Posts in What to Watch
What to Watch - Episode 9 - #Fargo2021 Schedule
Fargo logo.jpeg

The Fargo 2021 schedule has been released by USA Wrestling. Still a ton going on in that schedule that isn’t relevant to most people … below is a breakdown of the information you will want to know (especially if you are trying to follow the action from home).

NOTE: You can find all of the action in FloArena … Trackwrestling has added a FloPro button on their site, but I haven’t explored it enough to know if you can get access to live wrestling through it for this event. You should be able to get all of the action on Flo as well as the brackets, etc.

SEWrestle Coverage … the plan is to do interviews and a daily Breakdown of the action. Look for it on the social media channels as well as in the blog. Also can’t make it to Fargo but have a kid wrestling? The plan is to upload all of the pics taken of the event on the pics page.

FYI - these times are EST. Not Fargo time (Central).


Saturday, July 17 

  • 16U Women Freestyle: Session I – Preliminaries and Consolations
    (FargoDome – Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

  • 16U Freestyle: Session I – Preliminaries and Consolations
    (FargoDome – Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 1:30 PM

  • 16U Freestyle: Session II – Preliminaries, Consolations
    (FargoDome – Main Floor)
    3:00 PM - 7:30 PM

  • 16U Women Freestyle: Session II – Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Consolations
    (FargoDome – Main Floor)
    3:00 PM - 7:30 PM


 Sunday, July 18

  • 16U Freestyle: Session III - Quarterfinals and Consolations
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 1:30 PM

  • 16U Women Freestyle: Session III – Consolation Semifinals (IF NEEDED)
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

  • Junior Men's Freestyle: Session I - Preliminaries and Consolations
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 1:30 PM

  • 16U Women Freestyle: Session IV - Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    1:30 PM - 4:00 PM

  • 16U Freestyle: Session IV - Semifinals, Consolations and Consolation Semifinals
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    4:30 PM - 9:00 PM

  • Junior Men's Freestyle: Session II - Preliminaries and Consolations
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    4:30 PM - 9:00 PM


  Monday, July 19

  • 16U Freestyle: Session V - Consolation Semifinals (IF NEEDED)
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

  • Junior Men's Freestyle: Session III – 1/8 Championships, Quarterfinals & Consolations
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

  • 16U Freestyle: Session VI - Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

  • Junior Men's Freestyle: Session IV –- Semifinals, Consolations and Consolation Semifinals
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    5:00 PM - 8:30 PM


Tuesday, July 20

  • Junior Freestyle: Session V - Consolation Semifinals (IF NEEDED)
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

  • Junior Women: Session I Preliminaries and Consolations
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

  • Junior Freestyle: Session VI - Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    1:00 PM - 3:30 PM

  • Junior Women Freestyle: Session II - 1/8 Championship, Quarterfinals and Consolations
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    4:00 PM - 7:00 PM


Wednesday, July 21

  • Junior Women Freestyle: Session III Semifinals and Consolation
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

  • 16U Greco-Roman: Session I Preliminaries and Consolations
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

  • Junior Women Freestyle: Session IV Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

  • 16U Greco-Roman: Session II - 1/8 Championship, Quarterfinals and Consolations
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    5:00 PM - 9:00 PM


Thursday, July 22

  • 16U Greco-Roman: Session III Semifinals and Consolations
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

  • Junior Greco-Roman: Session I Preliminaries and Consolations
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

  • 16U Greco-Roman: Session IV Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

  • Junior Greco-Roman: Session II – 1/8 Championship and Consolations
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    4:30 PM - 8:30 PM


Friday, July 23

  • Junior Greco-Roman: Session III – Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Consolations
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    9:00 AM - 12:30 PM 

  • Junior Greco-Roman: Session IV Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
    (FargoDome - Main Floor)
    2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

What to Watch - Episode 8 - North Carolina in Fargo
 
NC USA.jpeg
 

TEAM NORTH CAROLINA dropped their Fargo roster more than a week ago, but it didn’t get released by USA Wrestling until yesterday. So it is the last state in our “What to Watch - Fargo” series to post. “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. North Carolina will bring 12 in JR Freestyle (same as 2019), 12 in JR Greco (up 5 from 2019), 2 in Junior Women’s Freestyle (2 fewer than in 2019), 3 in 16U Freestyle (6 fewer than 2019), 3 in 16U Greco (6 fewer than in 2019), and 2 in 16U Women’s Freestyle (same as 2019). North Carolina is the only one of the “SE” states to have fewer wrestlers going to Fargo in 2021 than they did in 2019 (9 fewer … 34 vs. 41 with the difference happening in 16U boys). I have to believe that the NCHSAA moving the season to later in the year (North Carolina just had their high school state tournament 2 weeks ago) had a huge impact on their turnout for Fargo. I don’t want to dwell on who is not here from North Carolina as opposed to who is coming this week, but I would be remiss if I didn’t at least acknowledge that two wrestlers (Richard Treanor in JRs - a 2019 Greco All American and Joe Sealey - a 2021 double Champ at both Northeast and Southeast Regionals). Those two would have certainly made the podium this coming week … but they are not here so let’s focus on who North Carolina should be watching in Fargo.

Who to Watch: In the Juniors, Joseph Baisley, Cody Rutherford, Alex Gunning, and Carson Floyd all competed in Fargo 2 years ago as 16U’s. Juniors will be tough going, but these four have experience and that help them a great deal as they work to make the podium in both styles. Ella Beam is ranked #11 at 200 and should be in the hunt for a spot on the podium in JR girls. Jax Forrest is probably the name the stands out the most as who to watch from NC. Forrest took 2nd in Freestyle to Vincent Kilkeary of Pennsylvania (beating Kaedyn Williams and Brycen Arbogast on his way to the finals). That alone should put Forrest on the radar and amongst the favorites to make the podium in Fargo. Another 16U to watch is Reagan Riddick. Riddick won the girls North Carolina state tournament, but more importantly popped down to Florida in the middle of the season to claim the 122 Girls 16U Freestyle title with 3 quick falls (she also won the 117 16U Girls Greco title). Riddick also wrestled “up” in Juniors at 117 and took 4th (with losses to Hannah Hall, Brielle Bibla, and Cameron Galvin - 3 wrestlers that should in the mix in JR’s in Fargo). North Carolina may not have the numbers, but they have wrestlers that can make a run for a spot on the podium.

UPDATE: Looks like USA Wrestling (or someone else) missed Jade Hutto in JR Freestyle at 127. Jade hammered the competition at the North Carolina Girls State Tournament to take the 132 lb. title … more importantly she comes in ranked #24 at 132 in the latest Flowrestling, USA Wrestling, and National Wrestling Hall of Fame rankings. She also returns after competing in Fargo in 2019 at 127 lbs. in JR Freestyle. She is definitely another name to watch from NC.


North Carolina Entries:

Men's - USA Junior Freestyle
106 Matthew Vindigni
113 Joseph Baisley, Damon Landreth
126 Isaac Gawronski
132 Cody Rutherford, Noah Tocaben
138 Tyler Tracy
160 David Varner, Luke Masterton, Alexander Gunning, Greyson Harris
195 Carson Floyd

Men's - USA Junior Greco-Roman
106 Matthew Vindigni
113 Joseph Baisley, Damon Landreth
126 Isaac Gawronski
132 Cody Rutherford, Noah Tocaben
138 Tyler Tracy
160 David Varner, Luke Masterton, Alexander Gunning, Greyson Harris
195 Carson Floyd

Women's - USA Junior Freestyle
127 Jade Hutto

164 Aaliyah Milligan
200 Ella Beam

Men's - 16U Freestyle
113 Cooper Davis, Jax Forrest
170 Savoy New

Men's - 16U Greco-Roman
113 Cooper Davis, Jax Forrest
170 Savoy New

Women's - 16U Freestyle
112 Reagan Riddick
132 Hailie Misplay

What to Watch - Episode 7 - Tennessee in Fargo
Tennessee USA Logo.jpeg

TEAM TENNESSEE dropped their Fargo roster and there are some serious “stopsign” hunters on the list. Everyone - including the other SE states better watch out for these hammers. “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. Tennessee will bring 21 in JR Freestyle (up 13 from 2019), 14 in JR Greco (up 8 from 2019), 8 in Junior Women’s Freestyle (up 3 from 2019), 15 in 16U Freestyle (up 4 from 2019), 11 in 16U Greco (up 2 from 2019), and 8 in 16U Women’s Freestyle (up 7 from 2019). Overall, Tennessee will have 38 more entries in 2021 than they did in 2019 - with the majority coming in Junior Freestyle. After doing several episodes of What to Watch … the takeaway is that every SE state thus far has more wrestlers competing in Fargo than they did in 2019 (some “categories” might be fewer, but the overall numbers are up from 2019).

Cooper Flynn, the Virginia Tech signee, is the latest Junior All American from Tennessee after placing 7th in Freestyle and 4th in Greco in 2019. Flynn was very good in 2019 - he is significantly better in 2021 and will certainly be in the hunt for a stopsign (especially considering he is listed to be back at 120 again in 2021). The 16U crew had 4 Freestyle All Americans in 2019 including Cody Chittum and Ashton Davis … both now on the Junior roster. Chittum was also a Greco runner-up at 16U in 2019. The Girls have never had a Freestyle Champ or a 16U Champ or All American … the last Junior All American was Emma Walker in 2019. Can one of the Tennessee Ladies breakthrough and win it at Juniors or find the podium at 16U? I’d venture to guess the answer to that question is yes.

Who to Watch: So obviously the top name to watch is Cooper Flynn. Cooper was an AA in both styles at 120 in 2019 and he is going to be tough to beat at 120 in 2021. Cody Chittum has grown by leaps and bounds since his 2019 double AA performance. Chittum comes in the #1 ranked wrestler by Flowrestling at 145 and the #8 pound-for-pound wrestler in the country. He has to be amongst the favorites to claim a stopsign at 145. The other returning All American in the JR group is Ashton Davis. Ashton has looked superb over the last few months and will be in the mix for a stopsign at 220 … it isn’t inconceivable we could see any of these hammers against another SE hammer in the finals. If there is one wrestler, outside of Chittum, that grown the most in the 2 years since Fargo … it is Hunter Mason. Mason is now ranked #6 by Flowrestling at 132, but more than that I watched him really handle some top level competition at SE Regions and Elite 8 Duals over the last 8 months and he looks ready to take home a title in 2021. Dayne Dalrymple (freestyle), Aidan Bowers (Greco), Brayden Ivy (Freestyle) will all be in the hunt for a spot on the podium. Keep an eye on Gervacio Gonzalez, Kodiak Cannedy, and others in the JR group.

Look to Casen Roark, Hunter Sturgill, and Landon Desselle in the 16U group. Roark was 7-1 in Freestyle, 7-0 in Greco at 16U Duals and beat a very good Anderson Heap of Florida to take the SE Region title a couple of months back. Sturgill was 8-0 in Freestyle, 7-0 in Greco at 16U Duals and Desselle was 5-1 in Freestyle and 6-0 in Greco at 16U Duals. The level of competition is about to go way up, but these 3 appear ready to make a run in 16U. Mason Jakob was unbeaten, Jarvis Little was 7-1 in Freestyle and 5-2 in Greco, and Kaiden Bates was 6-2 in Freestyle and 6-1 in Greco at the 16U Duals. As stated earlier … “the level of competition is about to go way up” … it will be interesting to see each of these 3 in the middle of it.

Avery Kibelbek is back wrestling for Tennessee after spending the past year at Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania. She is ranked #25 and should be in the mix to make the podium in Juniors at 106. Tennessee’s best shot to have their first 16U All American is Maggie Graham. Graham is ranked #4 and has spent much of the last month preparing and competing at the Pan Am’s. She will compete in both Juniors and 16U, but has to be amongst the favorites to claim a title in 16U. Ella Murphey, Ella-Lina Gonzalez, and Katelynn Hernandez are a few of the others to keep an eye this week.


Tennessee Entries:

Men's - USA Junior Freestyle
120 Cooper Flynn
126 Calvin Eason
132 Hunter Mason, Sammy Shires
138 James Dalrymple
138 Brayden Ivy
145 Sean Pitts, Noah Kang, Cody Chittum
152 Benjamin Stigamier, Finley Jameson, Colby Dalon
160 Ian McGehee, Kodiak Cannedy, Tanner Willett
182 Gervacio Gonzalez
195 Connor Milhorn, Jose Suarez-Pereira
220 Ashton Davis, Richmond Flowers
285 Ryan Smith

Men's - USA Junior Greco-Roman

126 Cooper Flynn
132 James Dalrymple
138 Hunter Mason
145 Sean Pitts, Cody Chittum
152 Finley Jameson
160 Ian McGehee, Tanner Willett
170 Aiden Bowers
182 Gervacio Gonzalez
195 Connor Milhorn, Jose Suarez-Pereira
220 Ashton Davis
285 Ryan Smith

Women's - USA Junior Freestyle

106 Avery Kibelbek
112 Ella-Lina Gonzalez, Grace Elliott
117 Melanie Val
122 Katelynn Hernandez, Kristen Allsup
132 Rontaysia Payne
200 Shayra Calderon

Men's - 16U Freestyle
100 Mason Jakob
113 Jarvis Little, Brody Gobbell, Cash Graziano
120 Jackson Wimsatt, Casen Roark
126 Hunter Sturgill, Noah Creque
132 Landon Desselle
145 Spencer Kon
152 Taylor Wimsatt
160 Kaiden Bates
182 Jensen Schreiber
195 Nicolas Jenkins, William Parodi

Men's - 16U Greco-Roman
100 Mason Jakob
113 Cash Graziano, Jarvis Little
120 Jackson Wimsatt
126 Hunter Sturgill, Noah Creque
132 Landon Desselle
152 Taylor Wimsatt
160 Kaiden Bates
182 Jensen Schreiber
195 Nicolas Jenkins

Women's - 16U Freestyle
112 Ella-Lina Gonzalez
117 Melanie Val
122 Katelynn Hernandez, Kristen Allsup
127 Caila Weatherspoon
144 Maggie Graham
152 Genesis Gilmore
200 Ella Murphey

FloWrestling nationally ranked men: Cody Chittum (No. 1 at 145, No. 8 P-4-P), Hunter Mason (No. 6 at 132),
Nationally ranked girls: Avery Kibelbek (No. 25 at 112), Maggie Graham (No. 4 at 152), Ella Murphey (No. 14 at 200),