2023 US Marine Corps USAW 16U Junior National Championships

The Biggest Upsets Of Fargo 2023

The biggest upsets in the men's 16U and Junior Freestyle divisions at Fargo 2023.

Jul 19, 2023 by Jon Kozak

Wrestling is underway in Fargo featuring the best high school wrestlers in the country battling at the FARGODOME! With over 100 ranked wrestlers in the field, we are keeping track of the biggest upsets in the 16U and Junior freestyle divisions. Check them out in the below article.

Live Now · Jul 15-22, 2023, 3:00 PM UTC

2023 US Marine Corps USAW 16U Junior National Championships

Junior 126 lbs: Matthew Marlow over #13 Caio Aron, 6-4 - Round of 128

Only 8 ranked wrestlers lost to unranked wrestlers on the first day of men's freestyle - 4 of those upsets took place at the junior 126-pound division. The chaos started at 126 pounds with Matthew Marlow taking out #13 Caio Aron in the round of 128. Marlow held a 4-2 lead with just over a minute to go in the match when he used a beautiful counter to go ahead 6-2 and put the match out of reach.

Junior 126 lbs: Jake Hockaday over #11 Elijah Cortez, 4-4 - round of 64

Already a subscriber? Log In

Indiana state champ Jake Hockaday took out California state champ #11 Elijah Cortez in the round of 64 on day 1 of junior freestyle. Hockaday secured a gator roll with just 16 seconds left to go ahead on criteria and held off Cortez late to win 4-4. Cortez was one of the favorites coming into the bracket coming off a 5th place finish where he defeated Bo Bassett and Edwin Sierra. Last year, Hockaday failed to place at Fargo after making the round of 16 and going 3-2.

U16 120 lbs: Justyce Zuniga over #2 Keanu Dillard, 5-5 - Round of 128

Already a subscriber? Log In

Justyce Zuniga shocked Keanu Dillard in the round of 128 in a competitive, back-and-forth match. Dillard was coming off of a 5th place finish at the U17 world team trials but will have a long road back to place in the 120-pound bracket.

Junior 126 lbs: Eren Sement over #12 Sebastian Degennaro, 10-1 - Round of 64

Already a subscriber? Log In

Eren Sement controlled #13 Sebastian Degennaro from start to finish in the round of 64 on his way to a 10-1 win. Sement is a two-time Pennsylvania state placer and has already verbally committed to the University of Pennsylvania.

Junior 126 lbs: Anthony Lucio over #13 Wyatt Skebba, 12-1 - Round of 64

Already a subscriber? Log In

Anthony Lucio continued the upsets at 126 pounds when he teched Wyatt Skebba in the round of 64. Lucio placed 6th at this year's California state tournament and is already looking great early in Fargo.

Junior 152 lbs: Logan Rozynski over #15 Zane Licht, 11-1 - Round of 64

Already a subscriber? Log In

Logan Rozynski was up 5-1 over #15 Zane Licht when he secured a tight leg-lace in the first period to end the match by tech, 11-1. Rozynski isn't a complete unknown after placing at both Ironman (7th) and National Preps (5th) this past year. He's put himself in a great position to break into the top 20 now but will continue to be tested tomorrow with JD Sigman in the round of 32 and a potential match with #6 Vince Bouzakis in the round of 32.

Junior 145 lbs: Avery Allen over #14 Gabriel Bouyssou, FALL - Round of 32

Already a subscriber? Log In

Avery Allen took out #14 Gabriel Bouyssou in the round of 32 on Tuesday morning. In their bout, Allen got out to a quick 6-0 lead in the first period before Bouyssou closed the gap with a 4-pointer and a takedown to make it 6-6 at the break. Then, in the second, Bouyssou looked like he was about to finish another takedown when Allen stepped over just at the right time to secure the fall and move onto the round of 16.

Junior 120 lbs: Carson Doolittle over #7 Nathan Desmond, 7-6 - Round of 32

Already a subscriber? Log In

Carson Doolittle shocked #7 Nathan Desmond in the round of 32 in a loaded 120-pound bracket. The match was tied 1-1 going into the break but Doolittle used two early takedowns in the second period to take a 5-1 lead. Desmond mounted a comeback in the closing minute until Doolittle secured an exposure with less than 10 seconds left in the match to put the bout out of reach.

Junior 145 lbs: Gavin Linsman over #13 Pierson Manville, 8-8 - Round of 16

Already a subscriber? Log In

Gavin Linsman was just outside the top 20 entering Fargo but his win over #13 Pierson Manville might just be enough to propel him up the rankings. Despite falling behind to Manville early, Linsman used a big 4-point trip in the first to get back in the match. Even though Manville secured a takedown at the end of the match, that 4-pointer in the first ultimately proved to be the difference allowing Linsman to win on criteria.

Other notable upsets