A Fan's Guide to Fargo - Georgia Edition

History:

Georgia has collected 287 medals over the history of their time at USA Wrestling’s Junior and 16U National Championships (aka Fargo … the only reason I say aka Fargo is because years ago - it wasn’t held in Fargo). In fact, for many years during the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s it was held in 6 different states (Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Michigan) with the Junior Men’s Freestyle and Greco finally calling Fargo home in 1993 and 16U men following 3 years later and the Junior and 16U Women after the turn of the century. All of that to say - Georgia was never won a team title on either the men’s or women’s side or in Juniors or 16U’s. But the Peach State does have one of the most accomplished wrestlers in Fargo history in current Lumpkin County Head Coach Sean Hage.

Hage shares the most titles by an individual (combining both Junior and 16U) with David Kjeldgaard of Iowa. Both Hage and Kjeldgaard have won 8 individual titles. Hage also shares the distinction of being just one of two that are considered “Six-Timers” - individuals that have won 6 individual Junior titles (Hage shares that distinction with Michigan’s Brent Metcalf). But what separates Sean Hage from everyone else is the fact that he never lost a match in “Fargo” and was a perfect 8-0 in Fargo Finals. At the team level - Georgia has enjoyed some success:

1 top 5 finish in Junior Greco
- 2014 - 6 All Americans including Todd Small, Rudy Guillen, Roman Boylan, Derekston Williams, Andrew Webb, and Justan Rivera
1 top 5 finish in 16U Freestyle
- 2019 - 9 All Americans including Darrell Rochester, Michael Kilic, Matthew Singleton, RJ Weston, Kamdyn Munro, Dawson Mathews, Noah Pettigrew, David Harper and Chase Horne
2 top 5 finishes in 16U Greco
- 2010 - 6 All Americans - Hunter Kelley, Darshawn Sharp, Marshawn Sharp, Tyler Askey, Jason Grimes, and Brooks Climmons
- 2019 - 8 All Americans - many of the same names as Freestyle plus David Panone and Garrison Dendy
The women’s team (nor the Junior Men’s Freestyle team) have ever finished in the top 5.

Some more interesting stats:

16U’s Men Freestyle were dominant in 2023 - 2 Champs (Jacob Levy and Blue Stiffler) as well as All Americans Ryder Wilder and Gabe Swann. Levy, Stiffler, and Swann are back looking for Junior medals.
Last 16U Greco Champ from Georgia was RJ Weston and Michael Kilic in 2019
Amani Jones was the last 16U Women’s Freestyle Champ in 2019
Caleb Henson is the last Junior Freestyle National Champ (won 152 in 2021 and won an NCAA title for Virgina Tech in 2024).
There are several previous All Americans on this year’s roster for Georgia including 3x AA (1 time Runner-up Genevieve An), Dom Bambinelli, Emil Necula, Logan Paradice, Drew Gorman, as well as the 16U hammers mentioned previously.

Attribution: Data reported above is courtesy of Jason Bryant of Mat Talk Online and the Fargo Almanac that is published each year.

2024 Squad:

The idea that Georgia would have only 5 16U Women heading to Fargo is surprising. Several of last year’s 16U’s make the jump up to Juniors (Betances, Eaton, Weiland, Kaufmann, etc.), but the numbers are certainly small for Team Georgia with the 16U’s (just as a comparison - Georgia brought a small squad last year with 11 - they now have half that in 2024). Still they have some hammers in Greta Garbuzovas, Ella Hughes, and returner Ella Wells. Wells was 2-2 last year and as a 2nd year 16U has a shot to make a deep run this year. Greta Garbuzovas missed last year with an injury and was unbeaten at 16U duals just a few weeks ago … despite having just 5 - Georgia could have their first finalist since 2022 when Genevieve An took 2nd and their first champ since Amani Jones won it in 2019. Where the Georgia 16U’s are deficient (numbers) - the Junior women more than make up for it with a roster that has both depth (23) - 7 more than they had in 2023 - and quality. The Junior women return to Fargo with a bevy of talent that return with Fargo experience including 2023 World Team member May Prado, 3x Fargo All American Genevieve An as well as others that have made deep runs in Fargo previously (Epstein, Kaufmann, etc.). Don’t be surprised to see some newcomers to the Fargodome make some noise. Kori Campbell was a beast at Junior Duals as well as Vera Spencer, Milly Hughes, etc. who were not in Fargo a year ago. The Junior women had 3 All Americans in 2017, 2018 and 2019 - I’d be surprised if they don’t pass that mark in 2024.

NEXT … and there are a lot of “next’s” on the 16U roster for Georgia. Ariah Mills and Cody Clarke are amongst the best 16U’s in the country and both are first year 16U’s. Don’t be surprised if both are on the stage wrestling for a national title (that said - both will have tough paths to make that happen), but both are more than capable. Mihai Necula is another first-year 16U that will be in the mix and then there are the 2nd-year 16U’s like Ronan An, Ethan Secoy, Jake Rheaume, Callum Mccormack, Robert McCoy, Christopher Metz, and others that will make a run. Georgia’s 16U’s finished 7th last year in Freestyle with 2 Champs and 4 All Americans and 12th in Greco with 4 All Americans … it would be tough, but this year’s squad could make a run for a top 5 finish in both if everyone performs to their ability. The Junior men have a ton of potential … Gorman, Bambinelli, Paradice, 16U National Champs in Levy and Stiffler, and so many more. Will this year’s Juniors perform like the 2021 group with Champ Caleb Henson, Runner-up Horne, and other All Americans or will it be similar to the Georgia Juniors that we saw in 2022 and 2023 - tons of potential and some great runs, but with some missed opportunities?

Italicized wrestlers competed for Georgia 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:

88 Cadence Grulla
106 Ella Wells
124 Zuri McCalpine-Ingral
130 Ella Hughes
142 Greta Garbuzovas

Junior Women:

100 Jordan Epstein
105 Kaitlin Coleman
110 Olivia Weiland
110 Jaleesa Whaley
110 Kate Panone
115 Artemis Eaton
115 Alanna Garner
115 Delialah Betances
120 Esperanza Huitron
125 Ivy Andersen
125 Vera Spencer
130 Isabella West
130 Addison Braswell
135 Kori Campbell
135 Milly Hughes
135 Samantha Patton
140 Elle Kaufmann
140 Abigail Plemons
145 Madison Cooley
145 Savannah Chao
140/145 May Prado
190 Genevieve An
235 Rosali Oshodi

16U Men Freestyle:

88 - Ariah Mills
88 - Samuel Edgeworth
94 - Cody Clarke
100 - Christopher Metz
100 - Chase Mort
100 - Ryland Aston
106 - Yasser Valdez
106 - Joseph Austin
106 - Noah Scott
106 - Aiden Simmons
113 - Tyler Prinzo
113 - Owen Cash
113 - Abraham Hurd
120 - AJ West
126 - Christopher Phillips
126 - Cash Prado
132 - David Mathieu
138 - James Sievers
138 - Lucian Brock
138 - Jin Davis
138 - Jackson Lane
144 - Mihai Necula
144 - Caleb Hatcher
150 - Logan Johnson
157 - Miles Lesley
157 - Callum Mccormack
157 - Ronan O'Keeffe
165 - Ethan Secoy
165 - Timothy Brown III
165 - Jake Rheaume
175 - Rolando Gonzalez
175 - Dylan Reel
190 - Ronan An
190 - Robert McCoy
190 - Carson Vaillant
190 - Ryan Nelson
190 - Matthew Polcyn

16U Men Greco:

100 - Christopher Metz
106 - Noah Scott
106 - Aiden Simmons
120 - Aden Oglesby
126 - Christopher Phillips
126 - Cash Prado
132 - David Mathieu
132 - Evan Diaz
138 - Brock Eckert
144 - Mihai Necula
150 - Keegan Kinsey
157 - Miles Lesley
157 - Callum Mccormack
165 - Ethan Secoy
165 - Timothy Brown III
165 - Jake Rheaume
175 - Dylan Reel
190 - Ronan An
190 - Robert McCoy
190 - Ryan Nelson
190 - Matthew Polcyn

Junior Men Freestyle:

100 - Eli Bowman
106 - Gabe Swann
120 - Gabriel Burns
120 - Michael Madda
120 - Adonnis Sanchez
120 - Antonio Mills
126 - Tyler Herring
126 - Hilkiah Haffner
132 - Colson Hoffman
132 - Kieron McCormack
138 - Conner Doherty
132 - Karter Watson
138 - Santhosh Bonda
138 - Blue Stiffler
138 - Drew Gorman
144 - Jackson Douglas
150 - Logan Paradice
150 - Nathan Nielsen
157 - Cade Parent
157 - Connor Stephens
157/165 - Jace Parent
165 - Antoine Glasgow
165 - James Bowers
165 - Robert Davis
165 - Jack Mathieu
157 - Sebastian Melendez
165 - Konlin Weaver
165 - Dominic Bambinelli
175 - Christopher Mance III
175 - Aleric Marsden
175 - Ethan Kinsey
190 - Landon Jones
190 - Jack Godbee
190 - Conor Mccloskey
215 - Cian Birtwistle
285 - William Chappell
285 - Jacob Levy

Junior Men Greco:

120 - Gabriel Burns
120 - Adonnis Sanchez
120 - Antonio Mills
126 - Tyler Herring
126 - Hilkiah Haffner
132 - Colson Hoffman
132 - Karter Watson
138 - Blue Stiffler
150 - Logan Paradice
150 - Nathan Nielsen
150 - Emil Necula
150 - Zachary Krauss
157 - Cade Parent
157 - Connor Stephens
157 - James Palmer
157 - Sebastian Melendez
157/165 - Jace Parent
165 - James Bowers
165 - Robert Davis
165 - Jack Mathieu
165 - Dominic Bambinelli
165 - Konlin Weaver
175 - Aleric Marsden
175 - Ethan Kinsey
175 - Nathaniel Lowe
175 - Aiden Carroll
190 - Jack Godbee
215 - Cian Birtwistle
285 - William Chappell

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: Ariah Mills or Cody Clarke - we could have put a returning 16U here like An, Secoy, or Rheaume and been justified in doing so because all three will make a run. But the truth is … Mills and Clarke have been one of the best at their age group for years and both can absolutely win a stop sign this week. In fact - if I were putting odds on it … I’d say that Mills has one of the greatest odds of any 16U in the building. He was 7-0 at duals and wasn’t tested in any of the 7 matches. That doesn’t mean he won’t be tested in Fargo, but he’s already shown he (and Clarke) can both win it all.
- Breakout Candidate: Ronan An - not in Fargo last year, but has been amongst the top 190 lbers in the country at 16U (was 7-0 at 16U duals with some outstanding wins including a 12-9 decision of Heeg and an 11-8 decision of Hendricks of Iowa).
- Day 2: Ethan Secoy or Jake Rheume - Secoy was 1-2 and Rheaume was 2-2 last year. Both have made significant jumps over the last year and are in a better position to make a run in 2024 as a second-year 16U. Keep an eye on Robert McCoy who is also a second-year 16U and ready to make a run as well.
- Stepping Up: Mihai Necula - Necula is a hammer with a lot of upside. He was 2-1 in Freestyle at 16U duals and is another new 16U to watch.
16U Greco
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Ronan An - 2-2 at duals and split time with McCoy. An is probably better in Freestyle, but is Georgia’s best bet to make a run in 16U.
- Breakout Candidate: Mihai Necula - tough in freestyle - better in Greco.
- Day 2: Dylan Reel - could be Secoy, Rheaume or McCormack (and truth is Rheaume could be our Can’t Miss Hammer here … after his only loss at 16U duals was to Ivanov). Reel didn’t have the best duals, but he, Secoy, McCormack and Rheuame (as well as An) will all be in the hunt.
- Stepping Up: Christopher Phillips (don’t know how far he will go and not if he is a first-year 16U or not, but he has wrestled a ton and will not be overwhelmed by the level of competition in Fargo).
Junior Men’s Freestyle
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Drew Gorman - look this could be Logan Paradice or Dominic Bambinelli or Antonio Mills or any number of Georgia hammers. We chose Gorman for 2 reasons … 1) he is a 2x Fargo All American - 16U and Juniors and 2) he did not make the podium last year after taking 3rd as a first-year Junior and he still has a chip on his shoulder about that. Bambinelli is the same way … he didn’t make the podium last year and that is a motivating factor as we head to the Fargodome this week.
- Breakout Candidate: Jacob Levy - 16U Champ that is ready to make a run at a Junior title. This could also be Conor McCloskey - who seems to have taken his freestyle game to another level this spring/summer.
- Day 2: Cade Parent - again this could be Mills (who didn’t wrestle in Fargo last year) or some others, but we go with Parent who was 4-2 a year ago and believes he should already own a medal from Fargo.
- Stepping Up: Blue Stiffler - hard to imagine a 16U Champ in the “Stepping up” category, but that is how deep the Juniors are for Team Georgia. Stiffler knows what competition at this level looks like … don’t be surprised another run - but this time as a first-year Junior.
Junior Greco
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Dominic Bambinelli - Greco All American last year. Ready to make a run to a title this year. Colson Hoffman qualified for World Team Trials and is another that will certainly be in the mix for a run at a Greco title this weekend.
- Breakout Candidate: Blue Stiffler - All American as a 16U and has already demonstrated the ability to do the same thing in Juniors.
- Day 2: Antonio Mills - I want to go with Emil Necula, but the last time I saw him he was in a sling and reffing Southeast Regions. Necula is a hammer and if he is back then he could be either here or with Hoffman and Bambinelli as a can’t miss hammer. Mills showed a ton at Southeast Regions in Greco - the Greco boys better watch out - Mills is Georgia’s best shot to have their first Junior double All American since Omaury Alvarez.
- Stepping Up: Nathan Nielsen - love the determination of Nathan. Always working to get better. 2-2 in 16U last year and given his work ethic wouldn’t be surprised by a run as a first-year Junior (which is absolutely the most difficult spot to be in this week in Fargo - I don’t know if there are any stats or not, but I’d venture that first-year Junior All Americans are much less common than second or third-year Juniors).
16U Women’s Freestyle
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Greta Garbuzovas - would have been the pick to All American last year as a first-year 16U, but was out injured. After a dominating duals this summer - Garbuzovas whould be amongst the favorites to claim a stop sign at 142.
- Breakout Candidate: Ella Hughes - Hughes was 6-2 at 16U duals with both losses coming on narrow decisions (and matches she can absolutely win). 130 is a deep weight in 16U, but Hughes has the ability to make a run for the podium and if she wins the close matches she could be wrestling on the stage when all is said and done.
- Day 2: Ella Wells - 2-2 at 100 last year as a first year 16U - now back at 106 - Wells should be in the hunt for a spot on the podium.
- Stepping Up: Cadence Grulla - opportunities abound for Grulla. 88 was not wrestled a year ago in Fargo and she was 5-3 at 16U duals a few weeks ago.
Junior Women’s Freestyle
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Genevieve An - this was a tough one to pick because there are a number of wrestlers we could put in this spot (actually that’s true for all of the spot for Junior Women). But I’m a big believer in past performance and no one on the squad has been better in Fargo than An. She has been a Fargo All American 3x’s and was a 16U finalist. She did not make the podium in 2023 and that has to be a motivating factor - An is your best shot to finish her career on the podium in 2024.
- Breakout Candidate: May Prado - another tough pick, but we go with May Prado. Prado was a World Team member in 2023 (thus why she didn’t compete in Fargo) but despite being on a World Team - she has never made the podium in Fargo … look for that to change in 2024.
- Day 2: Kori Campbell could have been our breakout candidate, but we decided to put her here. This is her first trip to Fargo and after a dominating run at Junior Duals - she is ready to make a run for a spot on the Fargo stage. The number of potential Day 2ers on the Georgia roster is huge … I can make a case for at least 8 that I think will be wrestling in the bloodround on Sunday afternoon.
- Stepping Up: Elle Kaufmann - again I could make a case for Betances, Eaton, Weiland or someone else here, but this is why I went with Kaufmann. She lost 8-5 in the bloodround in 2023 … she was 6-3 at Junior Duals and (like Betances, Eaton, and Weiland) seems to be on the cusp on getting over the hump and onto the podium. The 16U women making the jump to Juniors are ready - the tournament is significantly tougher, but each could make a run to the podium.

Jason FulmoreJuly 9, 2024

A Fan's Guide to Fargo - Florida Edition

History:

Florida has a deep history as it relates to USA Wrestling’s Junior and 16U National Championships … also known as Fargo. Wrestlers from the Sunshine State have won a combined 536 medals including 83 National Titles. That is an impressive number, but in comparison - Florida ranks 17th on the list (to give you an idea - Illinois sits at #1 with 1,817 All Americans) … Florida is gaining ground and this year’s squad has the ability to inch ever closer to #16 on the list (Indiana). For your info … Florida sits #15 in total number of Champions with 83 and trails #14 Washington by 16.

The majority of Fargo medals have come at the Junior level with 156 in Greco, 81 in men’s freestyle, and 59 in women’s freestyle. Florida has had 7 top 5 finishes in Junior Greco, but has never finished in the top 5 in either men’s or women’s freestyle (at the Junior level) … the Junior men were 8th in both 2009 and 2010, but haven’t been able to crack the top 10 since. Florida’s best finish in Junior Greco was 2nd in 2009 and 2011 (behind perennial power Illinois). The Junior women have just gotten better and better each year and continue to climb into the conversation. They were 10th in 2003 (just the 2nd year of the tournament) and have hovered about that level for years until recent success. The Junior women have finished 6th and 8th in each of the last two Fargo’s and will look to break into the top 5 for the first time this year.

The success at the 16U level looks very similar to that in Juniors. The 16U men have made the top 5 once in Freestyle (and that was all the way back in 1990 when they finished 5th) with a total of 6 top 10 finishes and have finished top 5 in Greco 4 times (with a total of 15 times in the top 10). Florida’s best Greco finish in 16U was just two years ago when they took 3rd behind California and Wisconsin. Surprisingly, the 16U women have struggled a bit (and hopefully that will change now that we enter the 3rd year of sanctioned wrestling in the state for the women). The 16U women have never made the top 5 and have just two top 10 finishes (but one of those was in 2023 when they finished 7th - their highest finish ever for 16U women). Both Mary Manis and Mya Bethel won titles in 16U a year ago and both return and will be hunting a title in Juniors this week.

A few interesting stats to consider:

16U Women have had a total of 20 All Americans and 4 National Champions - 12 of the 20 (and 3 of the 4 Champs) have come in the last 3 years.
Junior Men have had plenty of success recently making the podium in Freestyle (3 in 2023; 3 in 2022; 4 in 2021, etc.) but you have to go back to 2017 for our last National Champion (Anthony Artalona) and Florida’s best shot at claiming a title this year (Michael Mocco) is training for the World Championships and isn’t on the roster.
On the All-Time list …
- David Craig and Rocky Cozart have a total of 8 medals (that won’t be matched by anyone this year)
- Anthony Artalona, Eric Grajales, and Shawn McCoy have the most Fargo titles (4 each) … that mark will not be in jeopardy this week

Attribution: Data reported above is courtesy of Jason Bryant of Mat Talk Online and the Fargo Almanac that is published each year.

2024 Squad:

Tons to talk about from the Sunshine State. We start with the women and very different expectations when looking at the 16U’s and the Juniors. The majority of the 16U roster is new to the Fargodome. Just Isis Severe and Ailee Briggs competed a year ago. There are some hammers (Abigail Gonzalez, Paola Ramirez, and others), but matching the 4 All Americans from 2023 at 16U is going to be tough. The Junior roster, on the other hand, is loaded with Fargo experience. All 4 2023 16U All Americans move to Juniors and Mary Manis and Mya Bethel will look to claim another title (just at a different level). Grace Leota and Kailani Barrientos will look to make another run at the podium (this time as Juniors). But a strength of the Junior women is the depth of the roster. 17 Juniors competed here a year ago … that is huge and will be one of the reasons Florida will bring home some hardware.

On the men’s side … the 16U’s have a ton of talent, but not a lot of “Fargo” experience. Mac Andrews, KJ Vazquez, Nik Blake, Landon Quiroga and others wrestled well as first-year 16U’s in 2023 … they return and each will be hunting a spot on the podium. That said - the 16U’s best shot might come from those making their Fargo debut. Jovani Solis, Peter Mocco, Joanni Tovar, Adaias Ortiz and others all could make a run as well. The 16U’s have talent - but Fargo is beast. We will see how many can fight their way to a top 8 finish. Like the 16U’s, the Junior roster is full of hammers. BUT … not a ton of returning AA’s. 2023 Fargo Champ Michael Mocco is prepping for the World Championships and 2023 Fargo Champ Sawyer Bartelt is preparing to head to Iowa State (remember though - graduated seniors can wrestle in this event one final time just after high school graduation). Zeno Moore (a 16U AA last year) moves up to Juniors and fellow LHP Highlander CJ Torres returns after taking 4th last year at 152. Otherwise it is a talented group, but one sans Fargo hardware (Christian Fretwell was 16U AA in Greco in 2022 and EJ Solis made the podium in both styles in 2022 as a 16U). Solis nearly made the podium last year as did Heap and Bulko (Greco). Interestingly, Malachi Ortiz earned All American honors in Junior Greco last year, but is only on the roster for Freestyle (unless I overlooked him).

Italicized wrestlers competed for Florida 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 - Ashlie Schlegel
100 - Aniyah Whayne
106 - Maya Alvarado
106 - Abigail Gonzalez
106 - Miayalee Ortiz
112 - MacKenzie Allcroft
112 - Bianca Ribeiro-Barbosa
118 - Sarah Walsh
118 - Paola Ramirez
124 - Willow White
130 - Isis Severe
136 - Ailee Briggs
136 - Jada Williams
142 - Malia Rezac
148 - Alisha Vilar
170 - Alexa Calidonio
190 - Latoya Sylvestre
190 - Tor'Rina Rushing

Junior Women:

95 - Sophie Booe
95 - Chrissy Rebarchek
100 - Emily Doolittle
100 - Katherine Brooks
105 - Erin Rizzuto
105 - Sigrun Metzger
105 - Camdyn Elliott
110 - Keana Bush
110 - Natalia Choquegonza
115 - Joslyn Johnson
115 - Lily Powell
115 - Mariah Mills
115 - Camilla Delgado
115 - Kaitelynn Oliver
120 - Milana Borrelli (5th in JRs in 2023)
120 - Emma Bauknight
120 - Naomie Sylvestrie
125 - Mary Manis (16U National Champion in 2023)
125 - Jasmine Serrano
125 - Daniela Espinal
130 - Alissa Brown Washington
130 - Christina Borgmann
130 - Sheyla Ochoa Salgado
130 - Chloe Parets
135 - Kailani Barrientos (7th in 16U in 2023)
145 - Katherine Stewart
145 - Viktoriya Devochkina
155 - Mya Bethel (16U National Champion in 2023)
155 - Sofia Delgado
170 - Megan Preston
170 - Payton Moyer
170 - Chloe Stinnett
190 - Grace Leota (4th in 16U In 2023)
235 - Kinea Moore

16U Men Freestyle:

88 - Liam Parker
94 - Zachary Leto
100 - RJ Phelan
100 - Ethan Smith
106 - Stefano Garcia
106 - Cash Caillaui
106 - Brock Glover
113 - Jovanni Tovar
120 - Eric Bush
113 - Sully Karmon
120 - Reid Yakes
120 - Landon Quiroga
120 - Andrew Taylor
126 - Timmy Boda
126 - Adaias Ortiz
126 - Skylar West
132 - Jovani Solis
132 - Dylan Fernandez
132 - James Aguilar
132 - Jaxson Perry
138 - Armand Williams
138 - Clinton Thompson JR
138 - Jasper Croom
144 - Mason O’Dell
144 - Noah Leota
144 - Nikolas Gray
144 - Luke Manghisi
150 - Nikolas Blake
150 - Jonathan Moreno
150 - Charly Sainteus
150 - Derik Palmer
157 - Kawayran Vazquez
157 - Tyree Graham
165 - Mac Andrews
165 - James Shaw Garrett
165 - Colton Bell
175 - Raymond Shaw
190 - Peter Mocco
190 - Darius Montgomery
190 - Grant Silverfield
190 - Richard Lugo
215 - Sebastian Morera
285 - Blake Elder

16U Men Greco:

88 - Liam Parker
94 - Zachary Leto
100 - RJ Phelan
100 - Ethan Smith
106 - Stefano Garcia
106 - Cash Caillaui
106 - Brock Glover
113 - Jovanni Tovar
113/120 - Eric Bush
113/120 - Sully Karmon
120 - Reid Yakes
120 - Landon Quiroga
120 - Andrew Taylor
126 - Timmy Boda
126 - Skylar West
132 - Jovani Solis
132 - James Aguilar
132 - Jaxson Perry
138 - Armand Williams
138 - Clinton Thompson JR
138 - Jasper Croom
144 - Mason O’Dell
144 - Noah Leota
144 - Nikolas Gray
144 - Luke Manghisi
150 - Jonathan Moreno
150 - Charly Sainteus
150 - Derik Palmer
157 - Kawayran Vazquez (7th in 16U at 145)
157 - Tyree Graham
165 - Mac Andrews
165 - James Shaw Garrett
175 - Raymond Shaw
190 - Peter Mocco
190 - Darius Montgomery
190 - Grant Silverfield
190 - Richard Lugo
215 - Sebastian Morera
285 - Blake Elder

Junior Men Freestyle:

100 - David Serrano
106 - Roderick Brown
113 - Malachi Ortiz
113 - Gary Mendez
113 - Liam Davis
113 - Eric Perez
120 - Preston Neufeld
120 - Marlo Clark, Jr.
120 - Mark Bonfante
120 - Micheal Maisonet
120 - David Leiva
126 - Alex Giglietti
126 - Sebastian Degennaro
126 - Jack Oliver
126 - Coby Shields
132 - Christian Fretwell
132 - Jaiden Oliver
132 - Daniel Aranda
138 - Elvis Solis (5th in 16U in 2022)
138 - Maximus Brady
138 - Josue Batista
138 - Jayce Paridon
138 - Charlie DeSena
138 - Collin Kacena
144 - James Kosza
144 - Benjamin Wolgamuth
144 - Zeno Moore (7th in 16U at 145)
144 - Jayden Bowles
150 - Anderson Heap
150 - Izaiah Zaitouni
150 - Frank Florio IV.
157 - Eric Hodge
157 - Angel Prieto
157 - Jose Guttierez
157 - Claudio Torres Jr (4th in JRs at 152)
165 - Willie White
165 - Pavel Bulko
165 - Sage Suarez
165 - Drake Bonney
175 - Gage Wiggins
175 - Gunner Holland
175 - Amir Coston
175 - Gerson Alette
175 - Husam Mustafa
175 - Connor Bonney
175 - Evangelo Mercado
190 - Alan Rivera
190 - Deacon Delong
190 - Brian Senalle
190 - Brooks Baker
190 - Robert Kucharczk
215 - Alex Smith
215 - Ryan Sirico
215 - Brady Comerford
285 - Ralph Riche
285 - Liam Higgins
285 - Gavyn Uribes

Junior Men Greco:

100 - David Serrano
106 - Roderick Brown
113 - Gary Mendez
113 - Eric Perez
120 - Preston Neufeld
120 - Marlo Clark, Jr.
120 - Mark Bonfante
120 - Micheal Maisonet
120 - David Leiva
126 - Alex Giglietti
126 - Jack Oliver
126 - Coby Shields
132 - Christian Fretwell (3rd in 16U in 2022)
138 - Elvis Solis (3rd in 16U in 2022)
138 - Maximus Brady
138 - Josue Batista
144 - James Kosza
144 - Benjamin Wolgamuth
144 - Jayden Bowles
150 - Anderson Heap
150 - Izaiah Zaitouni
150 - Frank Florio IV.
157 - Eric Hodge
157 - Angel Prieto
157 - Jose Guttierez
165 - Willie White
165 - Pavel Bulko
165 - Sage Suarez
175 - Gage Wiggins
175 - Gunner Holland
175 - Amir Coston
175 - Gerson Alette
175 - Evangelo Mercado
190 - Alan Rivera
190 - Deacon Delong
190 - Brian Senalle
190 - Brooks Baker
215 - Alex Smith
215 - Ryan Sirico
215 - Brady Comerford
285 - Ralph Riche
285 - Liam Higgins
285 - Gavyn Uribes

Who to Watch:

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.

16U Men’s Freestyle
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Jovani Solis - represented Puerto Rico at Pan Ams … winning Gold in Freestyle. Fargo is a different beast, but so is Solis. The easy pick here is Vazquez, but we went with Solis … Florida could have as many as 6 that make the 16U podium.
- Breakout Candidate: Adaias Ortiz
- Day 2: Mac Andrews … our off the radar pick was Nik Blake, but he is out due to injury so we go with Andrews who is a little more on the Fargo radar, but still has a great shot to make a run for the podium as do Quiroga, Williams, and others.
- Stepping Up: Tovar or Mocco … both were outstanding 14U’s a year ago. Both look ready to claim a spot on the podium this week.
16U Greco
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Kawayran Vazquez - 7th in Greco as a first-year 16U.
- Breakout Candidate: Jovanni or Jovani … Tovar or Solis. Both are hammers and each has the ability to beat anyone else in the bracket.
- Day 2: Mac Andrews - 2-2 as a first-year 16U last year. Andrews had a great 16U duals and is dialed in to make a run.
- Stepping Up: Peter Mocco - getting better with each tournament … ready for that next step in Fargo
Junior Men’s Freestyle
- Can’t Miss Hammer: CJ Torres - 4th in Junior Freestyle last year as a first-year Junior. Don’t be surprised to see a pair of future Hokies and SE hammers celebrating with Fargo titles in Torres and Drew Gorman of Georgia.
- Breakout Candidate: Alex Smith - another Highlander that will be ready to make a run.
- Day 2: Max Brady - watching Brady give Swenson everything he could handle at SE Regions makes him our pick. Swenson lost 3-2 in the bloods last year and Brady was 3-2 overall … he has gotten better and better over the last 12 months and if that trajectory continues he will be on the podium this week. Truth is Solis, Heap, Holland, Fretwell, etc. could be in this spot, but we went with Brady based on that match vs. Swenson.
- Stepping Up: Eric Hodge - 3-2 in 16U Freestyle and really could’ve made the podium. The jump to Juniors is tough, but Hodge has the ability to make it.
Junior Greco
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Anderson Heap - nearly made the podium last year. 8-1 at Junior duals with lone loss coming 3-2 to Ramos of Wisconsin.
- Breakout Candidate: Gunner Holland - missed 2023 due to injury, but has been outstanding this spring and summer. Could also put Max Brady or Christian Fretwell here - neither wrestled Greco in Fargo last year.
- Day 2: Pavel Bulko - Greco hammer. Bulko nearly made the podium last year. He makes a run for a title this year.
- Stepping Up: Willie White - not sure White is a first-year Junior, but regadless he is certainly one to watch after going 6-3 at Junior Duals
16U Women’s Freestyle
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Ailee Briggs - 1-2 a year ago, but has grown by leaps and bounds … Ailee makes a run for the podium as a 2nd year 16U
- Breakout Candidate: Abigail Gonzalez - everyone in Florida already knows; Fargo finds out this week … Abby Gonzalez is next.
- Day 2: Maya Alvarado
- Stepping Up: Paola Ramirez or Willow White - not sure if either are 1st year 16U’s or not, but both will make some noise
Junior Women’s Freestyle
Picking this group was super difficult … 2 16U Champs, returning All Americans, and a bunch of returners that are hungry to make the podium. This might be the best Junior Women’s team that Florida has ever put together.
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Mya Bethel - I’ve spent some time this spring and summer watching some of the top US women compete … Bethel has been at so many of those practices … 16U Champ last year and just keep getting better and better
- Breakout Candidate: Christina Borgmann
- Day 2: Katherine Stewart - previous AA’s Delgado, Borrelli, Barrientos, and Leota are the easy picks. We fully expect them to be contending for a spot on the podium on Day 2 … so we decided to go with someone that has shown the mettle to make a run, but hasn’t been there previously. Stewart was 3-2 as a first-year Junior in 2023 … that experience is going to pay dividends this week. We could’ve picked Bush, Mills, Rizzuto, Johnson, or Elliott as well. That quintet could all be wrestling for a spot on the podium.
- Stepping Up: Mary Manis - just like Bethel - moves up after claiming a title last year in 16U. Juniors are a different beast, but Manis has been everywhere and has competed against everyone. She was 2nd as a first-year 16U … don’t be surprised if she betters that as a first-year Junior.

Jason FulmoreJuly 8, 2024

A Fan's Guide to Fargo - Alabama Edition

History:

Alabama has had 71 medalists going back to their first-ever - Ron Woods who took 6th in Junior Greco in 1977 at 154 lbs. As a team they have never won or finished top 5 (or top 10) in any of the styles, in either age group or in either men or women and that isn’t likely to change in 2024. Fargo is not only a battle of hammers, but it is also a battle of attrition and Alabama rarely brings a large enough group to make a run in any of the styles on either the men’s or women’s side. Alabama’s largest group in 2024 is 25 wrestlers and that is in the toughest tournament in Fargo - Junior Men. That doesn’t mean you can’t make a run for a top 10 finish with a team of fewer than 30, but it is tough (take last year’s Junior Freestyle as an example … Pennsylvania won it with 79 wrestlers, Wisconsin was 2nd with 67, Iowa was 5th with 63, Minnesota was 10th with 59 … even a similarly small state (in terms of population) like Idaho - which finished 12th - brought 49).

California has dominated the Women’s tournaments with a combination of numbers and hammers. But if Alabama (and other SE states) are going to break into the top 10 - the women’s side (particularly at 16U) is where they can make an impact with fewer numbers. But still keep in mind that you need significantly more than we currently bring … Iowa was 10th in Junior Women last year and they had a roster of 43 (Alabama’s Junior women’s roster last year was 6). So breaking into the top 10 is going to be a challenge. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t individuals (both currently and in the past that have had some outstanding success). Kiyan Simon and Isaiah Powe both made the Junior finals a year ago - Simon losing in the 100 lb. Freestyle finals and Powe losing in the 138 lb. Greco final (Simon also finished 6th at 106 in Junior Greco). In fact, much of the Alabama’s recent success has come in Greco … Powe and Cory Land were finalists in back to back years (2022 and 2023) and 9 of their 20 Junior All Americans have come within the last 9 years. They’ve also had the same level of success at in 16U Greco with 5 All Americans (Will Caneer, Willie Cox, Brodie Christmas, Cole Carter, and Mason Ellis) since 2021.

A few notable historical things on the Men’s side:

Despite the number of All Americans - Alabama has never had a Junior Greco Champion (Erwin Lavender (1982), Sam Latona (2017), Cory Land (2022), and Isaiah Powe (2023) have all taken 2nd).
Alabama has had 2 Junior National Champions (Latona and Land)
Alabama’s biggest struggle is in 16U Freestyle - 12 total All Americans, No Champs and just one finalist (Latona in 2016).

On the women’s side, Hannah Gladden was the name to know for years. Gladden was Alabama’s only All American until 2022. Gladden was 3rd at 16U in 2012 and 6th in Juniors the same year and then was 4th in 2013 and 5th in 2014. Recently, Alabama has had three women make the podium including 2x All American Evelyn Holmes-Smith. She and Lena Johannson made the podium together in 2022 in 16U and Yasmine Oliveira was 4th in the Junior Women’s tournament that same year … Alabama went from 1 woman as an All American to a total of 4 in one tournament - certainly a huge step for women’s wrestling in the state. Holmes-Smith is joined by a talented group of teammates as they look to add to that number in 2024 (and Holmes-Smith will look to add a title or another All American trophy to the two she already has at home - 6th in 2022 and 4th in 2023).

Attribution: Data reported above is courtesy of Jason Bryant of Mat Talk Online and the Fargo Almanac that is published each year.

2024 Squad:

The 2024 squad returns 3 that have been on the podium previously - Kiyan Simon, Willie Cox, and Evelyn Holmes-Smith. Simon was a 2x All American (1x finalist) a year ago as a first-year Junior … but he will be making the big jump from 100 (Freestyle) and 106 (Greco) to 113 this year. The 113 lb. weight class is a different ballgame than wrestling 100 or 106. Holmes-Smith has been on the podium twice before - both in 16U … she also makes a big jump this year - from 16U to Juniors. Like Simon, Holmes-Smith making the jump from 16U to Juniors is a different beast - she has a ton of talent, but she will need wrestle extremely well to make the podium as a first-year Junior. Willie Cox was a 16U All American two years ago and now, in his final trip to Fargo, will look to be one of he few from Alabama to make the podium in both 16U and Juniors.

All of that to say … none of their paths are easy. And the wrestler that could claim a title might be someone we haven’t mentioned yet. That is Daishun Powe. Powe has been outstanding in both Freestyle and Greco this spring and summer and nearly made the podium here last year. He was 5-2 in Freestyle (coming up 2 wins from making the podium) and was 4-2 in Greco (losing in the bloodround to Casper Stewart of New York). On the women’s side, both Taimane Benemerito and Elizabeth Rosentiel are names to know and remember … despite small numbers - Alabama could walk away with as many All Americans this year as they have in any other year.

Italicized wrestlers competed for Alabama 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:

100 Dorinda Curtis
130 Taimane Benemerito (for Hawaii)
136 Kimber Alford
136 Annabella Harris
148 Heather Butler

Junior Women:

110 Erin Clarkson
120 Evelyn Holmes-Smith (4th in 16U in 2023; 6th in 16U in 2022)
125 Kalyse Hill
135 Elizabeth Rosenstiel
135 Chloe Parsons
135 Aenaya Vines
140 Jolene Walls
140 Jessalynn Allen
190 Aniyah Griffin

16U Men Freestyle:

100 - Ryan McKelvey
100 - Coreu Powe
113 - William Atkinson
120 - Karson Poe
126 - Cordell Lee
132 - Braxton Montgomery
138 - Dalton Ellis
144 - Colyn Finley
157 - Alex Bacon
190 - Kourtlan Kendrick

16U Men Greco:

100 - Ryan McKelvey
100 - Coreu Powe
113 - William Atkinson
120 - Karson Poe
126 - Cordell Lee
132 - Braxton Montgomery
138 - Dalton Ellis
144 - Colyn Finley
157 - Alex Bacon
190 - Kourtlan Kendrick

Junior Men Freestyle:

100 - Jameson Thomas
106 - Bobby Rutkoff
113 - Kiyan Simon (2nd at 100 in 2023)
113 - Justin Harbin
120 - Aiden Morris
126 - Hayden Cook
126 - Mason Hahm
126 - Hunter Graham
132 - Joseph Sowell
138 - William Anderson
138 - Bradley Williams
144 - Yanik Simon
144 - Julian Lowe
150 - Daishun Powe
157 - Cruz Rainwater
157 - Andrew Anderson
165 - Cody Kirk
175 - Oliver Howard
175 - Broc Righter
175 - Cort Bulloch
175 - Trip Cole
215 - Kyle Oliveira
215 - Joey Stephens
285 - Zack Chatman
285 - Willie Cox

Junior Men Greco:

100 - Jameson Thomas
106 - Bobby Rutkoff
113 - Kiyan Simon (6th at 106 in 2023)
113 - Justin Harbin
120 - Aiden Morris
126 - Hayden Cook
126 - Mason Hahm
126 - Hunter Graham
132 - Joseph Sowell
138 - William Anderson
138 - Bradley Williams
144 - Yanik Simon
144 - Julian Lowe
150 - Daishun Powe
157 - Cruz Rainwater
157 - Andrew Anderson
165 - Cody Kirk
175 - Oliver Howard
175 - Broc Righter
175 - Cort Bulloch
175 - Trip Cole
215 - Kyle Oliveira
215 - Joey Stephens
285 - Zack Chatman
285 - Willie Cox (8th at 285 in 16U in 2021)

Who to Watch:

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.

16U Men’s Freestyle
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Will Atkinson - 2-2 as a first-year 16U a year ago
- Breakout Candidate: Coreu Powe
- Day 2: Colyn Finley
- Stepping Up: Karson Poe
16U Greco
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Will Atkinson
- Breakout Candidate: Coreu Powe
- Day 2: Colyn Finley
- Stepping Up: Karson Poe
Junior Men’s Freestyle
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Daishun Powe - lost to Avery Allen of Montana twice last year and finished 5-2 - only better this year
- Breakout Candidate: Bradley Williams
- Day 2: Will Anderson - 2-2 as a first-year Junior last year
- Stepping Up: Cody Kirk
Junior Greco
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Daishun Powe - Bloodround in 2023 - could make a run for a stop sign in 2024
- Breakout Candidate: Bradley Williams
- Day 2: Willie Cox - 16U AA in Greco - will certainly make a run in Juniors
- Stepping Up: Cruz Rainwater - 2-2 in 16U Greco a year ago
16U Women’s Freestyle
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Taimane Benemerito - 3-2 a year ago as a first-year 16U wrestling for Hawaii.
- Breakout Candidate: Kimber Alford
- Day 2: Heather Butler
- Stepping Up:
Junior Women’s Freestyle
- Can’t Miss Hammer: Evelyn Holmes-Smith - 2x All American; first-year Junior, but has wrestled everywhere on the biggest stages - moving to Juniors is just another step in the process.
- Breakout Candidate: Aenaya Vines
- Day 2: Elizabeth Rosenstiel - 4-2 in 2023 and one match from making the podium; Kalyse Hill another Junior to watch. Alabama has never had 3 women All Americans in the same year - Holmes-Smith, Rosentiel, and Hill are a trio that could make that happen this year.
- Stepping Up: Jessalynn Allen

Jason FulmoreJuly 8, 2024