History:
South Carolina has had 50 medalists going back to their first-ever - Tom Salisbury who took 4th in Junior Greco in 1983 at 143 lbs. As a team they have never won (or finished top 5) in any of the styles, in either age group or in either men or women and that isn’t likely to change in 2024. They did finish top 10 in Junior Women’s Freestyle (8th) in 2006 on the All American efforts of Brittany Delgado (who claimed a title at 195) and Rosemary Scott (who took 5th at 128). Finishing top 10 in 2024 is an entirely different story where you need not just hammers, but a significant amount of depth to make a run at finishing in the top 15. Every top 15 team from 2024 in Junior Women’s Freestyle had at least 3 All Americans (and many had several more).
If South Carolina is going to make a run it might come in Junior Women where they have a history of All Americans. Sixteen Junior Women have made the podium and South Carolina has had a finalist in each of the last two years (and 5 in their history - Brittany Delgado in 2005 and 2008, Brieana Delgado in 2011, Dasia Yearby in 2022, and Zao Estrada in 2023). Six men have climbed onto the Junior Freestyle podium in past years - Jordan Wigger did it four times (and 7 overall - the most of anyone from the Palmetto State). Wigger also made the podium in 16U Greco and twice in Junior Greco. Despite his impressive runs in Fargo - he never won an individual title. In fact, just one male wrestler has ever won a stop sign - Terrance Thompson in Junior Greco in 1998 at 98 lbs. Michael Colucci is the only other male wrestler to make the finals - doing so in 1986 at 121 lbs in 16U Greco.
On the women’s side, Brittany and Brieana Delgado paved the way - each claiming two titles in Junior Freestyle (Brittany in 2006 and 2007 and Brieana in 2009 and 2010). Both Delgado’s also made the podium two other times - Brittany 2nd in 2005 and 2008 and Brieana 3rd in 2008 and 2nd in 2011. Zao Estrada, who will be making her final trip to Fargo, has made the podium 3 times - 2nd in 2021 in 16U Freestyle, 4th in Junior Freestyle in 2022 and 2nd a year ago at 112. She will also be competing in the Male Greco Roman tournament.
Attribution: Data reported above is courtesy of Jason Bryant of Mat Talk Online and the Fargo Almanac that is published each year.
2024 Squad:
Three wrestlers that have made the podium in the past are on this year’s squad and that experience should be huge advantage for them as they seek to claim a stop sign this coming week. We highlighted Zao Estrada above - she certainly has to be one to watch after taking 2nd twice previously. Annalise Maralit was 4th in 16U Freestyle in 2022 and is back to make a run in Junior Women’s Freestyle and William Jakeway was 8th at 88 lbs. in 16U Greco in 2021. That experience should bode well for all three as they look to claim a Fargo title (for Jakeway and the other Junior men below … they haven’t had a medalist in Junior Greco since Jordan Wigger took 3rd in 2012 … JJ Peace was 8th a year ago in Junior Freestyle).
Junior Men are the strength of this team … it is also the most difficult tournament this week. Cason Howle, Ricky Springs, and Riley Hucks all have a ton of Fargo experience … that’s important. Angel Serrano made the podium in last year’s Greco Tournament for Colorado … so another to watch. Jakeway and Estrada and others also have experience. Usually that would be huge … but in a deep Fargo (Junior Men routinely have brackets that are either 128 or 256 in size) … it is going to take something special to get on the podium.
Italicized wrestlers competed for South Carolina 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:
106 - Rachel Hayes
Junior Women:
95 - Annalist Maralit (4th in 2022 in 16U)
105 - Astrid Reyes
115 - Zao Estrada (2nd)
115 - Kalliscya Gardner
120 - Madeline Bowlin
125 - Tiyanna Mack
135 - Tykala Pruitt
16U Men Freestyle:
88 - Stephano Calderon
113 - Montero Royal
120 - Jackson Stocker
120 - Aedan Santiago
126 - AJ De La Cruz
126 - Preston White
132 - Henry Martin Schultz
138 - Houston Rudisill
144 - Tyrone Norris
144 - Sy Strobel
144 - Sam Tanner
157 - Weston Hershey
165 - JB Tripp
175 - Logan Hinton
175 - Jakaleb Robinson-Barnes
215 - Landon Jackson
16U Men Greco:
88 - Stephano Calderon
113 - Montero Royal
120 - Jackson Stocker
120 - Ritchie Trew
126 - AJ De La Cruz
126 - Zane Chavis
132 - Henry Martin Schultz
144 - Sam Tanner
150 - Braydon Bishop
165 - JB Tripp
175 - Logan Hinton
175 - Jakaleb Robinson-Barnes
215 - Landon Jackson
Junior Men Freestyle:
120 Gianni Bottone
120 Ricky Springs
126 Zachary Gomer-Chrobocinski
132 Chris Propst
132 Darren Haney
138 Matthew Spignardo
144 Noah Gilbert
144 Tommy Johnson
150 George Maholtz
157 Landon Butler
175 Josh Echeverria
215 Cason Howle
Junior Men Greco:
113 William Jakeway
113 Zao Estrada
120 Ricky Springs
126 Zachary Gomer-Chrobocinski
132 Angel Serrano (All American for Colorado in 2023)
132 Darren Haney
144 Noah Gilbert
157 Landon Butler
175 Mason Parsons
190 Riley Hucks
215 Cason Howle
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 categories, 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: Houston Rudisill - 2-2 as a first-year 16U last year
Breakout Candidate: Preston White or Sy Strobel - South Carolina hammers with a chance to show how good they are on the national-stage
Day 2: AJ DeLaCruz - 1-2 as a first-year 16U last year
Stepping Up: Montero Royal - duals hammer in both 16U and Juniors
16U Greco
Can’t Miss Hammer: Logan Hinton … all 3 Hinton, Royal, and Jackson wrestled great at duals - would’ve been fine for any of the three to be mentioned here.
Breakout Candidate: Landon Jackson
Day 2: Montero Royal
Stepping Up: Stephano Calderon
Junior Men’s Freestyle
Can’t Miss Hammer: Cason Howle - 5-2 in 16U FS last year
Breakout Candidate: Tommy Johnson - gave Drew Gorman all he could handle at SE Regions. If Johnson wrestles that way - he could make a run.
Day 2: George Maholtz
Stepping Up: Ricky Springs - 2-2 in 16U last year
Junior Greco
Can’t Miss Hammer: Angel Serrano - 2023 All American for Colorado in Junior Greco
Breakout Candidate: Zachary Gomer-Chrobocinski
Day 2: Riley Hucks - 3-2 a year ago - ready to make the podium in 2024
Stepping Up: Cason Howle - 2-2 in 16U Greco last year
16U Women’s Freestyle
Rachel Hayes is the only 16U woman competing for South Carolina.
Junior Women’s Freestyle
Can’t Miss Hammer: Zao Estrada - 3x All American (2x Runner-up) - ready to claim a title
Breakout Candidate: Madeline Bowlin
Day 2: Annalise Maralit - 2022 16U All American
Stepping Up: Kalliscya Gardner
