Insider: 2013 Fila Junior Preview
Willie Saylor, Editor


Ok. I lie sometimes. I blame it on passion. Well that, or immaturity.

It seems like every big event that comes up, I tweet ‘This is my favorite event’.

If the Fila Juniors isn’t the best, most important, and most intriguing events of the year for this age group, it’s darn near close. From a general standpoint, it seems as if their is a renewed vigor in the step of Americans and the international styles. Maybe it’s stars like Jordan Burroughs and Jake Varner. Maybe it’s the local coaches that put the right goals and plans for success in front of their wrestlers. Maybe it’s the Olympic Training Center opening up opportunities for young up-and-comers to train. Or maybe it’s that Cadet Worlds have been re-instituted after a 14-year hiatus, giving athletes a realistic goal, and international opportunity, at a younger age.

Whatever the case, the kids are digging it. And so am I.

Although Fila JR’s isn’t the final determining factor, the champion here will sit in the finals for a best-three-bout in June’s Junior World Team Trials. The athletes here are serious, non-stop wrestlers in pursuit of world medals. They compose the bulk of the young stars this country has to offer.

I can’t wait till Saturday when 319 of the most talented kids in the country take the first step in pursuit of a Junior World Team berth.

Below are the weight class breakdowns. All Credentials are Freestyle-Specific and from last year unless otherwise noted by year or with ‘former’ designation.


50kg: Last Year’s Junior World Team Member - Adrian Cordova, CO
Contenders:
Clayton Stillwagon (MT) - Fila Cadet 3rd
Doyle Trout (NE) - Fila Cadet 3rd
Michael Beck (MD)
Brock George (UT) - Fargo Cadet 6th
Nick O’Donnell (PA)
Brandon Kahlenbeck (OH)

Commentary: Small pool here. The above list is not just the contenders; it’s all the entries. I think Trout is probably the most talented of the bunch, but he’ll be small, and in the Junior division, young. Same can be said of Stillwagon, who wrestled 92.5 at last year’s Fila Cadets. O’Donnell is a Freshman at Bloomsburg. Given a year in a college room, I’ll go with him.

Willie’s Picks: 1. O’Donnell 2. Trout 3. Kahlenbeck 4. George



55kg: Last Year’s Junior World Team Member - Joey Dance, VA
Contenders:
Thomas Gilman (IA) - 2011 Cadet World Team Member
Coltin Fought (PA)
Nathan Tomasello (OH) - Fargo Junior Champion
Dylan Peters (IA) - Fargo 3rd
Hunter Weber (WI) - Fargo 6th
Johnson Mai (CA) - 2011 Fargo Runner-Up
Paul Petrov (IN)
Tommy Thorn (MN) - 2011 and 2012 Cadet World Team Member
Phil Laux (IA) - Former Fargo Champ
Steven Micic (IN) - Fargo Cadet 3rd

Commentary: Ok, now we get downright nasty. There are several legitimate contenders here, many of whom could make the World Team and do some damage on the international level. Fought and Petrov, both college Freshmen, have really come on in the past year. And Fought will probably be the biggest of the bunch, size wise.
Tomasello and Thorn are two interesting kids here, though they have different sets of skills. Tomasello is a bull; Thorn is craft. Both are winners. My reservation with them is age. Can they go with the Gilman, Peters, and Weber, who all have a year in good college programs under their belt?

Willie’s Picks: 1. Gilman 2. Fought 3. Weber 4. Tomasello



60kg: Last Year’s Junior World Team Member - Earl Hall, FL
Contenders:
Anthony Ashnault (NJ) - Fargo Junior 4th
Ben Whitford (MI) - 2011 Fargo Junior Champion
Colton Adams (NE)
Cory Clark (IA) - Fargo Junior Champion
Drew Templeman (WA)
Hayden Tuma (ID) - Fargo Junior 3rd
Jack Hathaway (IA)
Jacob Rubio (TX) - Fargo Cadet 4th
Jacob Schmitt (MI) - Fila Junior 8th
Jimmy Gulibon (PA)
Joey Palmer (WA) - Fargo Junior 8th
Mark Grey (NJ) - 2011 Junior World 5th
Jeff Ott (MA)
Mason Beckman (PA)
Nathan Kraisser (MD) - Fargo Junior 7th
Randy Cruz (PA)
Tim Lambert (MI) - Fargo Junior 4th
Zane Richards (IL) - Fargo Junior Runner-Up

Commentary: I’d fly to Vegas just to watch this weight unfold alone. Hammers everywhere. There are seven guys that have reached the raised platform in Fargo at some point in their career. One of them is Whitford, whose mere presence at 132 is a surprise. He hasn’t wrestled that low in 2 years.
Another interesting thing about this weight is that there is one faction that is freestyle veterans (Grey, Whitford, Tuma, etc.) and another that has very little FS experience. Beckman, Cruz, and Gulibon, while ultra talented, haven’t spent much time, if any, on the FS circuit.
That being said, I expect Beckman to fare well here. He wrestles station-to-station. I think his game is suited perfectly for FS.
This should be a wild ride from start to finish. I can’t wait for the brackets to come out. Fireworks should start early. I’m going with Grey. He’s very even with the Gulibons and Beckmans in folkstyle. In freestyle he has just so much experience and mat savvy. 5th in the world in 2011, people. 5th! In Juniors! In the WORLD!

Willie’s Picks: 1. Grey 2. Whitford 3. Beckman 4. Clark



63kg - *Non-Sanctioned Weight
Contenders:
Aaron Pico (CA) - 2x Fargo Cadet Champ
Andrew Crone (WI) - 2011 Fargo Cadet Runner-Up
Joey Ward (OH)
John Fahy (KY)
Logan Massa (MI) - Fargo Cadet 3rd
Quinton Murphy (NY) - Fargo Junior Runner-Up
Matt Garelli (IL) - 2011 Fargo Junior Champion
Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer (NY)
Sahid Kargbo (VA)

Commentary: This weight is not competed at Junior Worlds. Their are four guys I really like to take top honors here. Pico, of course. Quite honestly, he’s one of the best high school wrestlers I’ve ever seen, maybe the best. And he loves FS. My reservation with him is age. A high school Freshman, can he go with college Freshmen like Murphy?
Murphy was a Fargo Runner-Up to Brill last year and actually beat Whitford at Fargo in 2011, when Whitford went on to win that title.
A third guy I like is Massa. He just keeps getting better and better. He’ll be one of the best in the country in high school, pound-for-pound next year. Book it.
And the last guy is Ward. He hasn’t wrestled a whole lot of FS, but he’s talented.
I also have to point out the potential darkhorse in Kargbo. Keep an eye on him. I haven’t seen him in quite a while, but he’s fast, strong, and very good at FS.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Pico 2. Ward 3. Murphy 4. Kargbo



66kg: Last Year’s Junior World Team Member - Destin McCauley, SD
Contenders:
Alec Mooradian (MI) - Former Fargo AA
Anthony Valencia (CA) - Fargo Cadet Champion
Brian Sergi (CA)
Gabe Moreno (IA) - Former Fargo AA
Jamel Hudson (NY)
Jared Reis (ND) - Former Fargo AA
Jason Tsirtsis (IN) - Fila Junior 3rd
Matt Cimato (PA) - Former Fargo AA
Robbie Mathers (AZ) - Fargo Junior 3rd
Todd Preston (NJ) - Former Fargo AA
Yoanse Mejia (FL) - Fargo Junior Runner-Up
Zack Beitz (PA)
Will Switzer (MD) - Former Fargo AA
Timmy Box (CA)
Tyler Hunt (NJ)

Commentary:
Solid group here with Tsirtsis as the odds on favorite. The kid is as savvy and advanced as you’ll find in Juniors. He has wins over players on the Senior level scene.
Behind him is a pack that is very good, but rather undifferentiated. The guy I like is Mejia, who burst on the scene in Fargo last year, reaching the finals at 152. And it wasn’t a flash in the pan. He has all the tools.
Moreno has been hot. He was 3rd at Fargo in 2011 and is coming off an exceptional performance at NCAA’s. He has a wide open style, which could be to his benefit or to his demise. Either way, I see him as clearly being in the hunt.
Other guys I’m in interested in seeing compete are Hudson, who might be undersized here, and Preston. Also keep an eye on Brian Sergi, who really came on late in his high school career.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Tsirtsis 2. Mejia 3. Moreno 4. Preston



70kg - *Non-Sanctioned Weight
Contenders:
Austin Breckenridge (WY) - Former Fargo AA
Blaise Butler (IL) - Former Fargo AA
Brad Dolezal (WI) - Fila Junior Runner-Up
Brandon Kingsley (MN) - Former Fargo AA
Chris Castillo (WA) - Former Fargo AA
Coleman Hammond (CA) - Former Fargo AA
Dylan Cottrell (WV)
Eleazar De Luca (OR)
Jon Jay Chavez (ID)
Jordan Henrickson (CO)
Shaun ‘Qua McMurtry (IL)

Commentary: The second of three weights that aren’t competed at Junior Worlds.
It’s a really tough group to pick out of. Most are just emerging, and, as the weight suggests, in between size-wise.
Kingsley was a stud in HS, but I like him more in folk, where he can use his ability on top. Chavez is a Greco stud, winning two consecutive Fargo titles in that style. He was having a good Freestyle portion in Fargo as well last year, but was injured.
McMurtry is an interesting entry. He is ultra talented and athletic, but was a in-season (folk) only wrestler in high school. He could make his mark here. He dominated Kingsley on his feet about 16 months ago.
Watch out for Henrickson, who’s a real scrapper. I always though he had the frame to compete at a weight this high. It appears he’s filled out. He could be a player here.
I’m going to take a flyer on Castillo. He’s an experienced freestyler, and in a system (Boise St.) that prepares their guys well. Just a hunch.

Willie’s Picks: 1. McMurtry 2. Castillo 3. Dolezal 4. Henrickson



74kg: Last Year’s Junior World Team Member - Alex Dieringer, WI
Contenders:
Josh Llopez (MD) - Fargo Junior Champion
Austin Trott (GA)
Bo Nickal (TX) - Fargo Cadet Champion
Brian Realbuto (NY) - Fargo Junior 4th
Cooper Moore (MN)
Duke Pickett (VA) - Fila Junior 5th
Dylan Palacio (NY) - Fargo Junior 4th
Austin Dewey (ID) - Fargo Junior 5th
Isaac Jordan (WI) - Fila Junior 3rd
Justin Koethe (IA) - Fargo Junior 3rd
Matt Gray (WI) - Fargo Junior 3rd
Micah Barnes (NE) - Fargo Junior Runner-Up
Patrick Rhodes (MO) - Fila Junior 6th
Zach Brunson (OR) - 2011 Fargo Junior Champion

Commentary: For as much as I (and everyone else) is pumped about 132, this weight might be as deep or deeper. Eight of the above were 3rd or higher at Fargo including both the Cadet and Junior Champs from last year: Nickal and Llopez, both who spent time at the OTC recently.
Nickal has a ‘go big mentality’. He let’s it all hang out. Llopez is much more or a match-manager right now, especially since he’s been dealing with a bad knee.
Perhaps the best (right now) pure wrestler in the weight is Realbuto. But I think he’ll be a bit undersized. I’m really anxious to see his Cornell teammate, Palacio. He’s always been an incredible, multi-sport athlete. Now that he has a full year of college training, he might be a juggernaut.
Koethe has always been the quintessential international styles guy. He’ll be a tough out.
Barnes, another Fargo finalist from last year, has been grinding away. He had a win over 3x AA Jordan Blanton this year.
But I’m going with Isaac Jordan. He had a fine Fila last year.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Jordan 2. Realbuto 3. Barnes 4. Palacio



79kg - *Non-Sanctioned Weight
Contenders:
Brent Havlik (SD)
Jordan Wohlfert (MI) - Former Fargo AA
McCoy Newberg (TN)
Travis Berridge (FL) - Former Fargo AA
Tyler Rill (MD)
Zeb Wahle (IA)
Hunter Gamble (GA)

Commentary: Not much to write home about here. Most have cleared out as the weight isn’t a qualifier for Junior Worlds.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Newberg 2. Wohfert 3. Rill 4. Wahle



84kg: Last Year’s Junior World Team Member - Pat Downey, MD
Contenders:
Alex Meyer (IA) - Fila Junior 5th
Ben Stroh (MT) - Former Fargo AA
Brandon Griffin (OR) - Former Fargo AA
Brett Pfarr (MN) - Fargo Junior 5th
Dwight Howes (CO) - Fila Junior 3rd
Gabe Dean (MI)
Jack Dechow (IL)
Jesse Doyle (NC)
Payne Hayden (MI)
Kyle Crutchmer (OK) - Fargo Junior Champion
Luke Sheridan (CA) - Fila Junior 4th
Mitch Sliga (IN) - Fila Cadet Champion
Nolan Boyd (OK)
Robert Marchese (CA)
Sam Brooks (IL) - Fargo Junior Champion
Scott Gibbons (LA) - Former Fargo AA
Tim Dudley (SC) - Fargo Junior 4th
Trey Hable (MN) - Fargo Junior 8th
Wes Phipps (PA)
Vic Avery (VT)
Zach Nye (PA)

Commentary: Back to our regularly scheduled program of hammer city. This weight is loaded with heavy hitters, including the reigning Fargo Champs at 170 (Crutchmer) and 195 (Brooks) as well as Howes, who was just a bout away from making the JR World Team.
Sheridan was a GR stud coming out of HS and made a World Team in that style. He’s made a nice transition to free.
Dudley is an absolute horse. He ended the two-year Fargo undefeated streak of Sliga last summer in the first round. Griffin is another beast. At 185, he’ll be a factor here, as will Dechow and Dean, who had wins over Griffin in folk this year.
An interesting entry here is Phipps, an incredible athlete but without much FS experience.
In the end, I’m going with Brooks. He’s a proven entity from the premier state in producing Freestylers the past 5 years. He absolutely obliterated the field at Fargo last summer. And I think Crutchmer is way too small for 185.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Brooks 2. Dudley 3. Griffin 4. Crutchmer



96kg: Last Year’s Junior World Team Member - Tanner Hall, ID
Contenders:
Kyle Snyder (MD) - Fila Junior World Team Trials Runner-Up
Brad Johnson (IL) - Former Fargo AA
James Fox (NJ)
John Bolich (PA)
Kevin Beazley (MI) - Fila Junior 6th
Matt Meadows (OH)
Matt Idelson (PA)
Pat Gillen (CT)
Willie Miklus (IA) - Fila Junior 7th

Commentary:
It’s amazing that Kyle Snyder, still a Jr. in high school, is far and away the favorite here. He just missed it last year, losing in the finals of the World Team Trials. If he was that close last year, think what he’ll do this year. His learning curve is high, and he’s leaps and bounds better than he was 12 months ago. Scary.
Pretty amazing as well that James Fox, a Sophomore at Harvard, is still eligible (age-wise) for Fila JR’s. He’s the only college Soph that I noticed in the entire tournament. Along with Miklus and Johnson, he should be the stiffest test for Snyder.
Johnson had a bad Fargo last year, but he’s a horse, and a year with Mark Cody will work wonders.
Miklus wrestled 220 all of his senior year, then dropped to 195 and sort of underperformed in Fargo as well. He should be filled out to a full 211 now, and after an entire year training FS at the OTC, he’s a top threat.
I got I’m targeting as a darkhorse here is Beazely. I don’t know why or how he’s wrestling all the way up at 211, but he’s been going at an ultra high level. Really liked what I saw out of him this year.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Snyder 2. Fox 3. Miklus 4. Johnson



120kg: Last Year’s Junior World Team Member - Austin Marsden, IL
Contenders:
Adam Coon (MI) - 2011 Cadet World Champion
Garrett Ryan (AZ) - Cadet World Team Member
Hashem Omari (MO) - Former Fargo AA
Joe Stolfi (PA)
Mike Kroells (MN) - Fargo Junior 3rd
Mickey Dougharity (OR) - Fargo Junior 5th
Nick Gajdzik (MI)
Ross Larson (IA)

Commentary:
Pretty interesting to have two Cadet World Team Members in the same bracket. In fact, both Ryan and Coon are the only two wrestlers, since Cadet World’s was re-instated after a 14-year hiatus, to wrestle both styles at Cadet Worlds.
After winning titles in Cadets and Fargo Juniors, it should be interesting to see if Coon can do it at the Fila JR level. He was close last year, finishing 5th in an absolutely loaded weight here.
I really love the group behind Coon. Kroells is probably the most experienced and accomplished Freestyler behind him. He’s a name everyone knows. But there are several guys here that have a whole lot of potential, and very little fanfare.
Stolfi was just a match from being an All American for Bucknell in March.
Omari is legit. He’s been progressing well over the last two years. He and Dougharity should be right in the thick of things.
By far the most intriguing guy in the field, in terms of getting a feel for his ability and potential, is Larson. He was a part time wrestler, and stand out baseball player in Iowa, when he just torched everyone his last two years of high school, prompting Mark Cody to convince him to wrestle at the next level. He has a let-it-all-hang out style that’s fun to see at the upperweights. There are three questions for Larson. 1) After a year in the Sooner room, is he caught up with refined wrestlers that spent their lives on the national circuit? 2) Has he changed his style at all from the 195lb senior, to a full HWT? 3) Has he ever even wrestled a FS bout, and is he schooled in the style? We’ll find out here.

Willie’s Picks: 1. Coon 2. Kroells 3. Stolfi 4. Larson