Fargo Week is nearly here and batting lead off these days are the Cadet freestylers. 

For us media types, Fargo always presents a the challenge of finding entries as we try to put out previews ahead of time. That used to mean we'd get the final entries the night before the tournament and stay up till the wee hours of the morning.

Watch Fargo 2019 Live on Flo

July 13-19 | 9AM Central

This year we reached out to the state organizations to get their rosters. While we have the majority, there are still a few states we're missing who will undoubtedly have a handful of wrestlers that will make noise - most notably, we are missing Colorado, who has a bevy of young talent. 

As more entries are confirmed we'll update this preview so check in occasionally.

** Check the bottom of the article for updates on entries as they come in. **

The Cadet field this year is particularly unproven as a vast majority of last year's Cadet AA's have moved up to Juniors. In fact, just 27 (of 136) AA's from 2018 are back. There are, however four champs, Nicolar Rivera (120), Tate Picklo (170), Noah Pettigrew (195) and Hayden Copass (285) among them. Jore Volk (100) and Kolby Franklin are back as Runners-Up.

With the field being composed mostly of incoming freshmen and sophmores, you might not know all the contenders, but rest assured you will in time. For many, the path to stardom starts here.

Let's also talk about the data that goes into this - 

The freestyle circuit is such that a lot can change - and does - from, say Northwest Regions in March, to FloNats, Akron, all the other Regionals, and Cadet Duals. In other words, these kids are still improving leaps and bounds. It's tough to predict. We'll see a ton of results from the spring reversed on the Fargo floor.

*For feedback email me at Willie@flosports.tv

88lbs. - 2014 Final: Malik Heinselman (CO) tf. Jason Holmes (AZ), 16-6

Top Contenders:

Kyison Garcia   UT   -  Western Region Champ

Kolby Warren  MO  -  Undefeated at Duals

Alan Koehler   MN -  Undefeated at Duals

Caleb Thoennes  MN  -  Northern Plains Champ

Braeden Davis  MI  -  Central Regional Champ

Grigor Cholakyan  CA

Tanner Spalding   GA

Zach Bellissimo  OH

Ben Bast  WI

Commentary:   Garcia seems to be the man to beat here. He rolled at both Westerns and at Duals where he teched all but Bast (12-7). He was one of three to go undefeated at 88 in Duals. Warren, who did tech Bast, and Koehler were the other two. 

But Thoennes teched Koehler in NP finals and should be of good size as he wrestled 94 at the state tournament and 100 at JR Duals where he was 2-0 with two techs. 

The X-factor here is Davis. He hasn't wrestled on the national circuit this year as much as the others (no Akron, FloNats, or Duals) but it's been a very long time since he's dropped a match. 

Willie's Picks:   1.  Garcia  (UT)   2. Davis  (MI)   3. Thoennes (MN)   4. Warren  (MO)

94lbs. - 2014 Final: Nicolas Aguilar (CA) tf D`Emilio (OH), 11-0

Top Contenders:

Chris Martino   ID   - Returning 6th

DJ Gillett   OR  - Western Region Champ

Codie Cuerbo    OH   -  Central and Northeast Regional Champ

Nik O'Neill    PA  -  Northeast Regional Champ

Sam Ewing    MO  -  Southern Plains Champ

Garret Rinken    IA   -   Northern Plains Champ

Hunter Taylor   KS   -   Undefeated at Duals

Tristan Bremer  ID  -  Undefeated at Duals

Cael Hughes  OK   -  Undefeated at Duals

Jaden Pepe    PA   - FloNats 6th

Ray Ray Harris   -  CA

Bryce Luna  -  CA

Dillon Campbell   - OH

Drew Heethius  MI

Paul Kelly    AZ

Nolan Wertanen  MI

Commentary: Five wrestlers went undefeated at Duals: Gillett, Taylor, Bremer, Hughes, and Pepe. Throw in Cuerbo, O'Neill, and Luna and returning AA Martino and it's a very strong weight with kids already proven. Wertenan's only loss at Duals was to Pepe.

Martino wrestled 100 at Northern Plains and lost in the finals to last year's Fargo Champ Mason Gehloff. Gillett smashed everyone at Duals with just a single match going the distance. Hughes beat Ray Ray Harris and Rinken at Duals. 

Cuerbo beat Heethius in Central Regional finals. He also won NE Regional, where O'Neill won at 88lbs. 

Pay attention to another Ohioan in Campbell. He doesn't have a great deal of FS results but he's been a hammer on the youth scene in folk. 

Luna gave Kelly both his losses in Westerns. 

Willie's Picks:  1.Hughes (OK)   2. Gillett (OR)   3. Cuerbo (OH)   4. Taylor (KS) 

100lbs. - 2014 Final: Roman Bravo-Young (AZ) dec. Max Murin (PA), 9-0

Top Contenders:

#18-Daniel Sheen  IL   - Akron 4th, FloNats 2nd

#19-Jore  Volk  MN  -  Returning Runner-Up, Akron 5th

#20-Caden Horwath   MI  -  Central Regional Champ

Kai Owen    FL  -  Returning 3rd

Reid Nelson    MN   - Returning 4th

Marlon Yarbrough    OH   - Returning 5th

Kaden Ramos   ID   -  Returning 8th

Mac Church    PA   -  Akron Runner-Up

Beau Mantanona    CA  - Akron 7th

Christian Forbes    OK   - FloNats 3rd

Kannon Webster    IL   -  Akron 3rd

Troy Hohman    PA   -  FloNats 5th

Hunter Robison    PA   - FloNats 7th

Shane Corrigan    WI  - Central Regional 2nd

Brayden Sonnentag    WI  -  Southern Plains Champ

Camron Phetxoumphone    IA

Ryder Block    IA

Koy Buesgens    MN

Kyler Neuberger   WI

Commentary:  Things get really interesting here with a lot of talent and a mish-mash of conflicting results. Volk was your Runner-Up last year to Gehloff. Church was the Akron Runner-Up to Marc-Anthony McGowan. The debut for Church was much anticipated there and he made the most of it, beating Volk, Webster, and Sheen, who had made the finals at Flo. Webster's only loss at Akron was to Church. 

So the pecking order was clear, right? Not so fast. 

Block beat Church at Duals. Volk beat Church, Block, and Webster. Forbes, whose only loss at Flo came to Sheen, also beat Block at Duals, going 4-0. 

Owen, who only lost to the eventual champ (Maxximus Martinez) last year in Fargo, went 7-1 at Duals losing to Phetxoumphone.

I'm gonna tell you who the tough out is gonna be that you might not have seen coming - Caden Horwath. He beat Forbes in Akron then lost in controversial fashion to Volk. He won Central Regions and went undefeated at Duals both up at 106.

Willie's Picks:  1.  Volk (MN)  2. Horwath (MI)   3. Church (PA)  4. Webster (IL)

106lbs. - 2014 Final: Paul Konrath (IN) dec. Ian Timmins (NV), 8-2

Top Contenders:

#16-Trever Anderson  IA   -   2022 Big Board #58

#17-Clarence Moore  CA  -  2023 Big Board #22

Cheaney Schoeff   IN  -  2023 Big Board #89

Benjamin Aranda  IL  -  Returning 5th, Akron 6th, FloNats 3rd

Sean Seefeldt    OH - Returning 6th

Jacob Van Dee    PA  - Returning 7th

Matt Ellis    OH  -  FloNats 5th

Carter McCallister    MO  - Akron 5th

Greyson Clark    WI  -  Akron 8th

Caelan Riley    IL  - Southern Plains Champ

Shelton Chastain    OK -  Southern Plains 2nd

Luke Simcox    PA  -  2023 Big Board #75

Mitchell Neiner  WA  -  2023 Big Board #65

Kyle Rice  ID  - Undefeated at Cadet Duals

Gable Porter   IA  -  Undefeated at Cadet Duals

Peyton Fenton  OH

Jayce Caviness    OK

Dario Lemus   CA

Aiden Wilder   CA

Joe Fernau   IL

Commentary: Anderson beat Porter in fs state finals. Fenton beat returning Fargo AA Seefeldt in both state freestyle finals and folkstyle finals. Rice beat McCallister at Duals as did Caviness who only lost to Porter. Caviness also beat Mantanona and Aranda.

Clarence Moore is one of the best incoming freshmen in the country. The question - of course - is if he's ready now. He was 3rd at Western Regionals losing to Andre Gonzalez (who's now at 113, and had a win over Clark, who I'm also very high on. Clark was 7th in Akron with losses to Stevo and Nick Gonzalez, who's also now at 113. 

There aren't too many sure things in Fargo, but I believe this title goes through Anderson. I can see Porter and Fenton being in the hunt, with Rice a sneaky darkhorse.

Willie's Picks:  1. Anderson (IA)  2. Fenton (OH)   3. Moore (CA)  4. Porter  (IA)

113lbs. - 2014 Final: Austin Gomez (IL) tf. Ben Freeman (MI), 11-0

Top Contenders:

#5 (at 106) Andre Gonzales  CA   -  Western Region Champ

#10-Gabe Whisenhunt   OR  -  Akron 6th

#17-Gregor McNeil  NY  -  Canadian Cadet World Team Member

#19-Trae McDaniel  TN - Returning 7th

Abraham Hinrichsen  IL - Returning 4th

Tryon Kaess  WA   -  Returning 8th

Levi Haines    PA  - FloNats 4th

Nicholas Gonzalez    IL  - Akron 7th

Evan Holloway  VA   -  NE Regional Champ

Kamariyon Nelson  IN  -  Central Regional Champ

Santino Robinson    IL  -  Southern Plains Champ

Kendyll Mobley    WA  -  Northwest Champ

Brennen Cernus  OH  -  2022 Big Board #51

Brock Bobzien  CA  -  2022 Big Board #77

Nathan Roth    PA  -  2023 Big Board #20

Zeth Romney  CA  -  Undefeated at JR Duals

Brendan  Howes    MN   -   Undefeated at Duals

Bailey Roybal    IA  -  Undefeated at Duals

Fernando Barretto    CA

Jim Mullin    OK

Dylan Chappell    PA

Stevie Barnes    IA

Braden Basile   FL

Commentary: Romney was undefeated at 106 in JR Duals. Whisenhunt was 9-0 at Cadet Duals and Howes was 5-0.

Roybal was 4-0 at Cadet Duals and beat Mullin and Reid Nelson. But he took 4th at Northern Plains, losing to McDaniel and Gonzalez.

Basile was 7-1 at Duals. His only loss was to Barnes whose only loss was to Chappell. Hinrichsen was 3-2.

I really like the progress of Holloway. He was great in winning the Northeast Regional, as if he had jumped levels from the last time I saw him.

I think 113 has a really strong group of rather uncredentialled freestylers. I look for guys like Gonzalez, Bobzien, and Cernus to play a major part in how this bracket plays out. 

One of the guys I want to see most is Kamariyon Nelson. His results are encouraging - he teched his way through Central Regional, including over Schoeff. 

Willie's Picks:   1. Cernus (OH)   2. Haines (PA)   3. Whisenhunt (OR)   4. McDaniel (TN)  

120lbs. - 2014 Final: Dylan Duncan (IL) dec. Yianni Diakomihallis (NY), 12-4

Top Contenders:

#8-Nicolas Rivera    WI  - Returning Champ, FloNats Runner-Up, Akron 4th

#14-Zeke Seltzer   IN   -  Returning 6th, Akron 6th, FloNats 7th

Jack Maida    NJ  - Returning 7th

Rocco Welsh    PA   - FloNats 5th

Brennan Van Hoecke  FL  -  SE Regional Champ

Garrett Grice   NE  -  Northern Plains Champ

Jackson Arrington    PA   -  2022 Big Board #63

Hunter Garvin    IA  -  2022 Big Board #68

Finn  Solomon    PA  -  2022 Big Board #90

Gavin Drexler    WI  -  2022 Big Board #98

Nasir Bailey    IL  - 2023 Big Board #6

Hunter Mason    TN  -  2023 Big Board #23

Ethan Stiles    IL  -  2023 Big Board #35

Joey Cape    IL

Nain Vazquez    IL

Nash Singleton   OR

Max Shore    OH

Jacob Mann    MO

Commentary:  Rivera beat Yusief Lillie in last year's 106lb. final. He lost to Jake Rundell (who's now a Fargo JR) in FloNats finals this year. He also took 4th in Akron where he beat Seltzer in a 8-6 dandy. 

Seltzer beat Nasir in Central Regional finals. Drexler won a super deep Western Region, beating Larkin in the finals with Garvin and Nash Singleton going 3rd and 4th. You'll come to know both Nasir Bailey and Gavin Drexler in due time. Nasir was the only 8th grader to place at Super 32 last fall. 

Drexler was also 9-0 at Duals with wins over Mann, Welsh and Max Black. Singleton went 9-0 too, but didn't hit any of the contenders here.

Rocco Welsh should be a major factor. He's had a bit of a rough go at majors. Although he placed 5th at Flo, he also made the quarterfinals at Fargo last year and missed weight on day two and was injured at Akron this year. He was 7-1 at Duals losing only to Drexler.

Vasquez beat Cape in Illinois state freestyle finals. Grice beat Vasquez on his way to the Northern Plains title. Cape beat PA folk champ Arrington at Duals. 

Willie's Picks:  1.  Rivera (WI)  2. Seltzer (IN)   3. Welsh (PA)   4. Drexler (WI)  

126lbs. - 2014 Final: Chad Red (IN) dec. Jaden Enriquez (CA), 4-3

Top Contenders:

#5 (at 120)-Nic Bouzakis   FL  -  2022 Big Board #2

#11-Derrick Cardinal    MN  -  Northern Plains Champ

#17-Ramon Ramos    AZ  -  FloNats 5th

#18 (at 132)-Kal Miller    MO  - Returning 7th

Chase DeBlaere    MN  -  Akron 6th

Eli Rocha    MO   -   Southern Plains Champ

Alejandro Herrera-Rondon  PA   -  2021 Big Board #6

Kaleb Larkin    AZ  - 2022 Big Board #54

Thomas Crook    FL  -  2022 Big Board #69

Cole Homet    PA  -  2022 Big Board #92

DyVaire VanDyke   OH  - 2023 Big Board #11

Nicco Ruiz    CA  -  2023 Big Board #95

Kyren Butler   OH 

David Panone  GA

Carter Schubert  NY

Aiden Riggins    IA

Commentary: Quite clearly one of the most exciting weights in Cadets. Bouzakis is the clear favorite, but there are land mines everywhere and guys that - in my book - are really trending up, namely: Cardinal, Ramos, Miller, DeBlaere, and Larkin.

Bouzakis lost a nail biter to Ybarra and then defaulted out of Akron. 

Cardinal beat Riggins in Northern Plains finals. Miller beat DeBlaere at the same tournament up at 132. Ramos beat Miller to win Western Regions. 

Ramon Ramos beat Miller earlier in the year to win Western Regional.

Pay major attention to Dy'Vaire Van Dyke, an incoming freshman who just might be the next big Ohio star. He won Central Regional. On the flip side, he was teched by Butler in state freestyle finals. 

Now let's talk about Ali Herrera. He was #1 in the country at 113 this year after beating Cadet World Champ Kurt McHenry. But two things then happened. 1) He moved up in weight - a lot. And 2) he's wrestling freestyle, which doesn't allow him to employ his excellent riding ability. His only loss at Duals was to Cardinal, though he did lose to Mesenbrink (who's at 132) at NE Regional. Down at 126 and in full freestyle mode, I think we see a really good performance from him.  

Willie's Picks:  1. Bouzakis (FL)   2. Cardinal (MN)   3. Herrera-Rondon (PA)   4. Van Dyke (OH)

132lbs. - 2014 Final: Nick Lee (IN) tf. Jaime Hernandez (IL), 11-0

Top Contenders:

#11-Mitchell Mesenbrink    WI   -  FloNats 3rd

Michael Kilic  GA  - FloNats 7th

Mathew Bianchi    WI  -  Northern Plains Champ

Hayden Taylor    IA  -  2022 Big Board #40

Robert  Avila    IA  -  2022 Big Board #47

Kyler Lake    CA  -  2022 Big Board #78

Patrick Jordan    VA  -  2023 Big Board #91

Dom Baker    VA   -  2022 Big Board #94

Nate Burnett   OH

Matt Koontz  IN

Jack Milos    IL

Keegan Luton    OK

Commentary:  A really, really young weight with, amazingly, not a single wrestler who placed in Fargo or Akron. There are two each from Wisconsin and Iowa that I have my eyes on.

Mesenbrink had a sensational spring, beating Alejandro Herrera at NE Regionals and then placing 3rd at FloNats where he beat Kilic, Ramos, and 2x Fargo finalist Ryan Franco. Bianchi won Northern Plains where Taylor was 3rd. He also sahhh-moked everyone at Duals with 8 techs and a 9-4 win over Illinois' 2xer Dean Hamiti. Stock way up after a DNP at FloNats.

Taylor and Avila are the Iowans I'm on. I think Taylor is eventually a top prospect at the upperweights with his long frame. Avila had a good Fargo last year but has just missed on placing at majors. He lost to two Georgians - Caleb Henson and Matt Singleton last year. 

Both Taylor and Avila went 4-0 at Duals with Taylor beating Chase DeBlaere. Milos' only loss was to Herrera. 

Willie's Picks:  1. Mesenbrink (WI)  2. Bianchi (WI)   3. Taylor (IA)  4. Lake (CA)

138lbs. - 2014 Final: Ethan Karsten (MO) tf. Shayne Oster (IL), 10-0

Top Contenders:

Cody Chittum    TN  -  Returning 5th

Austin Dalton   OR   -  Northwest Region Champ

Kage Lenger    MO  -  Southern Plains Champ

Logan Rathjen    MO  -  Southern Plains Champ

Jason Smith    NJ  -  Undefeated at Duals

Antrell Taylor   NE  -  2022 Big Board #37

Gavin Brown  OH  -  2022 Big Board #50

Jared Keslar    PA   -  2022 Big Board #65

Cole Becker    MN  -  2022 Big Board #86

Garrison Dendy  GA  -  2022 Big Board #88

Josh Barr  MI  -  2023 Big Board #5

Logan Ours    OH

John Wiley    OK

Tim Smith    OH

Evan Bennett    OH

Commentary: Another middleweight without a whole lot of credentialled guys. Chittum is the favorite, at least on paper. He's your only returning placer (5th) and won Western Regionals.

I think a real threat would be a surprise to most. John Wiley has flown mostly under the radar. A week after placing 4th in his region, he went to the state tournament and won the title by beating Carter Young. He backed it up by winning the state title in freestyle before going a perfect 7-0 at Duals.

Brown beat Barr in Central Regional finals. Both are future stars, in my opinion. Brown won a state title as a freshman and Barr won Folk Nats.

Smith went 7-0 at Duals for Team NJ. 

The last guy I want to mention is Antrell Taylor. He's uber talented and has been incredibly consistent.

Willie's Picks:  1. Chittum (TN)   2. Wiley (OK)   3. Taylor (NE)   4. Brown (OH)

145lbs. - 2014 Final: Jared Verkleeren (PA) tf. Matthew Park (ID), 11-0

Top Contenders:

#14-Paniro Johnson  PA   -  FloNats  6th

#18-Matt Singleton  GA  -  FloNats Runner-Up

#20 (at 138)-Dean Hamiti    IL  - Akron 4th

Erik Gibson    PA  -  FloNats  5th

CJ Hamblin  WA   -   Western Region Champ

Manuel Monroy   OR  -  Northwest Region Champ

Cael  Berg    MN   -  2021 Big Board #72

Nick Vafiadis    VA  -  2022 Big Board #25

Travis Ragland    VA   -   2022 Big Board #40

Brayden Thompson  IL  -  2023 Big Board #12

Cayden Auch    MO

Ryan Dolezal    WI

Commentary:  A strong tier at the top but within that tier is conflicting results. Singleton beat Johnson (who had beaten Bobby Perez) in FloNats.

Hamiti had a breakout summer. He beat Perez, Berg, FloNats Champ Zargo (who beat Singleton), and Fargo Runner-Up Luke Geog in Akron. 

Berge beat Doelzal in Northern Plains finals. Ragland beat Vafiadis to win NE Regional. Johnson was 3rd in that bracket. 

Pay attention to Erik Gibson, one of PA's rising stars. Likewise, Brayden Thompson is, next to Perez, the best of the incoming freshmen.

Willie's Picks:  1.  Singleton (GA)  2. Hamiti (IL)  3. Johnson (PA)   4. Gibson (PA)

152lbs. - 2014 Final: Trey Meyer (WA) dec. Johnny Blankenship (MO), 9-7

Top Contenders:

Manny Rojas   MI  - Returning Runner-Up, FloNats 4th

Stoney Buell   MI  -  FloNats 6th

Hunter Lyden  MN  -  Northern Plains Champ

David Brooks    MO  -  Southern Plains Champ

Tyler Lillard    OH  -  Western Region Champ

Andrew Troczynski   NJ   -  Undefeated at Duals

Jared Simma   KS  -  Undefeated at Duals

Dayton Hill    OK  -  Southern Plains 2nd

Caden Ernd  IL   -  Northern Plains 2nd

Micah Norwood    OH  -   2021 Big Board #47

Grant MacKay    PA  -   2023 Big Board #2

Ryder Rogotzke    MN  -  2023 Big Board #10

Ben Kueter  IA    -  2023 Big Board #90

Tate Nichter    PA

Noah Mulvaney    WI

Michael Caliendo    IL

Commentary: Rojas is back as a returning finalist. He lost to Tate Picklo last year at this same weight. Rojas beat Buell in Central Regional finals.

Troczynski is up three weights from a year ago and went 7-0 at Duals with wins over Kueter, Rogotzke, and McGill. Simma and Lyden were also unbeaten at Duals 

McKay, who is one of the best incoming freshmen in the country, beat Troczynski in the 3rd place bout at NE Regionals. Like all youngsters, it's tough to tell just where he's at right now. He won the PA freestyle title over Erik Gibson, but also dropped a couple bouts at Duals.

Another guy I like to make a run is St. Edward's Tyler Lillard who won the Western Regional and then the Ohio state freestyle title over Norwood, who was injured in the process. Norwood was a state runner-up in folk.

Willie's Picks:  1. Lillard (OH)   2. Rojas (MI)  3. Norwood (OH)  4. MacKay (PA)   

160lbs. - 2014 Final: Brandon Dallavia (NJ) dec. Owen Webster (MN), 11-7

Top Contenders:

#18-Clayton Whiting  WI  -  Northern Plains Champ

#20--Adam Ahrendsen    IA

Jake Prudek    CA  -  Western Region Champ

Kamdyn Monroe  GA  -  SE Regional Champ

Carter Sorenson    MN  - Undefeated in Duals

Mac Stout    PA  - 2022 Big Board #73

Enzo Morlacci    PA  -  2022 Big Board #76

Nick Hall    DE  -  2022 Big Board #91

Christian Carroll   IN   -  2023 Big Board #52

Harrison Trahan    PA

Trent Munoz    CA

Bradley Gillum    IL

Commentary:  Clayton Whiting has been on a tear, emerging as one of the best Sophomores in the nation. He won a state title as a freshman and then won Folk Nats. At Duals he went 9-0 with eight techs and an 8pt. win. He's among my strongest picks for the title.

Sorenson was 3-0 and Duals. Prudek was 6-1 losing only to Ernd, who's at 152. Prudek beat Monroe.

Trahan beat Stout in PA state freestyle finals. He was 4-2 at Duals with wins over Ahrendsen and Monroe and losses to Whiting and Ernd.

This will be the national debut for Christian Carroll, who was undefeated at Duals up at 170. 

Willie's Picks:  1. Whiting (WI)  2. Carroll (IN)  3. Prudek (CA)  4. Sorenson (MN)

170lbs. - 2014 Final: Beau Breske (WI) dec, Kamal Bey (IL), 9-6

Top Contenders: 

#8-Tate Picklo    OK  - Returning Champ

#4-Rylan Rogers    WA  - Returning 6th, Akron Runner-Up

#11-Leonard Pinto    PA  -  2021 Big Board #33

Branson Britten   TX   - Returning 7th

Tristan Ruhlman  IN  -  Central Regional Champ

Andrew  Wenzel    IL  -  Northwest Region Champ

Evan Canoyer   NE  -  Northern Plains Champ

Porter Faulk  GA  -  Undefeated in Duals

Matt Colajezzi    PA   -  2022 Big Board #93

Brian Soldano    NJ  -  2022 Big Board #33

Justin ONello    NJ

Gavin Nelson    MN

Zayne Lehman     OH

Jackson Jones    OK

Commentary:  Among the best brackets of the entire Fargo Week. It's not often you have this many polished wrestlers in Cadets - and rarer yet - at the upper weights. Picklo is a returning champ that beat Rojas in the finals last year. He also made the Cadet GR World Team in Akron and I think that effected his freestyle performance as he didn't place in that style. 

Pinto and Rogers have split matches this summer. Pinto beat Rogers and Trahan at NE Regionals. Rogers beat Pinto at Journeymen World Classic. Both went undefeated at Duals, with Rogers beating Soldano and Pinto beatin Wenzel - their only losses.

I'd also throw Branson Britten in the top group. He had a fine Fargo last year placing 7th while beating Jake Null (NY) and Aiden Warren (IN)

Canoyer has shown some glimpses. He beat Wenzel in Northern Plains finals. 

Willie's Picks:  1. Pinto (PA)  2. Rogers (WA)  3. Picklo (OK)  4. Ruhlman (IN)

182lbs. - 2014 Final: Keegan Moore (MN) dec. Wyatt Koelling (UT),  7-0

Top Contenders:

Jack Darrah    MO  - FloNats 4th

Mario Tormey    IL  -  Central Regional Champ

Talmadge Carman UT - Western Region Champ

Jimmy Colley   MI  -  Undefeated in Duals

Holden Cypher   NC  -  Undefeated in Duals

Brannigan Reyes    OK  -  Undefeated in Duals

Bennett Berge    MN  -  2022 Big Board #34

Nicholas Feldman    PA  -  2022 Big Board #45

Dezi Johnson  CA  -  2022 Big Board #62

Kaden Glass    OK  -  2022 Big Board #85

Dominic Falcone    PA

Michal Tal-Shahar    FL

Jon List    OH

Hunter Pate    IL

Javen Jovero    CA

Commentary:  Darrah sandwiched a 4th place showing at FloNats between last year's Fargo and this year's Akron where he just missed placing. He's the most experienced in the field and though he's not a heavy favorite, he's at the top of the list of contenders.

Reyes was undefeated at Duals with a win over Gammell. Carmadge lost only to Rylan Rogers. He gave Jovero his only loss at Westerns.

I like several youngsters here to break through. Feldman will be a beast (if he's not already). And Colley was one of the best kids coming in to high school last year. After some initial rough patches, it looks like he's adjusted. He outscored his opponents 95-2 at Cadet Duals. Keep in mind Tormey pinned him en route to the Central Regional title.

I think you could say Berge is on a similar trajectory.

Willie's Picks:  1. Tormey (IL)  2. Berge (MN)  3. Darrah (MO)  4. Feldman (PA)

195lbs. - 2014 Final: Matt Stencel (OH) dec. Kobe Woods (IN), 13-4

Top Contenders:

#4-Seth Shumate    OH  - Returning 5th, Akron Runner-Up

#6-Noah Pettigrew  GA - Returning Champ, Akron 6th

Owen Warren   SD   -  Northern Plains Champ

Jordan Hilford    CA  Western Region Champ

Isaiah Anderson   WA  -  Northwest Region Champ

Evan Anderson    OH  - Central Regional 2nd

Asthon Davis   TN   - SE Regional Champ

Evan Bates  IN  -  Undefeated in Duals

Bennett Tabor    MN  -  2021 Big Board #85

Todd DeGroat  NY  2021 Big Board #93

Wyatt Voelker    IA  -  2022 Big Board #35

Josh Boggan MI

Leighton Jones  IN

Cael Black    PA

Ghee Rachal    IL

Commentary:  It could be a long way to get there but one of the best showdowns could happen at this weight. Returning Champ Pettigrew and Akron Runner-Up Shumate could be on a collision course.

In Akron, Pettigrew, who will be at Blair Academy next year, knocked off then-#2 Silas Allred before getting teched by Kyle Haas. Shumate would make his way to the finals from the other side of the bracket. He lost Haas in the finals 4-4 and 16-5. 

Shumate beat Anderson in Central Regional finals.  Warren beat Tabor in Northern Plains finals. Tabor gave Voelker, who prior to that was on a heckuva run, his only loss at Duals.

Watch for a pair of Indiana boys - Bates went undefeated in Duals and gave Boggan his only loss. And Leighton Jones is one of the best big men prospects coming in to high school next year. 

Willie's Picks:  1. Shumate (OH)  2. Pettigrew (GA)  3. Warren (SD)  4. Bates (IN)

220lbs. - 2014 Final: Gannon Gremmel (IA) dec. Luke Ready (MI), 8-7

Top Contenders:

#9 (at 195)-Kolby Franklin  PA   - Returning Runner-Up, FloNats 4th Akron 7th

#16-Gage Cook  WA   -  Returning 8th

Riley Ucker  OH  -  Returning 7th

Chase Horne  GA  -  Undefeated at Duals

Chase Thompson  FL

Harrison Levans    PA

Dustin Swanson    PA

NathanTaylor    PA

Luke Walker    IA

Justin  Matson    MN

Commentary: Kolby Franklin moves up to 220 after placing at all three Freestyle majors, including reaching last year's final. If he's full-sized he's probably the favorite, though Gage Cook is a big, big boy. Cook's only loss at Duals was when he bumped to HWT. Ucker teched Cook in the 7/8 match in Fargo last year. Those three round out the top tier.

Horne surrendered just a single point in his six matches at Duals. If there's a candidate to break into that top tier, it's him.

PA is sending a good, competitive contingent. And I'm keeping my eyes peeled to see if Colorado sends Bryce Garcia, who was undefeated in Duals.

Willie's Picks:  1. Franklin (PA)   2. Ucker (OH)   3. Cook (WA)   4. Horne (GA)

285lbs. - 2014 Final: Osawaru Odighizuwa (OR) dec. Hunter Mullins (WA), 3-2

Top Contenders:

#4-Hayden Copass    IL  -  Returning Champ

Ethan Kremer   KS  -   Northeast Regional Champ

Jacob Barnes   OR  -  Northwest Region Champ

James Howard    TN   -  Undefeated at JR Duals

Simon Wilson    IL

Amin Toledo    CA

Ryan Elrod    OH

Paulie Robertson    IL

Isaiah Gonzalez    IL

Harrison Schoen    PA

Gunner Treibley    PA

Griffin Liddle    IA

Jaylin Smith     IA

Commentary: Hayden Copass is back as your defending champ and is a heavy, heavy favorite. He's only lost two matches since last Fargo - both in folk to Luke Luffman who was a senior, an Akron finalist, and the #4 HWT in the country. Copass just went 5-0 at Duals.

Ethan Kremer went 9-0 at Duals teching returning Fargo AA Gage Cook, and looks to be the next man up along with Jacob Barnes who lost in the blood round at Fargo last year. 

Howard was undefeated at JR Duals. Quite impressive for a Cadet upperweight. 

Wilson, Elrod, Toledo and Liddle were all state champs in their respective freestyle state. I think Liddle is the best contender among them.

Willie's Picks:  1. Copass (IL)   2. Kremer (KS)  3. Liddle (IA)  4. Howard (TN)

** Additional Confirmed Entries 

113: Brady Hankin, a Colorado State Champ and Western Regional Champ is in the field.

120: The Akron Runner-Up to Richie Figueroa, Jordan Williams will be at 120 and absolute threat. He's ranked #2 at 113.

132: Last year's 113lb Runner-Up to Jakason Burks, Daniel Cardenas will be a title threat.

160: #9-TJ Stewart is entering at 160. He won Freshmen NHSCA's this year and took 3rd at National Preps for St. Johns (DC). He will be at Blair next year and should be considered among the favorites to win the title here in Fargo.