TEAM ALABAMA has dropped their roster for Fargo and there are several wrestlers positioned to make a real run at a spot on the podium. Before we get to those to watch, here is a little background on “Fargo”. Fargo 2021 is the 50th edition of the prestigious Junior Nationals event. The first event, held in the summer of 1971, in Iowa City was Freestyle only … so we have progressed significantly since those early days - adding Greco and then 16U’s (Cadets) and the Girls (at both the Junior and 16U levels). For a fantastic breakdown of the history of “Fargo” (in reality, Junior Nationals and the other national-level USA Wrestling “high school aged” events) you should check out the Fargo Almanac produced by Jason Bryant. It is 187 pages of pure “Fargo” gold (even though the event wasn’t held in Fargo for the first 20+ years).
The 2019 edition of the event had 5,000+ entries (yes many wrestled more than one style) and, given that we missed 2020, 2021 could feature an even larger number. Alabama is set to bring 20 in JR Freestyle (up 9 from 2019), 19 in JR Greco (up 10 from 2019), 21 in 16U Freestyle (up 11 from 2019), and 21 in 16U Greco (up 11 from 2019). Overall, Alabama will have 41 more entires in 2021 than they did in 2019. The one disappointment is the lack of a girls team heading to Fargo. It is hard to keep the momentum of sanctioning girls wrestling with the AHSAA when the state cannot get some of the best girls (Evelyn Holmes-Smith, Lena Johannson, Jade Eldridge, and others) to compete in the most important tournament each year for high school-aged girls. I don’t know the reasons for their absence, but that is something Alabama needs to focus on as we move into the 2021-2022 academic year (want motivation? - 49 (of the 80) 2021 NCWWC (NCAA) College All Americans placed in Fargo and 40 of the 2021 NAIA All Americans).
Alabama has had 54 All Americans and 2 Champions over the 50 years. Jaden New returns after taking 4th at 132 in the 16U Greco bracket in 2019. Jaden is joined by several others that have “Fargo” experience including Yanni Vines, Bryce Wanagat, Warren Hoyt, and Levi Miller. That experience could pay dividends as a significantly fewer number of Juniors have had the experience (having missed the 2020 event because of the COVID pandemic). Team Alabama should have several wrestlers looking to make the podium … these are the wrestlers I’m watching:
If Vines makes 113 for Freestyle he has to be amongst the favorites. He won SE Regions in both Freestyle and Greco up at 120 and was 6-2 wrestling 120 and 126 in Greco at Junior Duals. Vines will be tough at 113 or 120 and should be in the hunt at either weight and in both styles.
Will Miller and Warren Hoyt both had outstanding seasons and wrestled superb at Junior Duals. Miller was one of the few wrestlers to go unbeaten in both styles. Hoyt was 5-3 in Greco and 7-1 in Freestyle. Neither got the opportunity to wrestle some of the top in their weight at Junior duals (except on a few occasions - Hoyt vs. 16U Fargo Runner-up Jared Simma of Kansas, etc.), but that shouldn’t be much of a factor in how well they will do in Fargo. Do they have the ability to win 6, 7 or 8 to make the podium? I don’t know, but they will be in the hunt.
Stone, Latona, and Ortis are 3 others that should be in the hunt for a spot on the podium in Juniors.
And New who has already proven the ability to make the podium at 16U. Can he do so at the Junior level in 2021?
Each of the 16U’s, except Will Caneer, struggled a bit at 16U duals a month ago (primarily in Freestyle where they appeared a bit banged up after grinding through the Greco competition). So the first 16U to watch is Will Caneer. Caneer was 6-1 in Freestyle and 8-0 in Greco in Indiana - his only loss coming up at 220 to Logan Buchanan of Kansas. Caneer has to be on the radar to make a run for a spot on the podium.
Brodie Christmas, Hudson Waldrop and Cale Tucker both wrestled well in Greco, but it looked like they were hurt heading into freestyle (particularly Christmas who didn’t get to wrestle a match in Freestyle at the duals).
Will Anderson and Clay Johnston are two others that could make a deep run. Johnston was 5-1 in Greco (only losing to Manibog of Texas) and 4-3 in Freestyle. Anderson was 6-2 in Greco and 2-1 in Freestyle (splitting time with Caleb Wright).
Alabama has a real shot to have at least 3 Junior All Americans. It will be interesting to see how the 16U crew handles the grind of Fargo and whether they can win some close matches and make the podium as well.
Alabama Entries:
Men's - USA Junior Freestyle
113 Yanni Vines
120 Marcus Wright
132 Devin Stone, Bryce Wanagat, Lindrix Cooper
138 River Scruggs
145 Carson Reaves, James Latona, Logan Reaves
152 Jaden New, Gray Ortis
160 Will Miller
170 Aiden Knight, Joshua Kirby, Carson Freeman, Keenan Wyatt
182 Levi Miller, Kalob Johnstone, Warren Hoyt
220 Timbrook Hodge
Men's - USA Junior Greco-Roman
120 Marcus Wright, Yanni Vines
132 Bryce Wanagat, Lindrix Cooper
138 Devin Stone, River Scruggs
145 Carson Reaves, Logan Reaves, James Latona
152 Jaden New, Gray Ortis
160 Will Miller
170 Aiden Knight, Joshua Kirby, Carson Freeman, Keenan Wyatt
182 Levi Miller, Warren Hoyt
220 Timbrook Hodge
Men's - 16U Freestyle
88 Wallace Blue, Clark Box
100 Cale Tucker
106 Caleb Wright, Brodie Christmas
113 Noah Smith, William Anderson
120 Hudson Waldrop
138 Kristian Seals, Bryce Alli
145 Collin Burroughs, Clay Johnston, Jacob Wheeler, Brady Goodwin
182 Grayson Gulde, William Conlon, Ian Osbourn
195 Cole Carter, William Caneer, Mason Ellis
285 Willie Cox
Men's - 16U Greco-Roman
88 Wallace Blue, Clark Box
106 Cale Tucker, Caleb Wright, Brodie Christmas
113 Noah Smith, William Anderson
120 Hudson Waldrop
138 Kristian Seals, Bryce Alli
145 Collin Burroughs, Jacob Wheeler, Clay Johnston, Brady Goodwin
182 Grayson Gulde, William Conlon, Ian Osbourn
195 Cole Carter, William Caneer, Mason Ellis
285 Willie Cox
