FARGO,
N.D. - Every year, the nation's best young wrestlers come together for the
world's largest wrestling competition, the U.S Marine Corps Junior and Cadet
Nationals at the Fargodome in Fargo, N.D.
This
competition produces great stories of champions, many who go on to glory in
college wrestling, and ultimately at the World and Olympic levels. This marks
the 47th anniversary of the Junior Nationals event, which was first held in
1971 in Iowa City, Iowa.
The
tournament is scheduled for July 15-22 and is expected to feature outstanding
wrestlers in every weight class. USA Wrestling has official state association
team standings in all the divisions held in Fargo, adding to the tradition of
state wrestling pride exhibited at this event.
The
U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals features high school wrestlers in grades
9-12. Every year, the Junior division features talented athletes who are proven
winners, as well as many top young stars who are making names for themselves.
This
year features a different schedule than in previous years. It opens with men’s
freestyle early in the week, with Greco-Roman in the second half of the week.
The women’s freestyle competitions start later than previous years, and concludes
with the Women’s National Duals at the end of the week.
Only
seven wrestlers have won the coveted USA Wrestling Triple Crown on the Junior
level since the program was created in 2007, earned by claiming folkstyle,
freestyle and Greco-Roman Junior National titles in the same year. The last two
seasons, 2015 and 2016, there were no Junior Triple Crown winners at all.
2016
Junior National freestyle champions who are eligible to return are Malik
Heinselman of Colorado (100), Nic Aguilar of California (113), Gavin Teasdale
of Pennsylvania (120), Austin Gomez of Illinois (126), Anthony Artalona of
Florida (145) and Jake Allar of Minnesota (160).
2016
Junior freestyle runners-up who can return include Rayvon Foley of Michigan
(106), Dylan D’Emilio of Ohio (113), Paul Konrath of Indiana (126), Jarod
Verkleeren of Pennsylvania (145), Max Wolabaugh of Florida (160), Owen Pentz of
Utah (170), John Borst of Virginia (195) and Anthony Cassioppi of Illinois
(285).
2016
Junior National Greco-Roman champions who are eligible to compete in Fargo are
Brendon Garcia of Colorado (100), Jaret Lane of Pennsylvania (106), Dack Punke
of Illinois (113), Anthony Mantanona of California (160), Haydn Maley of Oregon
(195) and Brandon Metz of North Dakota (285)
Runners-up
in the 2016 Junior Greco-Roman Nationals who can return are Brendan
Chaowanapibool of Washington (100), Elijah Varona of Florida (106), Joseph
Harrison of Nebraska (113), Austin Macias of Illinois (120), Dalton Young of
Washington (132), Max Wohlabaugh of Florida (160), Isaac Bartel of Iowa (195)
and Jeffrey Allen of Virginia (220).
Many
of last year's Cadet National champions are expected to move up into the Junior
ranks this year and challenge for titles and All-American honors.
Last
year, Illinois was the Junior Nationals Greco-Roman team champion, while
Pennsylvania was the Junior Nationals freestyle team champion. Behind Illinois
in Greco-Roman were Minnesota and Colorado. Placing behind Pennsylvania in
freestyle were Minnesota and Illinois.
Another
indication of the strength of the state teams are the results from the 2017
Junior National Duals, held this June in Tulsa, Okla. In Greco-Roman, Illinois
won the team title, beating Minnesota in the finals, followed by Michigan,
Kansas and Ohio in the standings. In freestyle, Minnesota turned the tables on
Illinois to win the finals dual, followed by Ohio, Oklahoma and Michigan.
The
women's Junior freestyle division, now in its 15th year, has grown in size and
quality every season, and promises to be very competitive again this year.
2016
Junior National women’s champions eligible to return are Emily Shilson of
Minnesota (97), Alleida Martinez of California (105), Cameron Guerin of
Washington (112), Brenda Reyna of Washington (117), Gracie Figueroa of
California (121), Michaela Beck of New York (125), Alexandria Liles of Texas
(130) and Kayla Marano of Georgia (148).
2016
Junior National women’s runners-up eligible to return are Jasmine Weaver of
Virginia (105), Amanda Walker of Pennsylvania (112), Ronna Heaton of South
Dakota (117), Alexandra Hedrick of California (121), Emma Bruntil of Washington
(130), Ashlynn Ortega of Colorado (139), Jayden Laurent of Wisconsin (148) and
Alexandra Castillo of California (198).
Last
year, the Junior National team champion in women’s freestyle was California,
followed by Washington and Texas.
The
Cadet Nationals are for wrestlers who are 15 and 16 years old, some of the best
young talents in the country.
There
have been only 22 wrestlers to win a Cadet Triple Crown since the program began
in 2003. In 2016, there was only one Cadet Triple Crown winner, Travis
Wittlake, Jr. of Oregon (170). Wittlake moves up to the Junior level this year.
2016
Cadet National freestyle champions who are eligible to return are Cullin
Schriever of Iowa (88), Jeremiah Reno of Missouri (94), Julian Tagg of Ohio
(100) and Braxton Amos of Ohio (195).
2016
Cadet National freestyle runners-up who are eligible to return are Justin
Bierdumpfel of New Jersey (94), Julian Ramirez of Florida (160) and Ronald
Tucker of Illinois (285).
2016
Cadet National Greco-Roman champions who are eligible to return are Dylan
Ragusin of Illinois (94), Jordan Hamdan of Michigan (113) and Braxton Amos of
Ohio (195).
2016
Cadet National Greco-Roman runners-up who are eligible to return are Andrew
Chambral of Michigan (88), Brendan Chaowanapibool of Washington (94), Reece
Witcraft of Oklahoma (113), Carter Tuttle of Pennsylvania (126) and Abe Assad
of Illinois (145).
Last
year, Illinois was the Cadet team champion in both Greco-Roman and freestyle.
Following Illinois in the Greco-Roman standings were Michigan and Pennsylvania,
tied in second place. Behind Illinois in freestyle were New Jersey and New
York.
The
2017 Cadet National Duals were held in York, Pa. this June and showcased many
of the stars expected in Fargo. In Greco-Roman, Minnesota beat Illinois in the
finals, followed by Pennsylvania, Iowa and Ohio. In freestyle, Illinois beat
Minnesota for the title, followed by Ohio, Pennsylvania and Oklahoma.
Last
year was the sixth year that there was a Cadet National tournament for girls in
Fargo, and the tournament continues to grow in size and intensity.
2016
Cadet National women’s freestyle champions who are eligible to return are
Caitlyn Walker of Pennsylvania (88), Emily Shilson of Minnesota (95) and Macey
Kilty of Wisconsin (108)
2016
Cadet National women’s freestyle runners-up who are eligible to return are
Autumn Hohn of Wisconsin (95) and Alara Boyd of Indiana (132).
California
won the 2016 Cadet National women’s freestyle team title followed by Wisconsin
and New York.
The
Women's Freestyle National Duals will also be held in Fargo this summer.
Initially, this event was just for Junior women, but it now includes both Cadet
and Junior women, competing on state-level teams.
California
was the champion at last year’s Women’s Freestyle National Duals, beating
Washington in the finals. Texas was third, with Wisconsin in fourth. Only four
teams have won the Women’s National Duals in its history, California seven
times, Texas twice, with New York and Washington once.
This
year, TheMat.com will be announcing state team rosters prior to Fargo as they
are received, to give fans a chance to see what star wrestlers plan to be in
Fargo and what teams should be strong this time around.
The
U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals and the Cadet Nationals brings together
hundreds of wrestling volunteers, including referees, pairing officials,
coaches, state leaders and tournament operation workers, all who provide the
opportunity for more than 4,000 athletes to pursue their dreams.
All
of the matches on all of the mats from the 2017 U.S. Marine Corps Junior &
Cadet Nationals will be broadcast live through a partnership between USA
Wrestling and Flo Wrestling, through the Flo Pro platform.
To
receive accreditation, and for all information during the week of competition,
contact Gary Abbott of USA Wrestling at gabbott@usawrestling.org or call his cell phone at
719-659-9637.
SCHEDULE
FOR CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS IN FARGO
(Please
note that this is different than previous years)
Monday,
July 17 – Cadet Freestyle Finals at 1:30 p.m. Central
Tuesday,
July 18 – Cadet Women’s Finals at 11:00 a.m.
Tuesday,
July 18 – Junior Freestyle Finals at 2:00 p.m.
Friday,
July 21 – Cadet Greco-Roman Finals at 12:30 p.m.
Friday,
July 21 – Junior Women’s Finals at 4:00 p.m.
Saturday,
July 22 – Junior Greco-Roman Finals at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday,
July 22 – Women’s Freestyle Duals Finals during 1:30 p.m. session
Story By Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
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