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2024 Ultimate Boys Freestyle Duals
Fargo - Junior Freestyle

Welcome To The Big Show

Welcome To The Big Show

Jul 18, 2012 by Willie Saylor
Welcome To The Big Show
Fargo JR Freestyle Preview
Willie Saylor, Editor


Welcome to the big show: where the rubber meets the road. Inside the Fargodome, the top wrestlers from coast to coast put it on the line all week to determine who's the best in the country.

None is bigger than Junior Freestyle, where past champs and ranked individuals often fail to medal.

Here we'll break down the 15 weight classes giving you contenders and notes and making our picks, as another edition of the crown jewel in the world's biggest tournament is about to kick off.
 
100lbs.
The Contenders
Alpha Diallo, NY
Brock George, UT
NC Jabari Moody, IL
*Sean Nickell, CA
Dean Roberts, MI
Tyler Schilling, OR
 
Notes:
Moody is your favorite here. He was a Champ last year as an 84lb Cadet. Nickell was 3rd with his only loss coming to Moody.
Schilling was just 5th in GR.
George won both styles at Westerns.
Diallo was 2nd at NE Regionals, Roberts 2nd at Central.
 
Commentary:
I just don’t see anyone matching up with Moody’s FS prowess. He’s a savvy vet in the international styles. Although I think he’ll be tested, he’s the guy to beat.
 
FLO Picks:        1. Moody, IL    2. Schilling, OR    3. Nickell, CA    4.George, UT   

 
106lbs.
The Contenders
Tommy Aloi, VA
*Jacob Cottey, IN
Aaron Dick, MN
Kyle Kelly, NY
Tirso Lara, CA
Ethan Lizak, PA
Paul Mascarenas, NM
NC Nkosi Moody, IL
*Trevor Murano, IA
*Lincoln Olson, MI
Skyler Petry, MN
NC Gannon Volk, MN
 
Notes:
We have two returning champs here. Moody won 98 JR’s while Volk won a Cadet title last year at 91lbs. Murano was 4th, Olson was 7th in the same bracket.
Cottey was 8th in Cadets last year. Kelly just AA’d in GR. Lara won Folk Nationals beating both Jabari Moody and Volk head-to-head.
Lizak went 8-1 at Duals.
 
Commentary:
Moody and Volk have unparalleled resumes within this group. But I think Lizak is flat out the best wrestler. He took some losses last year in FS when he was just getting acclimated to the style. With two solid years of FS training, I think he makes a run here.
 
FLO Picks:        1. Lizak, PA    2. Moody, IL    3. Mascarenas, NM    4. Volk, MN

 
113lbs.
The Contenders
Aaron Assad, OH
NC Ronnie Bresser, OR
*Adam Burchett, WA
NC Adrian Cordova, CO
NC Brent Fleetwood, DE
*Johnson Mai, CA
*Jarred Oftedahl, MN
Mitch Rogaliner, MI
Kyndall Rutz, CO
Wyatt Scribner, WA
*Jaret Singh, MO
NC Tommy Thorn, MN
*Tommy Walton, ND
*Jordan Wigger, SC
 
Notes:
We have a potential showdown between Bresser and Thorn, who have met twice in recent times. Thorn beat Bresser in the finals here last year at 98lbs. Bresser returned the favor in April by beating Thorn in the finals of USAW Folk Nationals.
Cordova won 110lbs at Fila JR World Team Trials this year. Fleetwood was a Cadet Champ two years ago. Mai and Pawelski were both Runners-Up last year, Pawelski at 98 and Mai at 105.
 
Commentary:
This weight is ridiculous. You have three Fargo Champs, two Fargo Runners-Up, a Fila JR Champ, and a Fargo GR Champ. All told you’re looking at double digit All-Americans.
 
FLO Picks:        1. Thorn, MN    2. Fleetwood, DE    3. Cordova, CO    4. Bresser, OR

 
120lbs.
The Contenders
Trey Andrews, AZ
*Michael Bedard, NC
Mac Borrego, NM
*Seth Brayfield, MO
Matt Findlay, UT
Dom Fors, PA
*Kyle Gliva, MN
*Eli Hale, OK
*Zac Hall, MI
*JJ Johnson, SC
*Tim Lambert, MI
NC Phil Laux, IA
Mike Magaldo, NJ
*Barlow McGhee, IL
Bryce Meredith, WY
Josh Newberg, WA
Mason Pengilly, CA
*Dylan Peters, IA
Sebastian Pique, IL
Kyle Sether, OR
*Noah Teaney, MO
NC Nathan Tomasello, OH
Isaiah Varona, FL
*Javier Vieyra, KS
 
Notes:
Tomasello returns as a Fargo Champion. He won 112 last year.
Phil Laux won a title in 2010 and was 4th last year. Hall was a Runner-Up at Fila’s.
Placing last year was Lambert (3rd), Pique (3rd), McGhee (4th), Johnson (5th), Vieyra (5th), Gliva (6th) Hale (7th). Teaney was 2nd, Peters was 3rd and Bedard was 8th in 2010. Brayfield placed at Fila’s this year. Findlay had a great performance at Duals last month.
 
Commentary:
While the field is stacked and there’s no shortage of contenders, I see this as a three-man race with Hall, Tomasello, and Lambert leading the pack. Hall beat Tomasello at the Central Regional this spring.
 
FLO Picks:        1. Hall, MI    2. Lambert, MI    3. Tomasello, OH    4. Peters, IA

 
126lbs.
The Contenders
*Colton Adams, NE
Corbin Allen, VA
Ken Bade, MI
*Cory Clark, IA
Michael Cook, ID
NC Jared Cortez, IL
*Andrew Crone, WI
*Mark Duda, IL
Josh DiSanto, PA
Dusty Hone, UT
*Austin Hood, KS
*Nathan Kraisser, MD
*Dylan Lucas, FL
NC Joey McKenna, NJ
Godwin Nyama, PA
*Joey Palmer, WA
*Kevon Powell, IL
*Jacob Schmitt, MI
Connor Schram, PA
Colton Schilling, OR
*Hunter Weber, WI
*Garrison White, NC
 
Notes:
McKenna just won Fila Cadets and placed 3rd at Fila JR’s. Other than Joey Dance and Kyle Snyder, he was the highest placing HS kid at Fila JR’s.
Cortez was a Fargo Champ in 2010 and was 6th last year. He beat Clark in a very tight bout at JR Duals this year. And Clark beat him last year here.
Clark just won GR and was 4th in FS last year. Schmitt was 8th at Fila JR’s.
 
Commentary:
Going through each weight class, it just keeps getting better and better. But this is the “Oh My God!” weight. The top end talent is unbelievable. There are ten (Schilling/Clark/Lucas in GR) former Fargo/Fila Finalists, and that doesn’t include a guy like Schram, who has a recent win over McKenna.
Who will come out on top? Who knows? Not me. That’s what makes it so compelling.
Picking the top four is a crapshoot. I love Schram’s game, but he’s a Fargo rookie. These guys are so close, it makes it difficult. Like NCAA’s it will come down to who wants it more, and a bevy of 1pt, late-score bouts. (Not to mention bracket separation.)
Keep an eye on Corbin Allen. If there’s a darkhorse, he’s it.
 
FLO Picks:        1. Cortez, IL    2. McKenna, NJ    3. Clark, IA    4. Palmer, WA
 
 
132lbs.
The Contenders
*Joynce Blaylock, OK
*Sam Brancale, MN
*Brian Crutchmer, OK
*Tyson Dippery, PA
*Max Hvolbeck, NJ
Blaine Invernon, ID
Sammy Jones, LA
Daniel Lewis, MO
Mitchell Lexvold, MN
Nick Kelly, NY
*Colby Knight, IA
*Robbie Mathers, AZ
*Jared McKinley, IN
*Ben Morgan, MN
*Zack Nelson, OH
*Kevin Norstrem, FL
NC Zain Retherford, PA
NC Zane Richards
*Tate Robinson, MO
*Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer, NY
*Cole Sladek, MN
*Zack Synon, IL
 
Notes:
Retherford (this year) and Richards (last year) were both Cadet World Team Members.
Brancale was last year’s Fila Runner-Up to Richards.
Blaylock was the Cadet Runner-Up to Edgar Bright last year.
Morgan was 6th as a Cadet two years ago. Lewis just had a really nice Duals and was the Southern Plains Runner-Up to Blaylock.
 
Commentary:
With 15 returning AA’s, this is another loaded weight. The three biggies are Retherford, Richards, and Norstrem, each of who have a Fargo/Fila title. He’s not at all as FS savvy as Norstrem and Richards, but I like the way Retherford is wrestling right now, and at 132 he should be nails.
 
FLO Picks:        1. Retherford, PA    2. Norstrem, FL   3. Richards, IL    4. McKinley, IN
 
 
138lbs.
The Contenders
*Justin Arthur, WV
*Anthony Ashnault, NJ
*Mitch Bengston, MN
*Bryce Brill, IL
*Brandon Charbonneau, KS
Colt Cotton, PA
Elijah Davis, CA
Walker Dempsey, NJ
Tommy Forte, IN
Sahid Kargbo, VA
*Kevin Kinney, MO
*PJ Klee, NJ
*Darick Lapaglia, MO
*Mike Labry, OH
NC Grant Leeth, MO
Jake Marlin, IA
Neal Molloy, IN
*Quinton Murphy, NY
NC Hayden Tuma, ID
Jacob Velarde, WA
 
Notes:
Brill’s trying to get the big one. He was a Runner-Up at both Fargo (in ’10) and Fila’s (this year).
Both Ashnault (Cadet, 125) and Murphy (JR, 135) were Fargo 3rd’s last year.
There’s a strong Missouri presence here with three strong contenders including Leeth. He’s one of two returning Cadet Champs along with Hayden Tuma.
Labry was the 125lb Runner-Up to Ben Whitford in 2010.
Bengston was 3rd in Cadets in 2010 at 119.
 
Commentary:
The Murphy-Brill-Ashnault trio leads the way. Brill has looked awfully darn tough, beating Ashnault at JR Duals. Murphy is a sort of boom-or-bust guy. I wouldn’t be surprised if he won the whole darn thing.
Tuma can’t be overlooked. We’ll find out a lot about him him on his feet here. If he can score takedowns against the big dogs, he’s going to be trouble. He’s by far the best of the lot from par terre.
 Leeth had a great tourney in 2011, beating Jack Bass in the finals. But he had a rough Duals, going just 2-5 up at 145. We’ll see if he can rebound here.
 
FLO Picks:        1. Brill, IL    2. Ashnault, NJ    3. Murphy, NY    4. Tuma, ID

 
145lbs.
The Contenders
*Alex Anciete, NV
NC Jack Bass, TX
*Ryan Blees, ND
Logan Breitebach, MD
*Matt Cimato, PA
Russell Coleman, MO
*Kevin Cooper, KY
Eleazar Deluca, OR
Phil Downing, CO
*Jared Johnshoy, ID
*Grant LaMont, UT
*Mike Longo, CA
NC Dylan Milonas, NJ
*Seth Monty, AZ
*Gabe Moreno, IA
NC Brian Murphy, IL
*Clayton Ream, MO
*Rodney Shepherd, NC
NC Jake Short, MN
*Brandon Sorensen, IA
 
Notes:
Short and Murphy have made the finals the last two years. Both Champs in 2010, Short was a Runner-Up to Jason Tsirtsis and Murphy to Brian Realbuto, last year.
Jack Bass was a Runner-Up last year and won Fila’s this year, where Blees was 4th and Cooper 5th.
Milonas was your Cadet Champ last year at the same weight.
Cimato and Johnshoy are 2x FS AA. Downing has been wrestling very tough. He had a good JR Duals and won Southern Plains.
Lamont was third last year and Anciete, who was 3rd in 2010, beat him in a FS tournament this spring. Sorenson was the Runner-Up to Short two years ago.
 
Commentary:
With four champs and four other Top 3 finishers, there’s a ton of talent here. All of them offer odd match-up dynamics. For instance, Milonas is a volume shooter. Bass and Moreno are offensive to a lesser extent. And Short and Murphy are defensive guys. Put ‘em in a hat, shake ‘em up. At the end of the day, I’m going with who my gut and who I think can get on a hot streak.
 
FLO Picks:        1. Milonas, NJ    2. Lamont, UT    3. Short, MN    4. Bass, TX   

 
152lbs.
The Contenders
Kyle Ash, OK
*Heath Coles, PA
Jake Elliot, CA
*Tim Fox, OH
Nick Gravina, NJ
*Toby Hague, NJ
*Nick Hall, AL
*Eric Hoffman, MD
*Jordan Lara, NM
*Josh Llopez, MD
Russ Parsons, NJ
NC Oliver Pierce, TX
NC Brian Realbuto, NY
*Keillan Torres, OK
*Beau Vrancken, NJ
Nick Wanzek, MN
 
Notes:
Pierce was the Cadet World Team Member last year. Realbuto was a National Champion here in Juniors. Torres, 2nd in Cadets to Chance Marsteller.
Placing last year in Cadets were Llopez (3rd), Coles (5th), Hague (6th), Lara (7th), and Marcicki (8th). Hall was 4th in 2010. Hoffman’s placed twice at Fila’s.
 
Commentary:
Pierce is just mashing kids. It’s tough to pick anyone else. That being said, Realbuto is a non-stop kinda guy who can beat anyone.
I also really like Torres. His double is something to behold. I just don’t think he’s as polished as the other two.
But I’m picking someone else altogether. Call it a hunch.
 
FLO Picks:        1. Llopez, MD    2. Pierce, TX    3. Realbuto, NY    4. Elliot, CA   
 
 
160lbs.
The Contenders
*Tyler Askey, GA
*Kyle Bateman, OR
*Nick Becker, WI
Kyle Begin, MN
*Dylan Blackford, IA
Trace Engelkes, IL
*Dustin Fuller, IA
Matt Gray, WI
Samson Imonode, AZ
*Cody Law, PA
Dylan Palacio, NY
*Bryce Pappas, MD
Pete Renda, PA
Darick Vancura, MN
*Austin Wilson, NE
 
Notes:
Returning AA’s are Runner-Up Fuller, Pappas (4th), Becker (7th), Law (7th), and Wilson (8th).
Askey was 4th here in 2010, Martinez 5th, Blackford 7th.
Bateman placed 4th at Fila Cadets last year. Gray was just a Runner-Up in GR.
 
Commentary:
I’d call Martinez the favorite on paper. But again, I’m going a different direction for a few reasons. One being that I flat out think Isaiah’s too small for 160. Two being that Askey’s a flat out dynamo.
 
FLO Picks:        1. Askey, GA    2. Martinez, CA    3. Palacio, NY    4. Becker, WI
 
 
170lbs.
The Contenders
*Micah Barnes, MN
Travis Berridge, FL
Nick Corba, OH
*Kyle Crutchmer, OK
*Adam Drain, IA
Zach Epperly, VA
*Jason Grimes, GA
Trey Hable, MN
Brett Harner, PA
NC Justin Koethe, IA
Sean Mappes, IN
*Alex Meyer, IA
Jacob Morrissey, WI
*Dylan Reel, IL
Troy Seymour, NY
Geordan Speiller, FL
*Jake Stilling, WI
*Parker Vonegidy, NC
 
Notes:
Koethe has a long and illustrious FS career. He’s won both Fargo and Fila’s, and he’s coming off a GR Runner-Up performance on Tuesday where he lost to Meyer who was 3rd both here last year and in June at the JR World Team Trials.
Returning JR All Americans are Crutchmer (6th), Barnes (7th), and Reel (8th).
Drain and Garcia were 5th in Cadets at different weights. Other returning Cadet AA’s are Runner-Up VonEgidy, Stilling (7th), and Laframbosie (8th).
Grimes was a Fila Runner-Up in 2011 to Jordan Rogers.
 
Commentary:
As good as Speiller’s been at Greco (like, best kid at any weight in the country good) he’s never placed at a major in FS.
I like Meyer at this weight. He’s HUGE. Barnes should also be right in the thick of things.
I like Epperly, too. Although he doesn’t have much FS experience, he’s a bull.
My pick however, is an easy one for me: Crutchdaddy, all day, e’er day!
 
FLO Picks:        1. Crutchmer, OK    2. Meyer, IA    3. Epperly, VA    4. Barnes, MN
 
182lbs.
The Contenders
*Kevin Beazley, MI
*Sam Brooks, IL
NC Brooks Climmons, GA
Andrew Dixon, OK
Joel Dixon, OK
*Troy Hembury, PA
*Cory Daniel, MD
Joel Dixon, OK
*Troy Hembury, PA
*Dwight Howes, CO
*Drew Kary, ND
*Preston Lehman, ND
McZiggy Richards, NY
NC Ricky Robertson, IL
NC Jordan Rogers, WA
*Aaron Rothwell, VA
BJ Toal, OH
 
Notes:
Rogers came into last year’s Fargo on a hot streak, having won a Fila Cadet title three months earlier. He reached the finals where he was beaten by Pat Downey.
Downey also beat Howes in the JR WTT finals.
Brooks was 4th last year and just won Greco.
Beazely placed 6th at Fila JR’s. Robertson was a Cadet Champ last year as was Climmons two years ago.
Robertson won Cadet 171 last year. Rothwell was 4th, Hembury 6th in that bracket. Hembury also placed 3rd in Fila’s this spring.
 
Commentary:
I really like Beazley’s game right now. He looked great during GR.
Rogers is an absolute phenom. He makes people look silly. They should just give him a bye until the Round Robin for the welfare of lesser talented kids.
My pick, though, is Howes. He’s firing on all cylinders.
 
FLO Picks:        1. Howes, CO    2. Rogers, WA    3. Climmons, GA    4. Brooks, IL
 
195lbs.
The Contenders
Broc Berge, MN
Tim Dudley, SC
Jake Hart, PA
Payne Hayden, MI
*Brad Johnson, IL
*Logan Kirby, MD
*Josh Lehner, OH
Frank Mattiace, NJ
*Ray O’Donnell, PA
Tommy Peterson, MN
NC Mitch Sliga, IN
*Reggie Williams, NY
 
Notes:
In the last two years at Fargo, Mitch Sliga hasn’t lost a bout. In fact, he’s lost just won period. He’s also your 2012 Cadet World Team rep via winning Fila Cadets.
O’Donnell was 5th last year at 171 in Cadets. Williams was a Cadet 215 5th placer. In JR’s: Miklus was 8th at 189. Solomon was 6th and Johnson 8th up at 215.
At Fila’s, Kirby was 3rd, Lehner was 5th.
 
Commentary:
Most of the time, you’re interested in the guys who have previously earned AA status. For me, in this weight class this year, I’m looking at the ones who haven’t.
Both Tim Dudley and Broc Berge failed to place. They had really tough draws last year. Dudley lost to Miklus and eventual champ, Devin Peterson. Berge lost to Dudley and Peterson. Both should have a say in who’s crowned champion this year.
Since then, Miklus has often wrestled 215/220. It’s good to see him at what I think is a more appropriate weight class. He’s gonna be a beast here. But I got a feelin! I’m going with Dudley.
 
FLO Picks:        1. Dudley, SC    2. Miklus, IA    3. Solomon, PA    4. Sliga, IN

 
220lbs.
The Contenders
Danny Chaid, CA
*J’Den Cox, MO
Cash Drylie, KS
Bryce Fisher, IA
*Ryan Maas, IA
*Brian Moran, MI
Dawson Peck, PA
Dane Pestano, HI
Edgar Ruano, IL
NC Garrett Ryan, AZ
NC Kyle Snyder, MD
Mike Swider, IL
 
Notes:
Four of the top six placers from the Cadet 215 bracket in 2011 return. Snyder was your champ and this year’s JR World Team Trials 3rd place finisher. Cox was 3rd. Moran 4th. Maas was 6th.
Danny Chaid has been wrestling awfully well. He had a great JR Duals and finished Runner-Up to Snyder in GR Tuesday.
Garrett Ryan won both styles at Fila’s and took 4th in GR here this week.
 
Commentary:
While there’s a good number of talented kids, it all comes down to the two big dawgs.
Snyder won in a nip-and-tuck battle in GR. Let’s see what happens when they can touch the legs!
Snyder won when they could last year, and I’m sticking with that.
 
FLO Picks:        1. Snyder, MD    2. Cox, MO    3. Ryan, AZ    4. Pestano, HI

 
HWT
The Contenders
NC Brooks Black, PA
Jeremy Brazil, IL
NC Adam Coon, MI
Mickey Dougharity, OR
Jacob Haydel, LA
*Jason Johnson, MD
*Mike Kroells, MN
*Josh Marchok, IL
Evan McGee, OK
Jesse Nelson, WI
Aaron Rofalko, KS
*Jake Scanlan, Ia
*Joe Scanlan, IA
*Jacob Semple, WA
Donte Winfield, IN
 
Notes:
Black won double titles in 2010 as a Cadet at both Fargo and Fila’s. He was 6th last year.
Coon won Cadets in 2010 and was 3rd at 215 last year, losing only to Morgan McIntosh. Later in the summer, he’d win a Cadet World title.
Marchok lost in last year’s Round Robin to Coon and finished 5th.
Kroells DNP’d at 215 last year, but had a horrible draw. He was 3rd in Cadets in ’10.
Brazil won both styles at Northern Plains. Johnson was 5th in Fila’s in 2011. Scanlan was 5th back in 2009. His brother, Jake, was 4th in Cadets last year in the same bracket that Semple was 7th.
Winfield won both styles in Indiana.
 
Commentary:
Coon is the hot commodity right now. And rightfully so. He’s ultra talented and has an impeccable track record. But, well, ya’ll know who I’m going with. Bettin’ on Black.
 
FLO Picks:        1. Black, PA    2. Coon, MI    3. Kroells, MN    4. Brazil, IL


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