A Fan's Guide to Fargo - Tennessee Edition
History:
97 wrestlers have made the podium for Team Tennessee. Someone will be the state’s 100th Fargo All American. Despite being one of the pioneers in sanctioning women’s wrestling at the high school level - Tennessee has produced just 9 different young women that have claimed All American status Gessler, Wells, Walker, and Murphey in Juniors and Kibelbek, Graham, Gilmore, and Laurin in 16U. They also feature 2023 World Champion, Fargo Champion and 3x All American Piper Fowler who will miss this year’s Fargo as she looks to claim another World title in about a month in Jordan.
The majority of the AA’s in Tennessee medals have come at the 16U level with more than two-thirds coming from Men’s and Women’s Freestyle as well a Greco. That said - they have crowned just 5 16U Champions (Nick Marable in 2003 in 16U, Nicholas Boykin who doubled up with both a Freestyle and Greco title in 2015, and then Shamus Regan (Freestyle) and Piper Fowler a year ago. Tennessee has enjoyed more success in the 16U Male group than any other in Fargo.
11 16U’s made the podum last year (5 in Greco and 6 in Freestyle .. as well as 2 on the women’s side with Piper Fowler claiming a title and Irelyn Laurin taking 4th). Unfortunately, just 1 - Hudson Chittum - who was a double All American last year is the only one that returns in 16U this year. The rest all make their way to the Juniors. Still 16U should have several hammers ready to join Chittum on the podium including Titus Norman, Malachi Puckett, Zachery Little and our breakout candidate Ryder Smith. The Juniors have had a nice run over the last several years thanks to the likes of Cody Chittum (Junior Freestyle Champ in 2022), Cooper Hilton, Kenneth Hendrikson, Hunter Mason, and Cooper Flynn. A few stats to keep in mind:
Tennessee hasn’t had a 16U Greco Champ since Nicholas Boykin in 2015.
90 of the 97 medals Tennessee has earned have all come since 2000 and 68 of the 97 (70%) have come within the past decade. Tennessee continues to rise and 2024 should be no different.
Irelynn Laurin and Ella Murphey are the only ones on the roster that has made the podium previously on the women’s side. Tennessee will add several new All Americans before we finish Sunday … trust me.
Attribution: Data reported above is courtesy of Jason Bryant of Mat Talk Online and the Fargo Almanac that is published each year.
2024 Squad:
16U’s had 2 All Americans last year in National Champ Piper Fowler and Irelynn Laurin. Expect the 16U’s to match (and exceed) that number this weekend. Ryleigh Sturgill and Caroline Hilton both make their Fargo debut and both will be considered amongst the favorites to walk away with a stop sign. Easton Dadiomoff and Ava Johnson were both 6-2 at duals, but the name to watch is Janiya Johnson who finished duals 8-0 and wasn’t challenged on her way to an unblemished record. Don’t be surprised to see the Tennessee 16U women walk away with as many as 5 All Americans (remember they’ve only had 6 in their entire Fargo history). The Junior women turn to 2023 Fargo All Americans Irelynn Laurin and Ella Murphey.
The 16U men had one of the best Fargo’s in their history in 2023 with 5 All Americans. Hudson Chittum is the only one returning in 16U as Max Norman, Jose Cordero, and Jojo Uhorchuk all make the jump to Juniors. The 16U’s will put several on the podium, but duplicating last year’s success is going to be a tall order. No wrestler on the Junior roster has made the podium in Juniors … there are a ton that have done it at 16U, but Juniors is a different animal. Excited to watch the first-year Juniors and 2023 All Americans Norman, Cordero, and Uhorchuk. Tennessee Juniors, which also includes Roark, Little, Ethan Uhorchuk, Dupill, and so many more have the ability to make some noise and could pass their most ever (2 in Freestyle and 3 in Greco) this coming week.
Italicized wrestlers competed for Tennessee in 2023 (or medaled in a previous year … we didn’t look at year’s before that for those that competed, but did not medal):
16U Women:
94 - Easton Dadiomoff
100 - Ryleigh Sturgill
118 - Janelle Su
130 - Caroline Hilton
130 - Ava Johnson
136 - Delilah Queen
136 - Ali Bryant
136 - Mariana Bowen
148 - Elizabella Laurin
155 - Janiya Johnson
155 - Audrey Levendusky
190 - Ellysia Jennings
Junior Women:
100 - Alyssa Archer
100 - Addyson Brown
110 - Anete Rodriguez
115 - Eleasa Renken
115 - Ellie Underwood
115 - Jaelynn McIntosh
120 - Taylor Parkhurst
120 - Melanie Val
125 - Madyson Jones
125 - Syriana Berrios
130 - Evelin Ochoa
130 - Sophia Satterfield
145 - Trinity Roberts
155 - Irelynn Laurin
155 - Aliya Whaley
170 - Nora Pena-Corona
190 - Ella Murphey
235 - Ashley Williams
16U Men Freestyle:
88 - Hudson Chittum
100 - Triston Mouton
100 - Brodie Minor
100 - Dominic Cordero
106 - Joseph Drewry
106 - Nolan Barton
106 - Sayvion Surles
113 - Aidan Hare
113 - Cash Waymire
120 - Ryan Dietrick
120 - Trapper Lippincott
120 - Reed Loeffel
120 - Aidan Lindsay
126 - Kyle Nielsen
126 - Joseph Weiss
126 - Zion Santoyo
132 - Kaden Clopton
132 - Cross Alpe
138 - John 'JD' Longley
138 - Dylan Villers
144 - Maxwell Wolfley
144 - Wilson Jamison
144 - Malachi Puckett
144 - Max Cable
150 - Titus Norman
157 - Zachery Little
157 - Kameron Stafford-Turner
157 - Leo Roberts
157 - Trevin Battle
190 - Syre Jones
190 - Daylan Haley
190 - Trestin Battle
215 - Eli Spinell
215 - Ryder Smith
215 - Manning Moore
16U Men Greco:
88 - Hudson Chittum
100 - Triston Mouton
100 - Brodie Minor
100 - Dominic Cordero
106 - Joseph Drewry
106 - Nolan Barton
106 - Sayvion Surles
113 - Aidan Hare
113 - Cash Waymire
120 - Ryan Dietrick
120 - Trapper Lippincott
120 - Reed Loeffel
120 - Aidan Lindsay
126 - Kyle Nielsen
126 - Joseph Weiss
126 - Zion Santoyo
132 - Kaden Clopton
132 - Cross Alpe
138 - John 'JD' Longley
138 - Dylan Villers
144 - Maxwell Wolfley
144 - Wilson Jamison
144 - Malachi Puckett
144 - Max Cable
150 - Titus Norman
157 - Zachery Little
157 - Kameron Stafford-Turner
157 - Leo Roberts
157 - Trevin Battle
190 - Syre Jones
190 - Daylan Haley
190 - Trestin Battle
215 - Eli Spinell
215 - Ryder Smith
215 - Manning Moore
Junior Men Freestyle:
106 - Jose Cordero
113 - Colin Villaluz
113 - Donte Majors
113 - Locke Sessions
120 - Joseph Uhorchuk
120 - Carson Dupill
120 - Caleb Villaluz
126 - Zac Bosken
126 - Ethan Uhorchuk
126 - Darian Vera
126 - Chase Creque
132 - Jarvis Little
132 - Casen Roark
138 - Matt Bryant
138 - Joel Denton
138 - Demorius Ford
144 - Tyler Hix
144 - Ty Hutchens
150 - Brodie Melzoni
157 - Hunter Sturgill
157 - Brayden Leach
157 - Jacob Barlow
157 - Mason Butler
165 - Chris Dempsey
165 - Cy Fowler
165 - Chase Mayes
165 - Drake Bowers
165 - Max Norman
165 - Seth Lindsay
175 - Jackson Davis
175 - Stanford Thompson
175 - Malachi Moore
190 - Gabe Moore
190 - Spencer Kon
215 - Jonah Bumgarner
285 - Tyson Russell
285 - Peter Savarino
285 - Seaton Tallent
Junior Men Greco:
106 - Jose Cordero
113 - Colin Villaluz
113 - Donte Majors
113 - Locke Sessions
120 - Joseph Uhorchuk
120 - Carson Dupill
120 - Caleb Villaluz
126 - Zac Bosken
126 - Ethan Uhorchuk
126 - Darian Vera
126 - Chase Creque
132 - Jarvis Little
132 - Casen Roark
138 - Matt Bryant
138 - Joel Denton
138 - Demorius Ford
144 - Tyler Hix
144 - Ty Hutchens
150 - Brodie Melzoni
157 - Hunter Sturgill
157 - Brayden Leach
157 - Jacob Barlow
157 - Mason Butler
165 - Chris Dempsey
165 - Cy Fowler
165 - Chase Mayes
165 - Drake Bowers
165 - Max Norman
165 - Seth Lindsay
175 - Jackson Davis
175 - Stanford Thompson
175 - Malachi Moore
190 - Gabe Moore
190 - Spencer Kon
215 - Jonah Bumgarner
285 - Tyson Russell
285 - Peter Savarino
285 - Seaton Tallent
Who to Watch:
There are so many athletes you could watch and for everyone reading this, I’m sure you have the individual or individuals you are most interested in following. For me there are tons of wrestlers to watch - but I have a tendency to gravitate to specific storylines or ideas when focusing on individuals and I’ve tried to capture that below. Honestly, many different wrestlers could fall into each of these headings, but I don’t have the capacity to write about everyone. I can’t wait to see who I don’t mention has a great tournament and I can mention them in the wrap-up under the heading … here is who I missed in the preview. For each group below I focused on one name (and narrowing it to just one was extremely difficult in so many cases) for each of these descriptors:
Can’t Miss Hammer - someone that has been here before and this state’s best shot to make the podium.
Breakout Candidate - wasn’t in Fargo in 2023, but has wrestled well this spring/summer and is ready to make their mark on the Fargo stage.
Day 2 - for those of you unfamiliar with Fargo … much of the field is eliminated by the end of Day 1. Only a few make it Day 2 in the largest tournament in the world … this individual has the ability to make that happen.
Stepping Up - this wrestler had an outstanding run as either a 14U or a 16U previously … but this is their first year (If I’m wrong please let me know) in the new age group and they are ready to make the most of the opportunity.
16U Men’s Freestyle
Can’t Miss Hammer: Hudson Chittum - only returning 16U All Americans on the roster - was 4th a year ago and is back at the same weight. Look out - Tennessee could have another Boom Ranch hammer on top of the podium (Shamus Regan won 16U last year at 100 lbs.).
Breakout Candidate: Titus Norman - Norman was unseeded at SE Regions in both Freestyle and Greco … went 5-0 in freestyle and outscored his opponents 55-2.
Day 2: Ryder Smith - Smith is a hammer - whether we are talking 16U or not. We could have picked a number of wrestlers here including Little, Waymire, etc. but I expect Smith to surprise a ton of people at 215.
Stepping Up: Dominic Cordero - fairly certain Dominic Cordero is a first-year 16U … he didn’t compete in Fargo last year and watched his older brother Jose finish on the 16U podium. Dominic is ready to add his stop sign to the family trophy case.
16U Greco
Can’t Miss Hammer: Hudson Chittum - again we go with Chittum - he is the only returning 16U AA - he was 3rd last year at this weight in Greco and has his sights set on a title this year. Expect a loud BOOM on Wednesday evening.
Breakout Candidate: Malachi Puckett - 3rd at SE Regions with his only loss coming to Rudisill. Beat Necula in the consi finals … certainly one to watch as we head to Fargo week.
Day 2: Zachery Little - Little was 1-2 in both styles last year as a first-year 16U … trust me - he has grown a ton in the last 12 months and is ready to make a run at the podium in both styles.
Stepping Up: Dylan Villers - Villers and Cordero are candidates for this spot in both freestyle and greco … two young hammers that will surprise a lot of people.
Junior Men’s Freestyle
Can’t Miss Hammer: Jarvis Little - this could be one of the 16U hammers that made the podium in 2023, but the jump to Juniors is tough - so at the Junior-level we typically go with someone that has wrestled Juniors in Fargo previously. Little is one of those that made deep runs in Juniors before (he was 5-2 at 132 last year and lost a tough 11-10 decision to All American Carter Schmidt in the consis last year.
Breakout Candidate: Brayden Leach - Leach is a great pick - especially given that most of the Junior roster has been here before. Being a breakout candidate in Juniors is a big ask … but like Davis in Greco - Leach has proven himself to be one to watch.
Day 2: Jojo Uhorchuk - so many names to choose from. Norman, Sturgill, Dupill, Ethan Uhorchuk, Jake Stacey, Fowler, etc. Tennessee will have multiple Juniors competing on Day 2 and 3 - but we go with Uhorchuk after taking 3rd in 16U a year ago.
Stepping Up: Max Norman - Norman was a buzzsaw in 16U’s a year ago - making the podium in both styles. So many talented 16U’s step up this year and each will make a run in Juniors this year, but making the podium in Juniors is a different beast.
Junior Greco
Can’t Miss Hammer: Hunter Sturgill - Sturgill could be the can’t miss hammer in Freestyle as well … but we put him here simply because he is an legit Greco hammer. He was a 16U runner-up in Greco in 2022 and just missed the podium last year as a first-year Junior. Tennessee has never had a double champ in Juniors … Sturgill could be the first.
Breakout Candidate: Gabriel Moore - 3rd in Junior Greco at SE Regions
Day 2: Jake Stacey - outstanding run a year ago in Fargo - like Freestyle - Tennessee will have a ton of wrestlers competing on Day 2 and 3 to make the podium. I’d be shocked if Stacey isn’t one of them.
Stepping Up: Jose Cordero - AA in both styles in 16U … yep - going to make a run as a first-year Junior.
16U Women’s Freestyle
Can’t Miss Hammer: Caroline Hilton - so tough to pick one … this could be Sturgill (and we wouldn’t be surprised if she won it all) or maybe Janiya Johnson. Hilton was a beast at SE Regions - not giving up a point, but expect several 16U women to be on the podium.
Breakout Candidate: Janiya Johnson - 8-0 at 16U duals and wasn’t really challenged.
Day 2: Ava Johnson - great 16U duals - another debut in Fargo for Tennessee.
Stepping Up: Ryleigh Sturgill - I debated between Hilton and Sturgill as the can’t miss hammer … not sure anyone beats Sturgill on her way to a stop sign
Junior Women’s Freestyle
Can’t Miss Hammer: Ella Murphey - 7th in Juniors in 2022, but didn’t have the best Fargo in 2023. Ready to bounce back and make a run in 2024.
Breakout Candidate: Aliya Whaley - Aliya is right on the edge of breaking out … Fargo is a great opportunity to show everyone that she is next.
Day 2: Irelynn Laurin - returning 16U AA … makes the big jump to Juniors.
Stepping Up: Madyson Jones - lots of hype around the Tennessee girls … Jones is quietly doing her thing - 3-2 in Fargo last year as a 16U and has the ability to make a run as a first-year Junior.