Day one Fargo is in the books and now it's time for the Juniors to get started. Here are our initial thoughts on the brackets and favorite early matches.

100 lbs

We may see some future stars emerge from this weight, but not too much in the way of established names. The finals match is always fireworks at this weight, however.

106 lbs

#4 Christian Forbes is the main heavy hitter at 106. He’ll have California’s Keith Moreno for his first match and that’s all it will take to make it to the round of 16. 

Round of 16

#4 Christian Forbes, OK vs Marco Tocci, PA

Brandon Morvari, MN vs Nico Tocci, PA

113 lbs

With nine ranked wrestlers, this weight class is incredibly deep. While it doesn’t look like any of those ranked wrestlers are going to hit each other in the first couple of rounds, I will say the top quarter is ridiculous. #4 Braeden Davis, #6 (106) Gylon Sims, #10 Caleb Thoennes, and unranked but solid Drew Heethuis are all in that top quarter.

It also looks like Georgia’s Cole Hunt decided to make the cut down to 113. He could do some damage if the weight isn’t an issue.

Round of 32

#10 Caleb Thoennes, MI vs Drew Heethuis, MI

120 lbs

Pretty good separation here at 120. There are a couple of matches in the round of 64 worth watching, however.

Round of 64

#9 Jett Strickenberger, CO vs Ethan Perryman, CA

Mitchell Neiner, WA vs Braden Graff, IA

126 lbs

This is one of the deepest weights of the week in Fargo, but we ended up with pretty good separation until the round of 32. In the round of 64, circle Dean Peterson vs Vincent Robinson as an electric early bout. Both guys are favorites to AA, but someone will have to do so from the backside.

Round of 64

#2 Dean Peterson vs #11 Vincent Robinson

132 lbs

I’m not sure how many brackets in the world have ever had a round of 256. This one does, and in that round, we will see Parker Witcraft vs Ryder Block. These two have national level credentials, and Block is currently the #16 man in the country. In the round of 128, we’ll see a super solid and freestyle savvy Elijah Paulson take on #6 Hunter Mason. The round of 64 has several outstanding bouts as well.

Round of 256

Parker Witcraft vs #16 Ryder Block

Round of 128

Elijah Paulson vs #6 Hunter Mason

Round of 64

Spencer Barnhart vs Korbin Shepherd

Danny Nini vs Nash Singleton

Nasir Bailey vs Derrick Cardinal

138 lbs

The round of 128 will see two absurdly tough matchups. The first is between Joel Jesuroga of Iowa and Jimmy Harrington of Massachusetts. The second sees Minnesota’s Chasae DeBlaere against Florida’s #13 Tom Crook. The winner of that bout is likely to see a super solid Jordan Cullors of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma in the round of 64. Also circle #16 Brandan Chletsos vs Ramon Ramos in the round of 64.

Round of 128

Joel Jesuroga vs Jimmy Harrington

Chase DeBlaere vs #13 Tom Crook

Round of 64

DeBlaere/Crook vs Jordan Cullors

#16 Brandan Chletsos vs Ramon Ramos

145 lbs

This bracket is loaded, but it also has pretty solid separation. There’s an exception to that rule though, and that comes in the round of 256 between Iowa’s Robert Avila and Missouri’s Kal Miller. This could be an all star matchup on many high school wrestling cards, but we’re seeing it right away.

Round of 256

Robert Avila vs Kal Miller

152 lbs

#4 Cael Swenson of Minnesota and future SDSU commit looms in the round of 16 for the winner. Swenson has a tough second match in the round of 128 against Justin Crutchmer of Arkansas.

Round of 256

#16 Jonathan Ley, FL vs Thor Michaelson, WA

Round of 32

#9 Mitchell Mesenbrink, WI vs #19 Nick Fea, NY

160 lbs

With 10 ranked wrestlers in this bracket, it was a safe bet we’d see some great matchups right away. We’ll see a top 10 match-up in the round of 64 when Caliendo and Welsh square-off. Then in the round of 32, two top 20 wrestlers, Weston and Gaitan, will be tested by guys looking to crack the rankings.

Round of 64

#5 Michael Caliendo, IL vs #8 Rocco Welsh, PA

Round of 32

#13 Robert Weston, GA vs Holden Garcia PA

#14 Manuel Gaitan, CA vs Adam Thebeau, IL

170 lbs

Iowa State commit, and the favorite at 170 will face off against a tough Portella from New Jersey in the round of 32. #14 Brayden Thompson and Mikey Dellagatta will also meet in the round of 32 and should be a good early test for Thompson.

Round of 32

#14 Brayden Thompson, IL vs Mikey Dellagatta

#4 Manny Rojas, MI vs Sabino Portella, NJ

182 lbs

You can bet there will be some college coaches watching the early round matchup between two uncommitted top 20 wrestlers in Stewart and Cotton. 

Round of 128

#20 Deanthony Parker, IL vs Griffin Gammell, IA

Round of 64

#9 TJ Stewart, MD vs #18 Remy Cotton, MI

Round of 32

#3 Brian Soldano, NJ vs Adam Ahrendsen, IA

195 lbs

Seven top 20 wrestlers in the bracket but we won’t get a ranked matchup before the round of 16. 

Round of 128

#9 Caden Rogers, PA vs Luke Rasmussen, SD

AH Heeg, OK vs Logan Badge, MI

Round of 64

Max Ramberg, WI vs Jacob Meissner, MN

220 lbs

Future Boilermaker #6 Ben Vanadia could be future Tar Heel Pettigrew’s obstacle in the round of 16.

Round of 64

#4 (at 195) Martin Cosgrove, NJ vs Alex Semenenko, NY

Classic NJ vs NY battle early. Penn commit Cosgrove could see #13 Kaleb Runyon and future UNI Panther later in the round of 16.  

Round of 32

#4 Noah Pettigrew, GA vs Ghee Rachal, IL

285 lbs

Boersma and Fleshman’s results could have team race ramifications. #1 Chase Horne and #3 Harley Andrews are both on the bottom but won’t meet until the semis. 

Round of 128

#8 Xavier Doolin, MO vs Ryan Boersma, IL

Round of 64

John Wiese, OK vs Easton Fleshman, IA