Marines Cadet & Junior National Championships

2018 Fargo Junior Freestyle Preview

2018 Fargo Junior Freestyle Preview

Breaking down the contenders for Fargo Junior Freestyle Nationals.

Jul 11, 2018 by Willie Saylor
2018 Fargo Junior Freestyle Preview
It's Fargo Week, and Junior Freestyle is the Grandaddy of it all.

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It's Fargo Week, and Junior Freestyle is the Grandaddy of it all.

Ohio, PA, Cali, Iowa, and of course, Illinois sent solid teams. I'm particularly surprised/delighted by the spring results of kids from Montana, Kansas, Georgia, and Alabama, and they have good representation here. One thing still missing from 'the golden years' is the high participation of graduated seniors. Get your butts, here, fellas! 

Special shout out to Iowa in that regard. Their administration did a wonderful job getting their graduates to come scrap. Bennett, Biscoglia, Blockhus, Brands, Sarasin, Shapiro, McDermott, McConkey, etc. All graduates. Great stuff.

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That being said, there's an excellent turnout overall this year. Below is the breakdown of how many of the 20 ranked wrestlers at each weight is here. It has the most ranked kids per weight of any tournament this year. And consider that it doesn't include the numerous graduates that have already been pulled from the rankings.

The only other tournament that compares from a rankings perspective is Super 32 (which is often hampered by upperweights who play football). I'll keep a running list of these to compare in the future. 

WTEntriesRanked
100171
106353
113728
120748
1261047
13210712
1381178
1451107
15211312
1601006
170878
182894
1957813
220646
285689


Below are the weight class breakdowns. Credentials listed are freestyle-specific other than those that made a Greco team this year.

I'm also gonna throw in a new wrinkle in this preview called "Who Willie's Watching". I'll name a kid at each weight that I really want to see and learn more about. They will be kids who are trending up, and whose results have me interested in. These are the guys I'll be matside for early. 

*GR = Graduated Senior

100lbs. - 2013 Final: Kirk Johansen, IL tf. Francis Edelen, IL, 14-4

Number of Entries: 17

Top Contenders:

#20-Joey Fischer, PA

Blake Bartolme, OH 

Kael Brisker, IA - Northern Plains Champ

Eli Griffin, OK - Cadet Trials 7th

Dylan Hidalgo, CA - State FS Runner-Up

Colin Noel, OH

Ronan Schuelke, IL - Southeast Regional Champ

Trent Thompson, CT - NE Regional 3rd

Commentary: A rather unheralded group at the older, non-federation weight. Fischer was undefeated at Duals with a win over Griffin. Brisker was the Folk Nats Runner-Up to Griffin.

Griffin absolutely tore up everyone this season in high school and at Folk Nats. He took some losses at Akron and at Duals, but I think we'll see him better off for it. 

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1GriffinGriffinGriffin
2FischerFischerBrisker
3BriskerBriskerFischer
4SchuelkeSchuelkeSchuelke


106lbs. - 2013 Final: Hunter Marko, WI dec. Joey Cisneros, CA, 6-4

Number of Entries: 35

Top Contenders:

#4-Brendan Chaowanapibool, WA - Cadet GR World Team Member

#6-Wil Guida, NJ - Returning Champ

#11-Cole Skinner, OH - 2017 Cadet World Team Member

Bryce Cockrell, OK

Alex Cottey, IN

Tim Levine, CA - Returning 6th

Sawyer Nash, IL - Southeast Regional Runner-Up

Blake Peiffer, WI - Nothern Plains Champ

Kaleb Thompson, IL - State FS Champ

Commentary: Guida won at 100lbs last year beating Oklahoma's Jackson Cockrell in the finals. Levin was in the same bracket as was Chaowanapibool, who dnp'd.

A year after making the Cadet World Team, Skinner again placed Top 5 at the Trials. 

Nash went 4-2 at Duals. 

My darkhorse at the weight is Alex Cottey.

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1GuidaChaowanapibool Skinner
2SkinnerSkinnerChaowanapibool
3CotteyGuidaGuida
4ThompsonLevineLevine


113lbs. - 2013 Final: Elijah Oliver, TN tf. Brian Rossi, IL, 12-2

Number of Entries: 72

Top Contenders:

GR-Jonathan Prata, CA - Western Regional Champ

#4-Brendon Garcia, CO - Returning 3rd

#7(at 106)-Paxton Creese, MN - Pan Am Trials Champ

#11-Cullan Schriever, IA - 2017 Cadet 6th

#13-Tristan Lujan, CA - Cadet Trials 7th

#14-Ryan Miller, PA - 2017 Cadet 4th

#15-Chris Kim, PA - PA State FS Champ

#19-Dustin Norris, OH - 2017 Cadet 7th

#20(at 120)-Jeremiah Reno, MO - 2016 Cadet Champ

Terry Adams, NY - NE Regional Runner-Up

Andrew Chambal, MI - 2017 Cadet Runner-Up

Jackson Cockrell, OK - Returning Runner-Up

Studd Morris, OK

Jack Stanley, OH - Central Regional Champ

Commentary: There are some real 'veterans' here as Schriever and Reno lead the way. The rivals have split matches over the years. 

Chambal was the Cadet Runner-Up to Ragusin last year at 100lbs. 

Paxton Creese has been wrestling really well. At 106, he went 6-1 at Junior Duals with two wins over Skinner. At 110, he won Pan Am Trials. At 113, he lost 11-4 in the finals of Northern Plains to Schriever. 

Lujan beat Miller in the 7/8 match in Akron. Miller beat Adams in NE Regional final.

I also like Chris Kim's recent level. He went undefeated at JR Duals with wins over Levine and Cooper Flynn.

Who Willie's Watching: Chris Kim and Tristan Lujan

The Picks:

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1RenoRenoReno
2SchrieverSchrieverSchriever
3KimCreeseMiller
4PrataGarciaNorris
5LujanLujanPrata
6NorrisKimGarcia
7CreesePrataCreese
8MillerNorrisKim


120lbs. - 2013 Final: Nathan Tomasello, OH tf. Kaid Brock, OK, 14-4

Number of Entries: 74

Top Contenders:

GR-Kyle Biscoglia, IA - Northern Plains Runner-Up

GR-Brandon Kaylor, WA - Returning Runner-Up

GR-Cevion Severado, MO

#2-Julian Tagg, OH - 2017 Cadet World Team Member

#3-Trevor Mastrogiovanni, NJ - Cadet Trials 3rd

#8-Dylan Ragusin, IL - 2017 Cadet Champ

#11-Aden Reeves, IA - Returning 5th

#12-Anthony Clark, NJ - 2017 Cadet 3rd

#14-Dylan Shawver, OH - 2017 Cadet 5th

#15-Eric Barnett, WI - Northern Plains Champ

#18-Nic Botello, MA - Pan Am Trials Runner-Up

Adam Arenas, CA - State FS Champ

Dominic Chavez, TX - 2017 Cadet 3rd

Trey Crawford, MO - 2017 Cadet 8th

Greg Coapstick, TX - Southern Plains Champ

Steele Dias, NV - Returning 5th

Corey Gamet, MI - 2016 Cadet Champ

Nick Masters, GA - 2017 Cadet Runner-Up

Anthony Molton, IL

Angelo Rini, OH - Central Regional Champ

Noah Surtin, IL - 2017 Cadet Champ

Jake Svihel, MN - Northern Plains Champ

Commentary: Five of the eight AA's from last year's Cadet 113 bracket are here. Surtin beat Masters in the finals. Clark was 3rd, losing only to Masters. Shawver;s losses were to Clark and Surtin.

Ragusin won both Fargo and Akron last year, albeit at much lighter weights.

Molton won a monster weight class in IL folk this year, beating three nationally ranked guys. Both he and Surtin, who went 3-2 at Duals, have taken some rough losses recently but expect them to bounce back. Surtin teched both Molton and Ragusin to win the FS State title.

Kaylor was last year's JR Runner-Up to Ty Smith at 113.

Neither Barnett nor Biscoglia placed last year. They met in NP finals this year with Barnett winning by fall. But then Biscoglia teched him at duals. 

Chavez was undefeated at Duals with a win over Svihel.

Two guys that have shown flashes, but not consistency are Svihel and Burgos. Svihel teched Surtin at Duals. Burgos beat Jesse Mendez in Akron.

I think it comes down to Tagg's savviness and slickness vs. Mastro's bulldog mentality. 

Who Willie's Watching: : Trey Crawford

The Picks:

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1MastroTaggMastro
2TaggMastroTagg
3RagusinRagusinClark
4ClarkSeveradoRagusin
5SurtinClarkSeverado
6ShawverReevesBiscoglia
7ReevesBotelloKaylor
8SeveradoBarnettReeves


126lbs. - 2013 Final: Jered Cortez, IL dec. PT Garcia, CO, 4-0

Number of Entries: 104

Top Contenders:

GR-Pat McKee, MN - Returning Champ

GR-Jackson Henson, PA - State FS Champ

GR-Doug Zapf, PA - State FS Champ

#5-Kyle Burwick, ND

#10(at 132)-Michael Colaiocco, NJ - Returning 4th

#14(at 132)-Jordan Hamdan, MI

#15(at 132)-Asa Garcia, IN - Central Regional Runner-Up

#16-Kyle Gollhofer, GA - Southeast Regional Champ

#18-Chris Cannon, NJ 

#20-Marckis Branford, PA - 2017 Cadet 7th

Marcus Castillo, AZ

Cael Happel, IA - State FS Champ

Sal Jones, NY - Northeast Regional Champ

Austin Macias, IL - Returning 7th

Kellyn March, SD - Northern Plains Runner-Up

Maxx Mayfield, NE - 2017 Cadet 6th

Caden McCrary, GA

Drew Munch, PA - Northeast Regional Runner-Up

Christian Nunez, CA 

Kai Orine, MO

Chase Shields, PA

Chase Tebbets, WA - Western Regional 3rd

Will VomBaur, CO - Southern Plains Champ

Reece Witcraft, OK

Commentary: McKee won last year in Fargo at 120, beating Joey Melendez in the finals.

Burwick dnp'd here last year but he's had a heckuva spring. At Junior Duals he beat three returning Fargo AA's and nationally ranked Chris Cannon.

Branford AA'd at both Fargo and Akron. Henson beat him 10-9 in FS State finals at 132.

Zapf beat Shields in FS State finals at 126. Shields was 5-1 at Duals.

I like Burwick, who seems like a perfect mix of skill and toughness, to keep it rolling. 

Who Willie's Watching: Burwick, Will Vombaur

The Picks:

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1McKeeMckeeMcKee
2BurwickColaiocco Colaiocco
3ColaioccoBurwickCannon
4GollhoferCannonZapf
5BranfordMunchGarcia
6HamdanOrineGollhofer
7HensonHamdanOrine
8GarciaHensonBranford


132lbs. - 2013 Final: Seth Gross, MN dec. Kyle Gliva, MN, 8-5

Number of Entries: 107

Top Contenders:

GR-Drew Bennett, IA - Western Regional Champ

GR-Jake Gliva, MN

#1(at 126)-Beau Bartlett, PA - Cadet Trials 3rd

#2-Jordan Decatur, OH - 2017 Cadet World Team Member

#3-Connor McGonagle, PA

#4-Dylan D'Emilio, OH - 2015 Cadet World Team Member

#5-Gabe Tagg, OH 

#8-Keegan O'Toole, WI - Cadet Trials 5th

#12(at 138)-Malyke Hines, FL - Southeast Regional 3rd

#12-Eddie Bolivar, IL - Southeast Regional Runner-Up

#14(at138)-Colton Camacho, PA

#18-Gabe Hixenbaugh, AL - 2017 Cadet 5th

#19-Josh Jones, PA

#20-Ryan Ripplinger, ND

Terrell Barraclough, UT - State FS Champ

Ezra Ellis, IL - Central Regional Champ

Tyler Hunt, GA

Stockton O'Brien, UT - Western Regional 3rd

Marcos Polanco, CA - State FS Champ

Colby Schriever, IA - State FS Champ

Commentary: Among the best weights in Fargo, there is a front-running pack of proven FS commodities with Decatur, D'Emilio, and Bartlett. 

The next 'tier' would include Tal-Shahar, the Akron Runner-Up to Josh Saunders, and O'Toole, who went undefeated at Duals with wins over Jones, Asa Garcia, and Colaiocco.

Bolivar beat Hines at SE Regional. Bennett gave Hines his only loss at JR Duals.

O'Brien beat 2017 Fargo Junior Runner-Up Jeremy Schoenherr at Western Regionals.

Look, anything can happen with the top group, especially with bracket placement. But I see Bartlett and Decatur as the two finalists. It's such a deep weight. As you can see in my picks, I'm high on Hines and Bolivar.

Who Willie's Watching: Ryan Ripplinger

The Picks:

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1DecaturDecaturDecatur
2BartlettD'Emilio Bartlett
3D'EmilioBartlettD'Emilio
4HinesCamacho Tagg
5McGonagleHinesRipplinger
6BolivarMcGonagle
Hixenbaugh
7O'TooleO'TooleMcgonagle
8JonesBolivarO'Toole


138lbs. - 2013 Final: Aaron Pico, CA tf. Joey McKenna, NJ, 10-0

Number of Entries: 117

Top Contenders:

GR-Chase Zollman, CA - Returning 5th

GR-Danny Fongaro, NJ - NE Regional Champ

#1-Jaden Abas, CA

#6-Jordan Crace, OH - State FS Champ

#6(at 132)-Lucas Revano, NJ

#7-Mosha Schwartz, PA - NE Regional Runner-Up

#8-Frankie Tal-Shahar, FL - Cadet Trials Runner-Up

#13-Dawson Sihavong, CA

#16-Martin Wilkie, MT

#18-Ed Scott, PA

Clay Carlson, MN - Northern Plains Champ

Trevor Chumbley, IL - Returning 6th

Jackson Currier, MT

Job Greenwood, CO

Riley Gurr, MT

Savion Haywood, IL

Jaivon Jones, OH - FS State Champ

Max Kauffman, AL - Southeast Regional Champ

Aiden Medora, WI - 2017 Cadet Runner-Up

Alex Mosconi, IN

Teddy Okada, CA - State FS Champ

Caleb Rea, WV

Sam Stuhl, WI

Commentary: It could be said that the three favorites here don't have much FS success/experience. Outside of a Runner-Up finish (to Beau Bartlett) at NE Regional in 2017, I don't know that Revano has wrestled any major freestyle events. But he won a state bracket in folk that including returning state finalists Nick Raimo and Kyle Slendorn. Not too shabby.

Abas, who, with finals appearances at Cali States, S32, and Ironman, tells you how good he is in folk. But last year he went just 2-2 in Fargo. He rebounded with a perfect Junior Duals last month with big wins over Mosha Schwartz and  2017 Fargo Runner-Up Aiden Medora.

It's been a while since Crace wrestled much FS as well. He was also an Ironman finalist last year. He beat Carlson twice at Duals. Carlson beat Chumbley at Duals and Haywood, 12-12 in NP semi's.

Tal-Shahar beat Chumbley in the 5/6 match last year. 

Okada teched Sihavong in State FS finals. 

Scott was 3-1 at Duals with a win over Medora and a loss to Luke Surber.

Need a darkhorse? Check out Max Kauffman who beat Fargo AA and IL big school state champ Trevor Chumbley at SE Regional. Or how about Danny Fongaro? He beat Mosha Schwartz, Josh Jones, and Connor McGonagle to win NE Regionals. All three are ranked now. 

Who Willie's Watching: : Ed Scott, Martin Wilkie

The Picks:

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1AbasAbasAbas
2CraceTal-Shahar Crace
3RevanoSchwartzTal-Shahar
4FongaroCraceRevano
5SchwartzSihavong
Schwartz
6Tal-ShaharZollmanMedora
7WilkieScottZollmann
8ScottWilkie
Chumbley


145lbs. - 2013 Final: Anthony Collica, OH fall. Blayne Briceno, CA, 2:21

Number of Entries: 110

Top Contenders:

GR-Kendall Coleman, IL

GR-Jeremy Schoenherr, WI - Returning Runner-Up

GR-Michael Blockhus, IA - Returning 6th

GR-Trevor Jeffries, WY

GR-Joe Klock, PA

GR-Drew Scharenbrock, WI - Northern Plains Runner-Up

#5-Bryce Andonian, OH - Cadet Trials 4th

#6-Victor Voinovich, OH - 2017 Cadet 3rd

#8-Luke Surber, OK - Cadet Trials 6th

#12-Legend Lamer, OR

#16(at 152)-Cade Devos, IA - 2017 Cadet 5th

#15-Baylor Fernandes, IL

#19(at 152)-Connor Kievman, PA - NE Regional Runner-Up

Jacob Butler, OK

Cael Carlson, MN

Dominic Damon, WA - Cadet GR World Team Member

Grant Lundy, TN - Southeast Regional Champ

Matt Lee, IN

Daniel Manibog, TX

Alfonso Martinez, AZ - Pan Am Trials 3rd

Chance Mclane, MT

Gabe Miller, PA - Returning 6th

Nick Termini, IL

Conner Ward, KS

Michael Weber, MT - 2017 Cadet Runner-Up

Luka Wick, CA - 2017 Cadet 8th

Commentary: Schoenherr was runner-up last year to Ben Freeman at 138. He teched Blockhus, who ended up 6th, in the semi's. 

Weber was a runner-up at Cadets last year to Alex Facundo but has stumbled recently going 1-2 in Akron and 1-2 at Duals. He does have a win over Surber this spring though, and is definitely a bounce-back candidate.

Coleman didn't place last year, having the misfortune of hitting Brayton Lee in the Blood Round. He's a title contender this year. 

Devos beat Scharenbrock 11-10 in NP finals and Surber in Akron, where Surber beat Voinovich. Voinovich then returned the favor to Surber at Duals, where he was undefeated. 

Fernandes beat Surber, Carlson, and Incontrera at Duals and beat Termini in FS States.

Pay attention to Legend Lamer who has been coming on strong. He was USAW's Folk champ this spring.

The darkhorse to place here is Ward, who went undefeated at Duals with wins over Carlson, Scharenbrock, Lundy, and Gable Fox.

Who Willie's Watching: : Legend Lamer, Baylor Fernandes

The Picks:

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1ColemanColeman
Andonian
2LamerBlockhus
Voinovich
3VoinovichVoinovich
Coleman
4BlockhusAndonian
Blockhus
5AndonianDevos
Devos
6WardSurber
Weber
7DevosKievman
Wick
8SurberWard
Surber


152lbs. - 2013 Final: Ryan Blees, ND dec. Jake Short, MN, 12-9

Number of Entries: 113

Top Contenders:

GR-Anthony Artalona, FL - 3x Defending Champion

GR-Brayton Lee, IN - Returning 3rd

GR-Tyler Eischens, MN - Returning 8th

GR-Alex Lloyd, MN - Returning 4th

GR-Kolby Ho, PA

GR-Jacob Greenwood, CO

GR-Peter Enos, MO

#2-Isaac Wilcox, UT - Returning 7th

#2(at 160)-Connor Brady, OH

#3-Jake Stiles, IL

#4-Jace Luchau, CA  - 2017 Cadet 3rd

#7-Colton Yapoujian, CO - Northern Plains Champ

#10-Cam Amine, MI - Central Regional 3rd

#11-Bubba Wilson, KS

#12-Josh Otto, WI - Cadet Trials Runner-Up

#13-Sonny Santiago, CA - Cadet Trials 5th

#15-Hunter Jump, OK

#15(at 160)-Lance Runyon, IA - 2017 Cadet 3rd

#16(at 160)-Aaron Gandara, AZ - Cadet Trials 7th

McKay Foy, UT

Andrew Garr, OH - State FS Champ

Brett McIntosh, OH - 2017 Cadet 8th

Colby Njos, MN - Northern Plains Runner-Up

Dayton Porsch, KS - Southern Plains Champ

Triston Wills, KS - Southern Plains Runner-Up

Commentary: Excellent group of graduates with Artalona, who is looking to join an elite group who have won four straight freestyle titles. His top threat is likely Brayton Lee who lost to Kaden Gfeller early last year, and battled back to 3rd by beating Sammy Sasso, Kendall Coleman, Alex Lloyd, and Brock Hardy.

You may have noticed Wilcox jumped up to #2 in the country. What you might not no, however, is that he earned it by beating Brock Hardy. The highest returning non-senior, Wilcox will be in the mix for the stop sign. He beat Eischens in the 7/8 match last year.

Eischens has wrestled really well this summer. At Duals he beat Stiles, Wilson, and Jersey State Champ Ricky Cabanillas. That was Stiles only loss as he also beat Cabanillas and Jump. Stiles lost in the blood round last year to Brock Mauller.

The real wildcard here is Connor Brady, who hasn't wrestled freestyle in nearly a year when he went undefeated at Junior Duals, which included a tech over Dustin Plott.

Yapoujian has also been wrestling well. He won Northern Plains by beating Lloyd (8-7) and Njos.

Otto has been a bit of an enigma. He reached the finals in Akron, beating several studs and even took a match from Alex Facundo. But then he went to Junior Duals and posted a 3-5 record, including losses to Luchau and Wilcox.

Santiago beat Runyon in the 5th place match in Akron after Luchau beat Runyon in consi semi's.

It's a tough weight to pick a darkhorse placer because it's so deep. But give me Hunter Jump, who lost in the blood round last year to Kharchla.

Who Willie's Watching: Dayton Porsch

The Picks:

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1LeeLeeArtalona
2BradyArtalona Lee
3ArtalonaLloydBrady
4EischensBradyLloyd
5WilcoxHoLuchau
6LuchauLuchauSantiago
7LloydWilcoxGandara
8HoSantiago
Ho


160lbs. - 2013 Final: Markus Scheidel, OH dec. Davonte Mahomes, IL, 7-6

Number of Entries: 100

Top Contenders:

GR-Jared Franek, ND - Returning Runner-Up

GR-Tyler Dow, WI - Returning Runner-Up

GR-Nelson Brands, IA - Western Regional Champ

GR-Danny Braunagel, IL - Northern Plains Champ

GR-Jalin Harper, KS - Returning 8th

GR-Kenny O'Neil, MN

GR-Austin Brenner, MN

GR-Adam Kemp, IL

#8(at 170)-Matt Ortiz, IL

#13-Robby Kanniard, NJ - 2017 Cadet Champ

#13(at 170)-Terrence Parks, NY

#14-James Burks, NE - Cadet GR World Team Member

#17(at 152)-Kiernan Shanahan, NY

#20-Cade Lindsey, KS

Isaiah Alford, NE

Nevan Snodgrass, OH - 2017 Cadet 3rd

Donnell Washington, IN - Cadet Trials 8th

Commentary: Dow was last year's Runner-Up to David Carr. He had a strong Junior Nationals in Vegas where he took 6th this spring. Likewise, Franek was a runner-up in Juniors to Will Lewan.

Kanniard beat David Key in last year's Fargo Cadet finals. 

Harper and Brenner split matches this year Harper beat Snodgrass twice at Duals. Harper's big win last year was Carson Kharchla.

Ortiz, IL big school state champ, dnp'd last year but both losses were to Wilcox. At IL FS States, Kemp teched Ortiz in semi's; Braunagel teched Kemp in finals.

Parks was 3rd at National Preps this year. Shanahan beat him in FS at Jeff Blatnick tourney this spring.

For the second straight weight, I'm going heavy on the graduates.

Who Willie's Watching: Terrell Parks, Donnell Washington

The Picks:

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1FranekFranekFranek
2DowDowDow
3BraunagelBraunagel
Kanniard
4BrandsHarperSnodgrass
5BurksBurksBurks
6HarperOrtizBraunagel
7OrtizKanniard
Ortiz
8ShanahanShanahan
Brands


170lbs. - 2013 Final: Bo Nickal, TX tf. Tyler Askey, GA, 10-0

Number of Entries: 87

Top Contenders:

GR-Ben Sarasin, IA - Southern Plains Champ

GR-Jimmy Noel, AR - Southeast Regional Champ

GR-Tate Battani, IA - Northern Plains Champ

#1-Dustin Plott, OK - UWW Junior Runner-Up

#3-Carter Starocci, PA - 2017 Cadet Champ

#6-Carson Kharchla, OH - Returning 4th

#7-Parker Keckeisen, WI - Central Regional Champ

#11-Chris Foca, NJ - NE Regional Champ

#15-Noah Blake, CA

#10-Alex Cramer, IL - Central Regional 3rd

#20-Kolton Clark, AL - Southeast Regional Champ

Riley Habisch, MN - 2017 Cadet 4th

Jacob Nolan, NY - 2017 Cadet 7th

Commentary:  Dustin Plott has emerged as one of the best wrestlers at any weight in the country. He's the favorite here. He's wrestled 160 as recently as Junior Duals, but he's up for Fargo. 

Starocci not only won Fargo Cadets last year but had a standout 3rd place performance at Akron's deepest weight. For most, a Plott-Starocci final would be the most anticipated final of Fargo. But don't put the cart before the horse. This bracket is loaded.

Keckeisen beat Cramer in semi's of Central Regionals. Cramer beat Foca at Duals. 

I really like the way Sarasin has been performing. He teched/pinned his way through Junior Duals.

Clark beat Kanniard and Mason Reiniche this summer. The second Alabama darkhorse of JR FS this year.

Very tough to handicap this weight. It's truly one where you can envision several winning it all. I put Plott, Starocci, Kharchla, and Keckeisen in that group, and perhaps even Cramer. Foca's a threat, but I just don't like him as much in FS. 

I get the vibe that some (very smart) people think Kharchla can pull it off. I'm not in that camp. I feel very strongly that Sarasin is going to be the guy that beat someone he 'shouldn't' have. 

Who Willie's Watching: Jacob Nolan

The Picks:

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1PlottStarocciPlott
2SarasinPlottStarocci
3StarocciFocaKharchla
4KeckeisenKharchla
Foca
5KharchlaSarasin
Habisch
6CramerKeckeisen
Cramer
7FocaNoel
Keckeisen
8NoelCramer
Sarasin


182lbs. - 2013 Final: Michael Pixley, MO tf. Riley Lefever, IN, 11-0

Number of Entries: 89

Top Contenders:

GR-Travis Wittlake, OR - 2017 Cadet Trials Champ

GR-Jack Jessen, IL - Returning Runner-Up

GR-Jarred Krattiger, WI 

GR-Joel Shapiro, IA - Returning 7th

GR-Victor Marcelli, OH - Returning 7th

GR-Zach Braunagel, IL - Returning 4th

GR-Ben Root, PA - NE Regional Champ

GR-Evan Bockman, AK

GR-Tate Samuelson, CO

#4-Devin Winston, MO - 2017 Cadet Champ

#7-Jackson Turley, VA - NE Regional Runner-Up

#12-Carson Brewer, IN

#16-Julien Broderson, IA - State FS Champ

Talon Borror, OK - 2017 Cadet 5th

Ryan Neu, WI - Western Regional Champ

Commentary: One of my favorite weights, this 182 group is super deep. It has graduate star power (Wittlake, Jensen), Senior stars (Winston, Broderson), and a healthy, healthy amount of sleepers (Turley, Krattiger, Brewer).

Wittlake of course won Akron last year, beating Aaron Brooks twice. Winston won Cadets at this same weight, but he had a rough Akron where he dnp'd.

Jessen is one of the best guys that never won the big one. He has wins over Kerkvliet and Assad in the last year. Although he did take a loss at JR Duals (to Grant Parrish, MN).

It would also not be surprising to see Krattiger (who has little FS experience), Shapiro, or Braunagel go so far as to reach a final. They've all been wrestling great this summer.

Root beat Turley in NE Regional finals.

For a darkhorse, check out Evan Bockman of Alaska who tech/pinned everyone at Junior Duals. He was also a runner-up at Folk Nats.

Who Willie's Watching: Julien Broderson

The Picks:

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1JessenWittlake
Wittlake
2WittlakeKrattiger
Jessen
3BraunagelJessen
Shapiro
4KrattigerWinston
Krattiger
5RootShapiro
Winston
6ShapiroMarcelli
Marcelli
7WinstonTurley
Braunagel
8TurleyBrewer
Turley


195lbs. - 2013 Final: Mitch Sliga, IN tf. Joel Dixon, OK, 10-0

Number of Entries: 78

Top Contenders:

GR-Lucas Davison, IN - Returning 3rd

GR-Nick Casperson, SD - 2016 Cadet 3rd

GR-Beau Yineman, WI - Northern Plains Champ

GR-Tyrell Gordon, IA - Returning 5th

GR-Sergio Villalobos, IL

GR-Hunter DeJong, IA

#4-Cole Urbas, PA

#5-Austin Cooley, MA - NE Regional Runner-Up

#6-Konner Doucet, OK - Cadet Trials Runner-Up

#7-Peter Christensen, IL - Cadet Trials 4th

#8-Ryan Reyes, CA

#11-Santos Cantu, OR - 2017 Cadet 4th

#10-Wyatt Hendrickson, KS - 2017 Cadet 3rd

#12-Julian Gorring, PA - Central Regional Champ

#13-Christian Knop, AL - Returning 5th

#14-Avery Jaramillo, OR - 2017 Cadet 8th

#18-Blah Dahnweih, IL

#19-Nick Stemmet, IL

#20-Matt Cover, OH - 2017 Cadet Runner-Up

Stephen Buchanan, WI

Niccolo Colucci, NJ - Cadet Trials 6th

Cabe Dickerson, OK

Commentary: 195 has the high water mark with 13 of the 20 ranked wrestlers in the field. 

Five of the contenders here placed in the Cadet 195 bracket last year - Cover (2nd), Hendrickson (3rd), Cantu (4th), Christensen (5th), Jaramillo (8th). 

Outside of them, there is surprisingly few head-to-heads among them.

DeJong beat Reyes at JR Duals. Gordon was 3-1, his only loss coming to Wyatt Hendrickson.

In trying to make picks, this weight is just weird. A ton of talent, but so much parity. There's no clear separation. It could go a million different directions. 

Who Willie's Watching: Santos Cantu, Julian Gorring

The Picks:

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1DavisonDavison
Casperson
2GordonUrbas
Davison
3YinemanYineman
Cooley
4ReyesGordon
Christensen
5UrbasChristensen
Gordon
6ChristensenKnop
Doucet
7KnopReyes
Gorring
8CantuCantu
Cantu


220lbs. - 2013 Final: Roy Nash, UT tf. Angus Cowell, CT

Number of Entries: 64

Top Contenders:

GR-Cordel Duhart, KS - Western Regional Champ

GR-Boone McDermott, IA - State FS Champ

#5-Lewis Fernandes, NJ - 2017 Cadet 7th

#6-Owen Trephan, NJ - NE Regional Champ

#7-Victor Jaquez, CA - 2017 Cadet 4th

#14-Josh Heindselman, OK - Cadet Trials 5th

#17(at 195)-Connor Bourne, NV - 2017 Cadet 5th

#19-Cole Fibranz, MN - Northern Plains Champ

Gabe Christensen, IA - Cadet Trials 8th

Aidan Conner, TX

Jaeden Crowe, OH - State FS Champ

Keaton Fogler, IL - State FS Champ

Jacob Somlai, WI - State FS Champ

Terren Swartz, WY

Caleb Willis, KS

Commentary: Jacquez gave McDermott his only loss at Duals, 13-9. Conner was also undefeated.

Trephan went 6-1 with a win over Punke, who's now up at HWT. 

McDermott beat Gabe Christensen in FS State finals.

The darkhorse here is graduate Cordel Duhart. He was never ranked in high school but won both Western and Southern Plains with wins over Heindselman and Cabe Dickerson.

Who Willie's Watching: Victor Jaquez

The Picks:

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1JaquezTrephan
Jaquez
2TrephanJaquez
McDermott
3McDermottFernandes
Fernandes
4FernandesDuhart
Trephan
5DuhartMcDermott
Bourne
6ConnerConner
Heindselman
7ChristensenChristensen
Duhart
8SwartzSwartz
Fibranz


285lbs. - 2013 Final: Adam Coon, MI tf. Nathan Butler, KS, 10-0

Number of Entries: 68

Top Contenders:

GR-Anthony Cassioppi, IL - Returning Champ

GR-Mason Parris, IN

GR-John McConkey, IA - State FS Champ

GR-Austin Emerson, MI - Returning 5th

GR-Keaton Kleuver, WI

GR-Kyle Lightner, NJ

GR-Mason Lancaster, OK

GR-Kaleb Reeves, IA - Southern Plains Champ

GR-Lee Harrington, NE

#2-Nash Hutmacher, SD - 2017 Cadet Champ

#4-Brooks Baker, MO

#7-Jack DelGarbino, OH - FS State Champ

#8(at 220)-Jace Punke, IL - Returning 6th

#9-Spencer Trenary, IA - Western Regional Champ

#11-Jorden Pryor, MD

#13-Craig Orlando, MN

#14-Joey Slackman, NY

#17-Andy Garcia, CO - Cadet Trials 7th

Commentary: An excellent, excellent bracket. It's very rare to get this many ranked kids in one high school heavyweight field. In addition to eight ranked, Mason Parris and Anthony Cassioppi are future college stars.

Cassioppi has destroyed everyone not named Gable Steveson the past two years. Parris is just beginning to dip his toes into freestyle, but he was a machine in folk in winning three state and two FloNational titles.

The last of the big three is Nash Hutmacher, who posted five straight techs to win Cadets last year.

Cassioppi, Reeves, and Hutmacher were all undefeated at duals. Hutmacher teched the 4th-ranked HWT in America, Baker. That was Baker's only loss.

Trenary's only loss was to Harrington. Harrington's only loss was to Cassioppi. Orlando was 6-1 at Duals.

It's going to be a show. Cassioppi is so much more versed in FS, but I'm leaning Parris. If he can hold position and not allow Cassioppi to threaten step outs, I think he'll be fine. And then there's Nash. There's nothing to suggest that he can't bang with the older guys, he just hasn't yet. 

Another twist in the way this bracket will play out is how the draw will go. With no FS credentials, someone could see Parris rather early.

Who Willie's Watching: Brooks Baker

The Picks:

PicksWillieHolmesNomad
1ParrisParris
Parris
2CassioppiCassioppi
Cassioppi
3HutmacherHutmacher
Hutmacher
4EmersonPunkeEmerson
5McConkeyKleuver
Reeves
6HarringtonBaker
McConkey
7BakerTrenary
Punke
8TrenaryHarrington
Garcia