One of the best parts about Fargo is most of the best cadet girls make the jump up to wrestle their older counterparts. This tournament used to only include junior girls, but now they are split. Eight champs are returning to defend their titles from a year ago—check out the schedule to make sure you don't miss one second of the action going down LIVE this weekend.

97

Contenders:
Naomi Chavez (TX)
Erin Mance (TX)
Nina Pham (CA)
Genae Sampract (IL)
Emily Shilson (MN)
Brooke Thurber (WI)

This is pretty wide open, but a few could make a name for themselves this weekend. Two have Fargo history: Oklahoma City recruit Naomi Chavez defeated Brooke Thurber in the cadet Fargo finals back in 2014. Chavez was also the Junior World Team Trials runner-up this year, and lost only to junior world bronze medalist Marina Doi in the finals. Thurber is as tough and talented as they come, and could easily flip that result this time around. Also capable of coming home with a stop sign is Minnesota's Emily Shilson. She's been steadily improving all year, and will look to cap this season with a Fargo title. She was top-four at Folkstyle Nationals before upsetting returning Fargo double-champ McKayla Campbell at Cadet World Team Trials. Shilson also won a cadet Fargo title a few days ago, so she will attempt to double-up in North Dakota and go home with two golds. Cadet world team member Erin Mance will be undersized at this weight, but could also compete for the title. Nina Pham and Genae Sampract are also proven wrestlers who can do well here.

105

Contenders:
McKayla Campbell (OH)
Jasmine Weaver (VA)
Aleeah Gould (CA)
Alexus Nalls (VA)
Hailey Horton (GA)
McKenzie Bacich (CA)
Alleida Martinez (CA)

Fireworks! Alleida Martinez, McKayla Campbell, and Aleeah Gould... IN THE SAME DANG WEIGHT. Martinez is this year's cadet world team member and the returning cadet world silver medalist. At Cadet Trials this year, Martinez defeated Shilson in the finals. Shilson stunned Campbell in an early round after falling behind early. Campbell is the defending Fargo champion who won both cadets and juniors last year in dominant fashion. Gould is the returning 105 finalist, and Nalls was fourth at 105. King University recruit Gould beat out Campbell in the finals of Folkstyle Nationals back in March, but Campbell came out on top in two straight matches in the best-of-three Junior World Team Trials finals in May. Gould uses great head position, forward motion, and a strong underhook series to control the pace of matches, while Campbell is a little more reserved and uses a nasty fireman/dump and solid par terre offense to break matches wide open.  Gould also owns a win over cadet world champion Ronna Heaton. Alleida Martinez has a great single and wrestles very smart, tactical matches.  Any of these three ladies could come out on top at the end of the tournament, and any time any of them are on the mat, expect nonstop action.  Looking to challenge the top 3 here will be a slew of other talented athletes, including former cadet Fargo champ Hailey Horton, McKenzie Bacich, Jasmine Weaver, and Alexus Nalls.

112

Contenders:
Cara Broadus (CT)
Kasey Baynon (GA)
Cameron Guerin (WA)
Alisha Howk (MO)
Stefana Jelacic (AZ)
Sariyah Jones (CA)
Mace Kilty (WI)
Brenda Santos (FL)

Commentary: This weight is very intriguing, and frankly, flat out awesome.  Sariyah Jones and Mace Kilty will be up at this weight after a history of competing at a lighter class.  Cara Broadus won Cadets at 115 a few days ago, surprising quite a few people along the way and defeating Cameron Guerin in the finals, who will also be in this weight.  Alisha Howk and Macey Kilty also wrestled each other in the 108 finals, with Kilty coming out on top.  Howk was also last year's cadet champion, while Kilty is this year's Cadet World team member, folkstyle national champion in both age groups, and was also a runner-up in the Wisconsin boy's state tournament earlier this year.  Howk is very fundamentally solid and aggressive and is lights-out when she fully commits to her attacks.  Kilty is extremely strong and super technical.  Sariyah Jones is a former 2x Cadet World team member and defending Junior Freestyle champion (at 105), as well.  Any one of these ladies could go on a run and leave Fargo with a stop sign.  Trying to crash the party will be former All-Americans Kasey Baynon, Stefana Jelacic, and Brenda Santos.

117

Contenders:
Marissa Gallegos (CO)
Ronna Heaton (SD)
Brenda Reyna (WA)
Alanah Vetterick (IA)
Nguyet Tran (CA)

Commentary: The #RonnaHeatonHypeTrain is going to be in action!  The Cadet World champion and multiple time Fargo champion will be in action in the Fargodome this weekend, and is looking to take on all comers.  Heaton has great offense, re-attacks very well, and stays composed under pressure.  Looking to knock her off her throne will be Brenda Reyna, who has pushed Heaton twice this year.  They met in both the folkstyle national finals as well as the semis of cadet world team trials, with Heaton coming out on top both times in tight matches.  Reyna will look to close the gap and finally get her hand raised against The Champ, but she has her work cut out for her.  Expect these two to meet up in the finals and put on an awesome show on the main stage.  Former Fargo Cadet finalist Marissa Gallegos will attempt to knock off one of the two, as will Iowa's Alanah Vetterick and California's Nguyet Tran. 

121

Contenders:
Alyssa Aceval (CA)
Rory Coscia (CA)
Bri Csontos (VA)
Gracie Figueroa (CA)
Sierra Joner (WA)
Makayla Welch (MN) 

Commentary: Gracie Figueroa will come into this weight as the overwhelming favorite, and I don't expect her to let down.  The returning double champ and 2x cadet world team member will try to double up once again in Fargo and defend her Junior title for a year ago.  Figueroa defeated Michaela Beck in the Cadet finals earlier this week, using two sweet ankle picks to clinch a 4-0 victory en route to claiming the Outstanding Wrestler award.  Vying for the opportunity to challenge Gracie for the title will be former Cadet Fargo finalist Sierra Joner, multiple time all-americans Bri Csontos and Rory Coscia, and a host of other talented athletes looking to earn their spot on Mat 1.  While this weight is full of talent, expect Figueroa to roll to another title before heading back to the Cadet World Championships later this summer.

125

Contenders: 
Michaela Beck (NY)
Zoe Buteau (ME)
Breanna Douglas (KS)
Gabby Garcia (CA)
Logan Mize (TX)
Clarise Palmer (MD)
Erin Redford (WA)

Commentary: Possibly one of the most even weights of the tournament, and chock full of talent.  Leading the way is 2x Cadet World Team member and multiple time Fargo champion and King University recruit Gabby Garcia.  Garcia has competed with the best and finds ways to win at every level.  However, this will be far from a cake walk for her as she looks to return to the top of the podium.  Michaela Beck is consistently improving, and finished 2nd earlier this week in the Cadet division, losing to Gracie Figueroa in the finals.  Beck also was 2nd in Junior last year, so she has experience on the big stage and will try to blast-double her way to her first stop sign in her career.  Erin Redford is also as good as anyone in this weight and can make a name for herself with a solid showing here.  While she failed to place in cadets, Clarise Palmer is also talented and could challenge for a podium spot in Juniors.  Zoe Buteau and Breanna Douglas will also vie for a spot in the finals in an attempt to earn their first national title.  Logan Mize is also a great competitor and can make a statement at this tournament with a good showing.  If a Garcia/Beck final does happen, expect an awesome match.  They wrestle very contrasting styles which could lead to an awesome finals bout.

130

Contenders:
Teniya Alo (HI)
Brittany Bates (TX)
Emma Bruntil (WA)
Sophia Carson (ME)
Hailey Cox (UT)
Nicole Joseph (CA)
Alex Liles (TX)

Commentary: Another awesome weight. Teniya Alo and Alex Liles will lead the way here at 130 pounds. Alex Liles is the best female handfighter in the country, and keeps an insane amount of pressure on her opponents. Last year's cadet world team member, Liles was stunned by Alara Boyd at cadet world team trials earlier this year, but avenged the loss in the Cadet finals here in Fargo earlier this week with an awesome display of slick attacks, throws, and solid defense en route to her first Fargo title. Teniya Alo (younger sister of Senior level stud Teshya) was last year's Cadet runner-up and Junior champion, so she knows what it takes to come home with a stop sign, as well.  Also in contention here is former cadet world team member Hailey Cox, who is consistently among the best in the country.  Emma Bruntil won a Junior Folkstyle national title earlier this year up at 139, and is now down at this weight and looking to now earn a Junior title in freestyle.  Nicole Joseph is also a very talented athlete who could surprise some people here if she is on her game.  Former all-americans Brittany Bates and Sophia Carson are also podium-contenders and will be in the hunt in the Fargodome.

139

Contenders:
Teshya Alo (HI)
Alara Boyd (IN)
Hailey Finn (NY)
Ashlynn Ortega (CO)

Commentary: While not the deepest weight of the tournament, 139 has a few studs that will be awesome to watch. Leading the way will be Senior level all-star Teshya Alo. Alo is a Cadet World Champion, US Open Senior National Champion, Olympic Trials qualifier, and a member of our USA Senior National team.  Alo is not just the class of this weight, but of this entire tournament.  She'll put on a show every match, so don't blink or you might miss something great, whether it's a sick throw, low single, or gnarly double.  Attempting to upset the rising star will be Cadet World Team members Alara Boyd and Ashlynn Ortega.  Although registered at 148, Ortega is expected to be down at 139.  Ortega made her second Cadet World team back in May, and was also last year's Cadet Fargo champion.  Boyd defeated a hammer in Alex Liles to earn her spot in the Cadet World team, and was a runner-up in the Cadet division earlier this week.  Boyd has solid elbow passes and high leg attacks that are effective and keep her out of trouble, which makes her a dangerous opponent to anyone she is facing.  Hailey Finn is also as consistent as they come, and tends to perform better in the Junior division than in Cadets, so she will look to earn another high finish in the Junior division and improve upon her performance from last year. 

148

Contenders:
Alexis Gomez (IL)
Skylar Grote (NJ)
Jayden Laurent (WI)
Kayla Marano (GA)
Autumn Murley (VA)
Solin Piearcy (CA)

Commentary: This is a pretty interesting weight..  Last year's finalists Skyler Grote and Kayla Marano will both return at this weight, after Grote came out on top a year ago and took the title home to New Jersey.  Grote is a former Junior Pan-Am Champion and is as solid as they come.  Marano (daughter of women's wrestling legend Kristie Davis/Marano) is also a former Cadet Fargo national champion, and won a bronze medal for the United States at last year's Cadet World Championships.  Also in this weight will be this year's Cadet Freestyle champ Jayden Laurent, who has been steadily improving all year and looked phenomenal in the cadet tournament earlier this week.  Also in contention will be this year's Junior Folkstyle national champion Solin Piearcy, who defeated a very tough Alexis Bleau to earn her title.  Alexis Gomez (younger sister of Iowa State commit Austin Gomez) was the Cadet runner-up a few days ago (losing to Laurent in the finals) and can contend.  Autumn Murley is also very solid and a multiple-time all-american who can make some noise at this weight class.

159

Contenders:
Morgan Becker (IL)
Alexis Bleau (NY)
Emily Cue (CO)
Ophelia Lara (CA)
Rachel Watters (IA)

Commentary: While there's not a ton of depth, the top girls at 159 are all extremely tough.  Leading the way is 2x Junior World team member and returning Junior champion Rachel Watters.  An Oklahoma City recruit, Watters also qualified for the Olympic Trials this year, and was the youngest athlete in the tournament.  Looking to dethrone the reigning champ will be New York's Alexis Bleau.  These two have some history, as Watters defeated Bleau in the Cadet Freestyle finals back in 2013.  However, Bleau won the most recent meeting between the two after defeating Watters at 2014 Folkstyle Nationals last year en route to a gold medal performance.  Bleau won a Cadet Fargo title in 2014 and was also the Junior runner-up that same year, so she too knows how to win beneath the spotlight.  Bleau also won a bronze medal at the Cadet World Championships last summer and has proven to be the model of consistency.  Bleau will be headed to King University in the fall, so this potential match will probably be one we'll see many more times over the next few years.  Also in this weight is Cadet World Team member Emily Cue, who was a runner-up in the Cadet division earlier this week.  California state champ Ophelia Lara could also contend, as could Campbellsville commit Morgan Becker.  Becker actually defeated Watters earlier this year by fall, so she is more than capable of knocking off some of the top girls at this weight.

172

Contenders:
Hailey Cancelleri (NY)
Jesse Kirby (VA)
Nkechinyere Nwanko (TX)
Kaylee Seabolt (GA)

Commentary: A quarter of four tough girls will lead the way at 172.  Hailey Cancelleri put on an outstanding performance en route to a Cadet national championship a few days ago and will try to keep her momentum rolling into the Junior division.  In the finals she defeated Kaylee Seabolt, who will also be competing here.  Nkechinyere Nwanko is extremely athletic and strong and can make some noise here.  She'll be big at this weight and will have a solid size advantage over the other competitors.  Jesse Kirby is registered at this weight, however, she was up at 198 for the Cadet division where she took home gold.  If she's at this weight, she is an immediate factor, as she has beaten Cancelleri in the past and is a 2x Cadet National champion.  Keep an eye out for all four of these ladies, as they all veer away from the typical "big girl" style, and keep things interesting with awesome throws and leg attacks.

198

Contenders:
Victoria Allogio (NY)
Katelyn Blanchard (CA)
Corey Burton (CA)
Alex Castillo (CA)
Victoria Espinoza (CA)

Commentary: Leading the pack at heavyweight is last year's runner-up Victoria Espinoza.  An extremely athletic wrestler for this weight, Espinoza moves well and controls matches very well.  She'll attempt to improve on her performance from last year and get over the last little hump en route to a national title.  Trying to prevent her from winning this tournament will be a company of other solid contenders.  Jesse Kirby is currently registered at 172, however, she won the Cadet division at 198 a few days ago and could very well be up at this weight.  Should she here, she's a clear contender.  In the finals, Kirby defeated Corey Burton to win her title.  Along with Espinoza, Corey Burton was a California state champion this season and has turned in several quality performance throughout the year.  Also in the Cadet division this week, Alex Castillo finished 3rd and Victoria Allogio finished 4th, so both of them could do some damage in the Junior division as well.