Fargo week is here and some teams have already started making their way to North Dakota. USA Wrestling's annual Cadet and Junior National Championships will once again be invading the FargoDome, starting with Cadet men's freestyle on Saturday morning.

If you missed it, here is the complete schedule for the event. Since we're starting off with Cadet men's freestyle this year, that is where our previews will begin.



Yesterday we released our lightweight preview, and today we're taking a look at the middleweights (126-152). In researching the contenders for these weights, it seems as though the second year cadets are the favorites. A number of guys didn't place last year, but come in as favorites this year after the guys who placed ahead of them have graduated up to juniors.

PLEASE NOTE. This preview is based on where guys are pre-registered now on FloArena, as well as some educated guesses on where guys will be going. Wrestlers can change weights, or get hurt, or might not be registered yet. On to the preview.

126 Pounds

The Contenders:
No. 5 Carson Manville, MN
Josh Saunders, MO
Jordan Hamdan, MI
Gabriel Hixenbaugh, AL
Travis Mastrogiovanni, NJ
Jose Fernandez, CA

Commentary: Two of the best freshmen in the country figure very prominently into this weight. Carson Manville (MN) will be the highest ranked athlete in the bracket, and already has two wins over multiple-time Fargo champ Nick Raimo. Representing team New Jersey is future Blair Bucaneer Travis Mastrogiovanni. Manville teched Mastrogiovanni at Cadet duals and comes in as the heavy favorite.

Returning All American Josh Saunders (MO) was fourth in Akron, losing to Manville on the championship side (match below). I could very much see Saunders and Mastrogiovanni meeting in the semis, with the winner getting Manville in the finals.



NHSCA sophomore nationals champ Gabriel Hixenbaugh (AL) should find his way onto the podium, as he has a win over Mastrogiovanni from the Northeast regional. Also keep an eye on Western regional champ Jose Fernandez of California and Michigan state champ Jordan Hamdan.

Nomad's Picks

1. Carson Manville, MN
2. Josh Saunders, MO
3. Gabriel Hixenbaugh, AL
4. Travis Mastrogiovanni, NJ

132 Pounds

The Contenders:
No. 8 (at 138) Frankie Tal-Shahar, FL
No. 12 Dawson Sihavong, CA
No. 20 (at 138) Victor Voinovich, OH
Alex Mosconi, IN
Nick Dunagan, MN
Trevor Chumbley, IL
Scott Fitts, IN
Samson Enos, NV

Commentary: Indiana has a number of potential All Americans, and Alex Mosconi is as good a bet as any. He was undefeated at Cadet duals after dropping down from 138 at his freestyle state tournament, where he lost to another potential AA in Manzona Bryant.

Dawson Sihavong may not have placed last year, but he may enter Fargo as the favorite this year. A rising junior, expect the Cali native to win every match on his feet.

Victor Voinovich is a highly touted freshman from Ohio who appears to have settled in the best weight for him. He loves to attack the right leg on singles and has rarely shown himself to be vulnerable to upsets. Watch him in action at the Ohio Freestyle state duals below.



Franke Tal-Shahar (FL) is ranked at 138 but coming down in weight for Fargo. He has spent most of the summer wrestling up with juniors, and is looking to place after falling short last year at this same weight.

Nick Dunagan has been looking very strong this summer after going up a couple weight classes from the high school. He was undefeated at Cadet duals and second at Northern Plains.

Nomad's Picks

1. Dawson Sihavong, CA
2. Victor Voinovich, OH
3. Frankie Tal-Shahar, FL
4. Alex Mosconi, IN

138 Pounds

The Contenders:
No. 11 Kevon Davenport, MI
Cade DeVos, IA
Padraic Gallagher, OH
Luka Wick, CA
Manzona Bryant, IN
Ethan Basile, FL
Jacob Dado, IL

Commentary: Once this weight gets to the quarterfinals, it's going to get ugly. Kevon Davenport (MI) was fourth in Akron and is coming off a bronze medal at the Pan Am championships. All of his losses this summer are to guys who won't be in this bracket, and he was fifth here last year.

Davenport's win over No. 14 Alex Facundo from Akron


Cade DeVos (IA) was a runner-up in big school Iowa this year with a Northern Plains title and undefeated Cadet duals on his resume. Down at 120 for Fargo last year, he was knocked out in one of the craziest matches of the tournament, a 23-22 loss.

One of the guys Davenport beat in Akron was Padraic Gallagher (OH), though Gallagher did pick up a couple good wins over guys like Dawson Sihavong and Andrew Garr. Luka Wick beat DeVos in Akron and is trending upwards as he enters his freshman season in California.

Two guys who might not be known just yet, but likely will be after this weekend, are Manzona Bryant (IN) and Ethan Basile (FL). Jacob Dado (IL) is a returning All American that should very much be considered a strong case to make the podium again.

Nomad's Picks

1. Kevon Davenport, MI
2. Padraic Gallagher, OH
3. Manzona Bryant, IN
4. Luka Wick, CA

145 Pounds

The Contenders:
No. 14 (at 152) Michael Weber, MT
No. 14 Alex Facundo, MI
No. 20 Fidel Mayora, IL
Christian Hudson, ID
Justus Scott, NV
Jace Luchau, CA
Nicholas Steele, CA
Cole Rees, PA

Commentary: Michael Weber (MT) has been on fire this spring and summer. He is a perfect example of a second year cadet who wins Fargo and validates the college coaches who are already recruiting him.

Rising sophomore Fidel Mayora (IL) comes in ranked and was in the bloodround a year ago down at 138. His two losses were to Sammy Sasso and Cam Amine, both of whom are now wrestling juniors. He was undefeated at Cadet duals and wrestles for Illinois, where the expectation is to win stop signs. Check out Mayora's win over Malcolm Robinson in Akron below.



Alex Facundo (MI) is the other ranked athlete in this weight, and just barely missed placing in Akron. His freestyle resume is very strong, having won the Central regional, along with an undefeated record at Cadet duals and a schoolboy national title at 136 last year.

Justus Scott (NV) and Jace Luchau (CA) are two intriguing second year cadets coming up a few weights. They met at the Western regional and may have to go through each other again on their way to placing.

Cole Rees (PA) is a rising freshman who went undefeated at Cadet duals with a silver at the Northeast regional. He is more so known for his folkstyle prowess, but could cause a lot of problems this weekend.

Nomad's Picks

1. Michael Weber, MT
2. Fidel Mayora, IL
3. Alex Facundo, MI
4. Jace Luchau, CA

152 Pounds

The Contenders:
Skyler Noftsger, IA
Kiran Srikanth, WA
Daniel Snediker, WA
Cade Lindsey, KS
Josh Otto, WI
Angel Garcia, PA

Commentary: This is a weight not full of stars just yet, but they will emerge as the week goes on. I can see a couple guys from Washington making waves here in Daniel Snediker and Kiran Srikanth.

Cade Lindsey (KS) has won Southern Plains each of the past two years, but is making his first appearance in the FargoDome. Josh Otto (WI) was runner-up at the Northern Plains regional and was in the bloodround last year at 145. Skyler Noftsger (IA) lost a single match at Cadet duals and was an Iowa runner-up this year. Angel Garcia (PA) teched Srikanth at Cadet duals and could wind up on the podium.

Watch Josh Otto take out Mason Reiniche in Akron

Nomad's Picks

1. Josh Otto, WI
2. Daniel Snediker, WA
3. Cade Lindsey, KS
4. Kiran Srikanth, WA

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