (4)
Illinois (3)
Missouri (3)
4 State with (2)
Florida (Chloe Ogden in 2019) and South Carolina (Caitlyn Davis in 2021) have each had 1
Worth Noting: Mattison Parker was a 2x All American for Texas. Emma Bruntil won a pair of titles for Washington in 2017 and 2018. Sara Sulejmani was a 2x All American for Illinois in 2019 and 2021.
144 lbs.
We OWN 144: California and Wisconsin (4 All Americans each. 4 different individuals for California. Jayden Laurent was a 2x Fargo Champ for Wisconsin in 2017 and 2018).
Contenders:
Washington (3)
8 States have (2) including Florida (Anna Luciano was a 2x All American in 2017 and 2018)
South Carolina (Caitlyn Davis in 2022) and Georgia (Tiyahna Askew in 2019) have each had 1
152 lbs.
We OWN 152: California (7 All Americans all claimed by a different individual. No champs or finalists, but the depth of California is impressive. AA in 2017, 2018, 2019 (2), and 2022 (3). Only year missing is 2021).
Contenders:
Washington (6)
Illinois (4)
Wisconsin (3)
7 States have (2) including Georgia
Worth Noting: Kayla Marano finished 2nd in 2017 and Genevieve An was 5th last year for Georgia. Alexis Gomez won a title for Illinois in 2017 and Rose Cassioppi was a 2x All American in 2021 and 2022. No champs from Washington, but 6 total All Americans including 2x All American Lena Flanagan. Macey Kilty collected one of her titles at 152 for Wisconsin (in 2018).
164 lbs.
We OWN 164: California, Washington, Colorado, Oregon (4 All Americans each. Shannon Workinger was a 2x AA for Washington. Olivia Robinson was a 2x AA for Oregon. Dymond Guilford was a runner-up for California and Tristan Kelly was a 3x All American (1x Champ) for Colorado at 164).
Contenders:
New York (3)
5 States have (2)
Tennessee (Piper Fowler was 5th in 2022) and Alabama (Yasmine Oliviera was 4th in 2022) each have had 1
180 lbs.
We OWN 180: California (5 All Americans including 2xer Emily Sandoval who climbed onto the podium in 2017 and 2018 - taking 5th each year).
Contenders:
Missouri (4)
New York (3)
Wisconsin (3)
Kansas (3)
Florida (3)
5 States with (2)
Georgia (Kaylee Sebolt in 2017) and South Carolina (Dasia Yearby in 2021) each have had 1
Worth Noting: Henlee Haynes made the podium a year ago for Florida with Sierra Chavez in 2021 and Shania Gowan in 2019 … Florida now has a 3-year streak going. Will someone make it four in a row? Elisa Robinson was a 2x All American for Kansas and Marissa Patterson was a champ in 2017. Joanna Jones was a 2x All American for New York.
200 lbs.
We OWN 200: California (13 All Americans which sets the bar (by a large margin) in Junior Women’s Freestyle. The ladies from the Golden State have had 4 2x All Americans at the weight (Alexandra Castillo, Angela Buenrrostro, Juliannah Bolli, and Sam Calkins) and 3 Champs (Castillo who won 2 and Calkins who won it in 2021).
Contenders:
Missouri (4)
Texas (4)
Illinois (3)
4 States with (2)
Georgia (Stacey Pgouda in 2019) and Tennessee (Ella Murphey in 2022) have each had 1
Worth Noting: Gabrielle Hamilton is a 1x Champ (2x All American) for Illinois.
225 lbs.
We OWN 225: California (7 All Americans including 2xer Cristina Santoyo and 2017 Champ Arianna Cobian).
Contenders:
Texas (6)
Illinois (4)
Missouri (3)
6 States with (2) including Florida and Georgia
Tennessee (Shamiia Wells in 2017) and South Carolina (Dasia Yearby was 2nd last year) each have had 1
Worth Noting: Stacey Pgouda and Kyleigh Haney each finished 4th for Georgia … Pgouda in 2018 and Haney in 2019. Lexie Cole was a 2x All American for Missouri (2019 and 2021) and Texas has had 2 2x All Americans … Hannah Francis in 2019 and 2021 and 2x Champion Gabrielle Holloway in 2018 and 2019.