The Best Matches From Fargo Wrestling 2023
The Best Matches From Fargo Wrestling 2023
Catch up on all the best action from the 2023 US Marine Corps 16U Junior National Championships.
Fargo is here! Catch up on some of the best matches from the World's biggest wrestling tournament. We'll be loading new matches into this article all week, so check back in throughout the event to watch outstanding Fargo action.
Best of Day 7
16U 160 lbs - Aaron Stewart, IL vs Emmitt Sherlock, MD
From start to finish, this finals match was one of the best of the night that ultimately was decided at the very last second.
Junior 152 lbs - Joel Adams, NE vs Jadon Skellenger ID
This match was a battle! Skellenger got out to an early lead forcing Adams to score a big four late to win the title.
Junior 170 lbs - Tyler Secoy, GA vs Nicholas Fox, IA
This finals bout between Fox and Secoy was back and forth and came down to a last second score to decide the champion at 170 pounds.
16U 126 lbs - Isaiah Jones, OK vs Zayn Navarrette, TX
With a finals spot on the line, Jones and Navarrette went wild and put up 32 combined points.
16U 220 lbs - Michael Mocco, FL vs Alex Taylor, OH
In a rematch of their freestyle finals, Mocco and Taylor met in the semis of Greco in what turned out to be a much closer bout. Mocco held the early lead before Taylor hit a big 4 that forced Mocco to make a late comeback.
Junior 152 lbs - Joel Adams, NE vs Casper Stewart, NY
This match was so crazy it eventually had to be re-wrestled after a protest from Stewart's team. So technically, the below match never happened but we have video evidence of it for you to watch and enjoy.
Junior 145 lbs - Kannon Webster, IL vs Brady Collins, CO
Webster and Collins were in a dogfight in their quarterfinal bout. They put up 26 points in the first period and both were inches away from ending the match. On top of the big points and moves, a last-second score ultimately decided the winner.
Best of Day 6
100 lbs - Carter Shin, VA vs Shamus Regan, TN
Shamus Regan won a Fargo title in freestyle and was on a quest to double-up in Greco. He looked to be on his way to the quarters until Carter Shin hit a last-second 4 to upset Regan in the round of 16.
16U 126 lbs - Blaine Wallace, MO vs Maksim Mukhamedaliyev, IL
Mukhamedaliyev and Wallace couldn't stop scoring points in their round of 16 match Friday night. Seriously, I didn't think it was possible to cram this much offense into a 4-minute match but these to brought it the entire time and put on a show in the Fargodome.
16U 113 lbs - Christian Manley, MD vs Dawson Youngblut, IA
Youngblut and Manley had a battle in their round of 32 bout! The two traded 4's in an intense match that came down to the wire.
Junior 113 lbs - Mack Mauger, ID vs Caleb Wright, AL
Mack Mauger is a returning junior Greco champ. Did that matter to Caleb Wright in their round of 32 match? Not at all. Mauger and Wright battled in a highly entertaining bout in the early rounds of the 113 bracket.
Junior 120 lbs - Anthony Ruzic, IL vs Giovanni Martinez Chavez, AZ
Ruzic and Martinez Chavez were letting it fly in their round of 32 bout and put up 31 total points. What makes this even more impressive is that 28 of those points came in the second period!
Junior 152 lbs - Tucker Stangel, IA vs Brandon Ploehn, UT
If you thought 31 points was impressive, wait until you see the 38 points Stangel and Ploehn put up in their back-and-forth bout. There was so much scoring in this match, the refs even had a hard time keeping up with all of the points.
Best of Day 5
Junior 160 lbs - Final Braeden Scoles, WI vs William Henckel, NJ
This match had constant leg attacks from start to finish. Don't miss one of the best matches of the entire tournament.
Junior 285 lbs - Koy Hopke, WI vs Aden Attao, ID
The last time Hopke and Attao met, Attao won by tech. The match was headed that way this time, but Hopke had other plans.
16U 132 lbs - Final Jayden James, NJ vs Manuel Saldate, NV
Jayden James and Manuel Saldate had the crowd on its feet in one of the most exciting matches of the 16U finals.
16U 220 lbs - Final Michael Mocco, FL vs Alex Taylor, OH
If you like monster highlights, this is the match for you. It wasn't particularly competitive, but it was fun from start to finish.
Junior 220 lbs - Semifinal #2 Cole Mirasola, WI vs #9 Cash Henderson, UT
One of the last matches of the semifinal session was also one of the best. Mirasola and Henderson let it fly in a 23 point thriller.
Junior 120 lbs - Semifinal #4 Beric Jordan, OK vs #1 Isaiah Cortez, CA
The deepest weight of the tournament had a tight top-five semifinal that came down to criteria.
Junior 132 lbs - Semifinal #10 Kale Petersen, IA vs #7 Dalton Perry, PA
Iowa-bound Kale Petersen had a wild semifinal against future Nittany Lion Dalton Perry at 132 lbs.
Junior 138 lbs - Semifinal #10 Daniel Zepeda, CA vs #6 Omar Ayoub, OH
An upset and a big-time comeback made Zepeda vs Ayoub a must-watch semifinal.
16U 126 lbs - Semifinal Leo Maestes, CA vs Clinton Shepherd, IN
Maestes and Shepherd hung 26 points on the board, and ended with a wild flurry.
Best of Day 4
Junior 113 lbs - Quarterfinal Jake Knight, IA vs Mack Mauger, ID
Iowa freshman state champ Jake Knight pulled off one of the most thrilling comebacks of the quarters over returning Fargo champ Mack Mauger of Idaho.
Junior 120 lbs - Quarterfinal #1 Isaiah Cortez, CA vs Seth Mendoza, IL
2021 Fargo champ Seth Mendoza gave #1 Isaiah Cortez everything he wanted in their Quarterfinal bout at 120 lbs.
Junior 138 lbs - Quarterfinal Omar Ayoub, OH vs Kane Naaktgeboren, IA
If you like 26-point thrillers, check out this wild one between Omar Ayoub and Kane Naaktgeboren.
Junior 132 lbs - Quarterfinal Kale Peterson, IA vs Matthew Botello, MA
Don't scroll past this thriller without watching. Iowa commit Kale Peterson came up clutch against a very game Matthew Botello.
Junior 120 lbs - R32 Carson Doolittle, IA vs #7 Nate Desmond, PA
Iowa 3rd place finisher Carson Doolittle upset two-time PIAA champ Nate Desmond in one of the biggest upsets of the morning session.
Junior 120 lbs - R32 #12 JJ Peace, SC vs #8 Louie Gill, PA
South Carolina star JJ Peace had to come from behind to upset #8 Louie Gill in one of the best matches of the day.
Junior 132 lbs - R32 #15 Matty Lopes, NJ vs #9 Zan Fugitt, MO
This all-ranked matchup didn't disappoint. There was plenty of drama as Lopes pulled off the minor upset against future Badger, Fugitt.
Junior 170 lbs - R32 #17 Jasaiah Queen, NJ vs #15 Gage Wright, WV
This ranked matchup had big moves and late drama. Check out all the action!
Junior 120 lbs - R32 #4 Beric Jordan, OK vs #6 Gauge Botero, PA
One of the most highly anticipated bouts of day 4's first session came betwen #4 Beric Jordan and #6 Gauge Botero who met in a rematch from NHSCA Duals.
Best of Day 3
16U 120 lbs - R128 Justyce Zuniga, WA vs #2 (113) Keanu Dillard, PA
Washington's Justyce Zuniga won a criteria bout against Pennsylvania state champ Keanu Dillard in the round of 128.
Junior 126 lbs - R64 Jake Hockaday, IN vs #11 Elijah Cortez, CA
Unranked Jake Hockaday of Indiana took out #11 Elijah Cortez of California in the round of 64!
Junior 138 lbs - R128 Drew Gorman, GA vs Kyrel Leavell, IN
NHSCA champ Drew Gorman and NHSCA placer Kyrel Leavell had a BATTLE in the round of 128 at 138 lbs!
Junior 195 lbs - R128 Jack Lesher, IL vs #12 Payton Thomas, OK
Illinois' Jack Lesher took out #12 Payton Thomas in the round of 128 in Fargo!
Junior 195 lbs - R128 Gunner Henry, IN vs #20 Thomas Dineen, MN
Gunner Henry of Indiana took out #20 Thomas Dineen of Minnesota in the round of 128.
Junior 126 lbs - R128 Matthew Marlow, NY vs #13 Caio Aron, TX
It didn't take long for the upsets to start flying in the Fargo men's freestyle divisions. Matthew Marlow of New York won a hard-fought battle against #13 Caio Aron in the first hour of the tournament.
Best of Day 2
16U 94 lbs - Final #1 Morgan Turner, IL vs #15 Jaclyn Bouzakis, PA
The first 16U final of the day turned out to be one of the most competitive. Watch two of Team USA's future stars do battle!
Junior 144 lbs - #6 Nebi Tsarni, MD vs #7 Sydney Perry, IL
Tsarni and Perry stole the show in one of the most thrilling bouts of the entire Junior Women's Freestyle finals!
16U 100 lbs - Semifinal Madison Niewenhuis, MI vs Elizabeth Valenzuela Smith, AZ
This semifinal started with a four-pointer and ended with a comeback. See one of the most dramatic matches that set the stage for the final.
16U 106 lbs - Semifinal #21 Mary Manis, FL vs #9 Nakayla Dawson, MI
Mary Manis needed a big move to pull off a top-ten upset in the 16U semifinals to punch her ticket to the Fargo finals.
16U 122 lbs - #24 Kaylyn Harrill, NE vs Regina Stoeser, SD
Who doesn't love a good comeback? This match had the crowd locked in for a dramatic conclusion.
Junior 100 lbs - #4 Valarie Solorio, PA vs #6 Katey Valdez, CO
Points were flying in this top-ten semifinal. With over 20 on the board and a wild comeback, you won't want to miss this semifinal.
Junior 122 lbs - Lexie Lopez, CO vs #12 Olivia Moreno, TX
Lexie Lopez dug deep to pull off an on-paper upset in the Fargo semifinals and set herself up for a chance to win the whole bracket.
Best of Day 1
Junior 127 lbs - Quarterfinal Tyler Swanigan, MI vs Kennedy Hsu, NV
This quarterfinal might have been the best match of day 1. It had huge momentum swings and came down to the wire.
Junior 138 lbs - Quarterfinal #10 Kaidance Gerg, ID vs #6 Gretchen Donnally, MT
In a top-ten moutan west battle, Kaidance Gerg of Idaho knocked off Montana's Gretchen Donnally in a rankings-shifting upset.
Junior 144 lbs - R16 #14 Sevreign Aumua, MO vs #5 Skylar Little Soldier
Missouri's Sevreign Aumua notches a top 5 upset by knocking off Skylar Little Soldier, one of the most credentialed women in the Fargodome.
180 lbs - R16 #10 Kami Senlycki vs #2 Alyvia White
#10 Kami Senlycki earned a pound-for-pound level victory over Alyvia White who is ranked #2 in her weight class.
Junior 112 lbs - #5 Janessa George, CO vs #7 Gabriella Gomez, IL
In a top 7 battle, #5 Janessa George of Colorado took out U17 World silver medalist Gabriella Gomez of Illinois.
Junior 138 - Quarterfinal #6 Nativia Wickson, IL vs #22 Sofia Delgado, FL
35 points went on the board in this 18-17 battle between ranked opponents. You won't want to miss this thriller.
Junior 138 lbs - R16 #21 Kiara Djoumessi, IA vs Kryssceah Ravenelle, RI
This 12-12 criteria barn burner had plenty of action and a clutch takedown late!
Junior 127 lbs - R64 Kennedy Hsu, NV vs #18 Cassia Zammit, OH
Ohio product Cassia Zammit is a returning 16U Fargo champ who entered this year’s bracket as the #2 seed. She was bounced from the front side of the bracket in the round of 64 when Nevada’s Kennedy Hsu mounted a massive comeback in the second period.
Junior 100 lbs - R32 Mackenzie Burger, MI vs #25 Zoey Haney, MO
Mackenzie Burger won a back and forth battle against #25 Zoey Haney in the round of 32. She moves on after securing the upset.
Junior 112 lbs - R32 #5 Janessa George, CO vs #16 Sarah Zimmerman, KS
#16 Sarah Zimmerman racked up 8 straight points against #5 Janessa George, but George went big to mount a comeback and avoid the upset.
16U 117 lbs - R32 Lauren Aguilar, CA vs #29 Sara McLaughlin, MA
#29 Sara McLaughlin led Laren Aguilar 6-2 at the break, but the Massachusetts product used a four-pointer and a fall to pull off the round of 32 upset.
152 lbs Rnd Of 32 - Tucker Stangel, Iowa vs Brandon Ploehn, Utah
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