Fargo kicks off Saturday with women’s action. The boys start on Monday with 16U and junior freestyle competing simultaneously. Here’s a weight-by-weight breakdown of the 16U Fargo contenders along with predictions.

Before diving into these weights, get caught up on the separation criteria that will be dictating the brackets. For the uninitiated, Fargo isn’t seeded, but the best wrestlers are separated based on the ten criteria below. Wrestlers meeting criterion #1 will be spread out from other #1s, etc. As a rule of thumb, the wrestlers you see with high criteria are unlikely to meet until later in the tournament. This also means that highly ranked wrestlers with low criteria or no criteria could serve as hand grenades haphazardly thrown into a bracket to blow it up.

Separation Criteria for 16U Men's Freestyle

1. U17 and above World placer in and out of style

2. 16U/U17 and above National champion in style

3. 16U/U17 and above National placer 2-4 in style

4. 16U/U17 & above National placer 5-8 in style

5. 16U/U17 & above National Champion out of style*

6. 16U/U17 & above National placer 2-4 out of style*

7. 14U National Champion in style

8. 14U National Placer 2-4 in style OR 16U/Junior Folkstyle National Champion

9. 16U/Junior Regional Champion in style OR 16U/U17 and above National placer 5-8 out of style* OR 16U/Junior Folkstyle National 2-4

10. 14U National Champion out of style*

Team Race

The Favorite: Pennsylvania

Contenders: Iowa, California, Ohio

Outside Looking In: Illinois and New Jersey

Also Going To Have A Great Tournament: Tennessee and Georgia

Pennsylvania has won it four-straight times and I think they make it a 5th. Iowa will likely make it interesting and I'm not counting them out, but PA is bringing so much quantity and quality to North Dakota. California and Ohio could also make a push and potentially win it if they have a good tournament. Illinois, New Jersey, and Wisconsin should all get a handful of AAs and maybe a champ or two.

While I don't think they have the numbers to really make a push, Tennessee and Georgia are going to have a great tournament. They both have a legitimate shot at getting multiple champs.

88 lbs

Ace Chittum, Tennessee

Eli Herring, Pennsylvania

Loc Webber, Ohio

Vincent DeMarco, Illinois

You’ve probably heard the name Cody Chittum. Well I like to call Cody “Big Chitts” because Ace is “Little Chitts”. Sometimes entered as Hudson, Ace is a hammer and potentially on a similar trajectory as his older brother.

Another younger brother is a notable entry here at 88 lbs. Eli Herring, younger brother of Fargo finalist Sam Herring, should do very well. As should Loc Webber of Ohio, a Super 32 middle school placer and central regional champion.

Prediction: Chittum over Webber

94 lbs

Brandon Bickerton, Ohio

Breyden Wenrich, Pennsylvania

Jarrett Smith, Michigan

Nico Desalvo, Iowa

Turner Ross, Minnesota

Hayden Schwab, Iowa

Allen Woo, Illinois

Top contenders Brandon Bickerton and Breyden Wenrich have a nice little rivalry going. Wenrich won last fall in the Super 32 middle school 3rd place match before the two split at 16U Duals this year. Wenrich won the most recent match by a score of 3-0.

Iowa will be well represented by Nico Desalvo and Hayden Schwab.

Prediction: Wenrich over Bickerton

100 lbs

#16 Kavin Muyleart, Pennsylvania

Gavin Landers, Iowa

Cameron Sontz, New Jersey

Tanner Tran, Tennessee

PJ Terranova, New Jersey

Mac Crosson, Iowa

Caleb Noble, Illinois

Case Bell, Indiana

The only ranked competitor in the bracket, Kavin Muyleart is the favorite at 100 lbs. A Super 32 middle school champ in 2022, he took 2nd at U17 Trials this springs with wins over Liam Collins and Cameron Sontz. Similar to 94 lbs, Iowa is bringing a good pair of hammers in Gavin Landers and Mac Crosson. Landers went undefeated at Duals. I think it’s between Landers and Sontz opposite side finalist to Muyleart.

Prediction: Muyleart over Landers

106 lbs

#3 Lincoln Sledzianowski, Pennsylvania

#5 Grey Burnett, Ohio

#14 Alexander Pierce, Iowa

#15 Rocco Cassioppi, Illinois

Saxton Scott, Idaho

Wyatt Lees, Michigan

Now we’re starting to get to the meat of the 16U tournament. There’s a good chance we get round IV between Lincoln Sledzianowski and Grey Burnett which will have huge team implications. Burnett won at U17 Trials but Sledzianowski took rounds 2 and 3 at Duals. Alexander Pierce also had a good Duals, beating Rocco Cassioppi and only losing to Sledzianowski.

Prediction: Sledzianowski over Burnett

113 lbs

#3 Carter Pearson, Iowa

#5 Domenic Munaretto, Illinois

#11 Landon Sidun, Pennsylvania

#16 Czar Quintanilla, Washington

#18 Nicolas Enzminger, North Dakota

#18 Joseph Uhorchuk, Tennessee

#20 Siraj Sidhu, California

Abdirahman Unle, Nebraska

Dawson Youngblut, Iowa

This is it - the best bracket of the 16U tournament. Seven nationally ranked kids in a 16U bracket is absurd. Dom Munaretto is a 2022 Cadet World Champ and probably isn’t the on paper favorite with his loss to Carter Pearson at 16U Duals. This would be a grudge match as Munaretto did beat Pearson at Super 32 last year 7-1. 

Watch Pearson defeat Munaretto at 16U Duals below.

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Landon Sidun will be cutting down from 120 where he competed at for the Duals where he went 8-0 with a win over Dawson Youngblunt. I wouldn’t worry about the weight, however, as he competed at 51 kg for Trials. He took 3rd there with a win over Czar Quintanilla.

Prediction: Munaretto over Sidun 

120 lbs

#2 Keanu Dillard, Pennsylvania

#9 Lukas Littleton Mascaro, Pennsylvania

#19 Jayden Raney, Kentucky

Michael Romero, California

Slater Hicks, California

Jayden Rinken, Iowa

Ryan DeGeorge, New Jersey

Tyler Dekraker, Virginia

At #2, Keanu Dillard is the highest ranked wrestler at any weight in the 16U field. However, he’s far from a lock to win this weight. While he is a freshman Pennsylvania state champion in AAA, that was at 107 lbs. While I don’t foresee any issues, we have yet to see him above 113 lbs. Add in the fact that the guy who beat him in the 100 lb finals last year, Michael Romero, is in the bracket. Despite not being in the national rankings (he’s in 8th grade), Romero is absolutely a threat to go back-to-back and win this weight.

Jayden Raney is another returning champ in the bracket. The Kentucky native absolutely balled out at Fargo last year winning 106 freestyle and 113 Greco.

Lukas Littleton Mascaro is a guy I’m very interested in getting watch in person for the first time. A Malvern Prep freshman, he hasn’t been as active on the national freestyle scene as some of these other 2nd year 16Us.

Prediction: Romero over Littleton

126 lbs

Nikade Zinkin, California

Maksim Mukhamedaliyev, Illinois

Maximus Riggins, Iowa

Declan Koch, Wisconsin

Clinton Shephard, Indiana

Caleb Rivas, California

Timothy Koester, Iowa

Isaiah Jones, Oklahoma

126 is the first high school weight without a nationally-ranked guy in it, but don’t sleep on it. Nikade Zinkin is a guy who’s been right on the cusp at a lot of big tournaments. He took 5th at CIF State as a freshman and 3rd this year as a sophomore. This could be a breakout tournament for him.

I believe Maximus Riggins of Iowa is the only returning Fargo placer in the bracket. He took 5th last year at this weight. However, he lost to Maksim Mukhamedaliyev in a super close 9-8 match at 16U Duals. Bixby, Oklahoma’s Isaiah Jones, and Neenah, Wisconsin’s Declan Koch, on the other hand, went undefeated a Duals. Will be interesting to see if they can parlay that into a strong Fargo performance as well.

Prediction: Zinkin over Koch

132 lbs

Jesse Grajeda, California

Thomas Verrette, Colorado

Jayden James, New Jersey

Yandro Soto, Florida

Dean Anderson, Arizona

Jesse Grajeda. David Bray mentioned him on FRL this morning as a name to circle and I couldn’t agree more. He’s an 8th grader at powerhouse St. John Bosco. He took 7th at U17 Trials, but only lost to Ben Davino and Sam Herring.

The highest returning placer is Thomas Verrette who took 3rd last year at 126. I also really like Delbarton, New Jersey’s Jayden James who took 3rd this year at New Jersey state as a freshman.

Prediction: Grajeda over James

138 lbs

Blue Stiffler, Georgia

Mason Basile, Florida

Jackson Tucker, Missouri

Arment Waltenbaugh, Pennsylvania

Not an incredibly credentialled field at 138 lbs, which could lead to some chaos and breakout performances. Blue Stiffler won’t just be first-team all-name in Fargo, he might win this weight. Another name worth mentioning in this bracket who isn’t half bad at wrestling either is Smokey McClure of Washington.

Jackson Tucker is having a solid spring. After winning Northern Plains he went 9-0 at 16U Duals.

Prediction: Stiffler over Tucker

145 lbs

Nolan Fellers, Iowa

Melvin Miller, Pennsylvania

Ryan Rios, California

Zeno Moore, Florida

Nathaniel Askew, Georgia

Joseph Jeter, Oklahoma

Another weight without a lot of nationally credentialled guys or a clear favorite imo. Melvin Miller is a young guy I’ll be watching. He made the middle school Super 32 finals last fall and a deep run at 17U Trials. Nolan Fellers has a shot at joining what is becoming a growing list of Sebolt Wrestling Academy Fargo champs. Nathan Askew and Zeno Moore had a fun match at Duals with Askew winning 4-3. I also like Ryan Rios and Joseph Jeter.

Prediction: Askew over Miller

152 lbs

#17 Kyler Knaack, Iowa

Jimmy Mastny, Illinois

Grayson Woodcock, Ohio

Nicholas Singer, Pennsylvania

Billy Tyler, Virginia

Kalias Nazario, Florida

I really like what I’ve seen out of Kyler Knaack this spring. In freestyle, he won Iowa state, took 3rd at Trials, and went 3-0 at Duals with a win over Nicholas Singer. He’s probably the on-paper favorite. However, Grayson Woodock had a really solid Fargo last year.

Jaxon Miller is another Iowan I have on my radar. This could potentially be a breakout tournament for Jimmy Mastny. The young Illinois prospect made the middle school Super 32 finals last fall.

Prediction: Knaack over Woodcock

160 lbs

Maximus Norman, Tennessee

Aaron Stewart, Illinois

Cael Weidemoyer, Pennsylvania

Emmitt Sherlock, Maryland

Eli Esguerra, Ohio

Jackson Barron, Minnesota

Maximus Norman, one of two returning placers, is the favorite but absolutely not a lock. I love Aaron Stewart. He beat Kyler Knaack, who I have winning 152, at Folkstyle Nationals this year and has gone undefeated through Illinois state and National Duals.

Faith Christian Academy’s Cael Weidemoyer had a really good freshman year in PA going 36-4 and taking 3rd at state. Emmit Sherlock isn’t just going to ring out for “headlock Sherlock” chants that will be reminiscent of Maryland’s Jimmy Sheptock, he’s the real deal. Along with Norman, he's the only other returning placer in the bracket. And all the way down at 126!

Prediction: Stewart over Norman

170 lbs

Adrien Reyes, California

Xander Dossett, Georgia

Carson Thomas, Ohio

Broedy Collins Hendricks, Iowa

Hunter Snyder, Pennsylvania

Sneaky good upper 16U weight here at 170 lbs. Carson Thomas took 2nd in Ohio behind #1 Joey Blaze, Adrien Reyes was a CIF state placer, and Xander Dossett was an NHSCA finalist and then won the Southeast Regional.

All of that doesn’t mention two of the best upper-weight middle prospects coming out of Iowa and PA -  Broedy Collins Hendricks and Hunter Snyder. They might be a little young to win it this year, but those are two names you’re going to want to remember.

Prediction: Reyes over Thomas

182 lbs

Ryder Wilder, Georgia

Aiden Peterson, Ohio

William Ward, North Dakota

Jackson Angelo, Pennsylvania

Elijah Diakomihalis, New York

Brayden Koester, Iowa

Lucas Mata, Arizona

Jackson Rotterman, Missouri

While it would take some upsets, William Ward is North Dakota’s best shot at getting a hometown champ. At least in freestyle. Ryan Wilder is probably the favorite. He won an NHSCA bracket that included Jackson Angelo and Lucas Mata. While those guys were competing at 182, Aiden Peterson took 2nd at 170 lbs.

Missouri’s Jackson Rotterman went undefeated at 16U Duals and I think he’ll continue to keep the momentum rolling. Brayden Koester is a young guy who could do some damage. He was a U15 runner-up at the Open, but he did get beat up by Minnesota’s John Murphy who will be in the bracket also.

Prediction: Wilder over Peterson

195 lbs

#9 Dreshaun Ross, Iowa

David Calkins, California

Denarii Mickel, IA

Tyson Martin, Wisconsin

Jake Conroy, Pennsylvania

Connor Smalley, Pennsylvania

Dreshaun Ross might be the biggest lock in 16U freestyle. He won this weight last year as an 8th grader. He is one of, if not the, top prospect of the class of 2026. While another solid Iowa prospect, Denarii Mickel, was able to take him to overtime one time, Ross won all four meetings between the two during their regular high school season. Ross then beat him again, 11-0, at the freestyle state tournament.

David Calkins is the guy most likely to break up the all Iowa final. He took 8th at CIF state this year as a freshman before going 9-0 at 16U Duals. Another stud freshman is Tyson Martin of Wisconsin. He was a runner-up this year at 195.

Prediction: Ross over Calkins

220 lbs

Michael Mocco, Florida

Kai Calcutt, Illinois

Alex Taylor, Ohio

Brady Vaughan, Michigan

Dean Bechtold, Pennsylvania

Michael Mocco is another big favorite. The son of legend Steve Mocco, Michael fell just of placing here last year but has looked really good recently winning NHSCAs and going undefeated at Duals.

Mocco’s biggest threat is probably Kai Calcutt of Illinois. Calcutt took 5th at U17 Trials in April. Alex Taylor took 4th in the NHSCA bracket Mocco won.

Prediction: Mocco over Calcutt

285 lbs

Jacob Levy, Georgia

Cooper Martinson, Iowa

Milan Colvin, Kansas

Brayden Hill, Kansas

Jonathan Rulo, Illinois

Christopher Belmonte, New York

Pretty unusual to get four returning AAs at 16U heavyweight, but that’s what we have in the top four names above. Levy took 2nd, Martinson took 4th, and Milan Colvin took 8th at 285 while Brayden Hill took 8th at 220.

Jonathan Rulo and Christopher Belmonte are two really talented freshmen who could make a run.

Prediction: Levy over Martinson