Day 2 preview: Junior Women and 16U Women finals set, team title races up for grabs

Day two of Fargo week brings us the completion of the women’s competitions, with both the Junior Nationals and the 16U Nationals finishing up. Fans enjoy the new format, with the gold-medal finals of both tournaments held side-by-side on the two raised mats at the end of the arena. Fans in the arena will be able to see a ton of great wrestling at the same time, with our nation’s best young women on display at the same time. Folks back home will need to have both mats called up on their browser so they don’t miss any of the excitement

Junior Semifinals Pairings

95 pounds

Mya Hairston (MO) vs. Kinlee Brandley (UT)

Samantha Bertini (MA) vs. Annalise Maralit (SC)

100 pounds

Katey Valdez (CO) vs. Makennah Craft (OH)

Zoey Haney (MO) vs. Valarie Solorio (PA)

105 pounds

Heather Crull (IN) vs. Ashley Naranjo (WA)

Addie Morse (OK) vs. Aroma Marrufo (MO)

110 pounds

Chloe Dearwester (OH) vs. Abbi Cooper (CA)

Taylor Whiting (WI) vs. Mariah Dillard (TX)

115 pounds

Zao Estrada (SC) vs. Harlee Hiller (IL)

Leiannah Landreth (KS) vs. Cassidy Benwell (MO)

120 pounds

Shayna Ward (CA) vs. Aspen Blasko (MN)

Calli Gilchrist (CT) vs. Savannah Witt (PA)

125 pounds

Rose Kaplan (IN) vs. Alejandra Valdiviezo (CA)

Kaidance Gerg (ID) vs. Karlee Brooks (AZ)

130 pounds

Lynn Horn (OK) vs. Janie Houser (CA)

Samantha Sachs (CA) vs. Carley Ceshker (WI)

135 pounds

Isis France (AZ) vs. Margaret Buurma (MI)

Celeste Detoles (UT) vs. Isabella Cepak (MI)

140 pounds

Haylie Jaffe (PA) vs. Lexi Ritchie (IL)

Louise Juitt (MO) vs. Aleksandra Bastaic (IN)

145 pounds

Valerie Hamilton (IL) vs. Olivia Davis (CA)

Sarah Henckel (CT) vs. Sydney Perry (IL)

155 pounds

Eduarda Rodrigues (CA) vs. Sage Rosario (KS)

Adriana Palumbo (NY) vs. Ugochi Anunobi (MD)

170 pounds

Alexandria Alli (OH) vs. Kaylie Hall (WV)

Kali Hayden (OK) vs. Jael Miller (PA)

190 pounds

Genevieve An (GA) vs. Isabella Phillips (WA)

Alyssa Favara (PA) vs. Ella Murphey (TN)

235 pounds

Sabrina Nauss (MI) vs. Angel Hill (CA)

Kinslee Collier (OK) vs. Tirza Twoteeth (MT)

Key semifinals matches to watch

125 – No. 2 seed Karlee Brooks (AZ) vs. No. 3 seed Kaidance Gerg (ID)

What more could ask for? It’s a battle between a returning champion in Gerg, who has dropped in weight from last year, and a 2023 U17 World Team member in Brooks, who brings joy and excitement to every match she wrestles. Brooks developed her craft at Valient College Prep and refined it at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center. Gerg does not wrestle for a high school team and focuses on freestyle and can put points on the scoreboard. In the national rankings, Brooks is No. 1 at 120 and Gerg is No. 3 at 125.

100 – No. 1 seed Katie Valdez (CO) vs. No. 4 seed Makenna Craft (OH)

This one should be a war. In the national rankings at 100, Valdez is No. 5 and Craft is No. 7, but both are fully capable of winning this weight class. Valdez was injured and missed the high school season, but is rounding into form just in time for Fargo. Craft was impressive on Saturday, totally dominating her quarterfinals match, Craft was second in the 2022 Junior Nationals, while Valdez was third in the 2023 Junior Nationals. They both have high skill and a scrappy style, which could lead to fireworks.

145 - No. 2 seed Sydney Perry (IL) vs. No. 3 seed Sarah Henckel (CT)

Both of these wrestlers have finals experience in Fargo, with Perry winning the 2022 Junior Nationals and placing second in the 2023 Junior Nationals, while Henckel won the 2022 16U Nationals. On paper, Perry seems to have more experience and achievements, but Henckel always shows up for the big events. Henckel often wrestles at higher weight classes in the 150s, and may be able to use her size to her advantage.

The Junior Team Race

On paper, California looks like it could run away with things, with eight in the semifinals and 19 in the consolation rounds. However, a slip-up in the semis could open the door for Missouri and Pennsylvania, which have five in the semifinals and enough help in the consolations to make it interesting.

16U Semifinals Pairings

88 pounds

Brynn Engel (WI) vs. Kylee Tran (OK)

Katelyn Rowles (IN) vs. Lily Enos (IL)

94 pounds

Justice Gutierrez (CO) vs. Libertie Nigh (OH)

Natalie Radecki (DE) vs. Makayla Smith (PA)

100 pounds

Jaclyn Bouzakis (PA) vs. Angelica Serratos (CA)

Ryleigh Sturgill (TN) vs. Madison Nieuwenhuis (MI)

106 pounds

Marlee Solomon (CA) vs. Marie Sharp (NJ)

Julia Horger (PA) vs. Bianca Eide (MN)

112 pounds

Kayla Batres (CT) vs. Nakayla Dawson (MI)

Lilly Quintanilla (WY) vs. Charlie Wylie (NJ)

118 pounds

Cheyenne Frank (MI) vs. Emjay Neumann (WI)

Carolyn Geckler (OH) vs. Haley Gonzales (NY)

124 pounds

Mekala James (CA) vs. Kailin Sebert (TX)

Ariella Dobin (IL) vs. Victoria Carbonaro (NJ)

130 pounds

Riley Hanrahan (WI) vs. Taina Mcgowan (NJ)

Kalynn Lyons (NE) vs. Caroline Hilton (TN)

136 pounds

Taina Fernandez (MD) vs. Meadow Mahlmeister (MT)

Corynne McNulty (MA) vs. Maddie Marsh (IN)

142 pounds

Violette Lasure (PA) vs. Dulcy Martinez (CA)

Harlow Skenandore (WI) vs. Greta Garbuzovas (GA)

148 pounds

Kaili Manuel (MI) vs. Ryen Hickey (CO)

Ella Poalillo (NJ) vs. Veronica Madrid (KS)

155 pounds

Jayci Shelton (MO) vs. Laila Hustoles (OK)

Janiya Johnson (TN) vs. Sarah Pulk (MN)

170 pounds

Matilda Hruby (CO) vs. Emily Carvalho (CA)

Millie Azlin (OK) vs. Miley Walz (IA)

190 pounds

Brooke Huffman (WI) vs. Mia Cienega (WA)

Olivia Ruacho (CA) vs. Tevia Nau Rarick (UT)

235 pounds

Brenda Banks (PA) vs. Mackenna Atkinson (PA)

Phoenix Molina (IL) vs. Deionna Borders (OH)

Key semifinals matches to watch

130 – No. 1 Riley Hanrahan (WI) vs. No. 5 Taina McGowan (NJ)

The seeding in Fargo is based upon USA Wrestling’s PIN ratings, which bases everything on an athlete’s body of work, and how they do against specific opponents. The national rankings are selected by a committee and might be considered more subjective. No. 1 seed Hanrahan is ranked No. 16 at 130 pounds, while No. 4 seed McGowan is ranked No. 3 at 130 pounds. Which is right, the PIN or the ranking committee?

190 – No. 1 Brooke Huffman (WI) vs. No. 4 Mia Cienega (WA)

A look at the national rankings places Huffman is No. 11 and Cienega at No. 18 at this weight class. Both were second at the 16U Nationals last year, with Huffman at 180 pounds and Cienega at 200 pounds. They meet in the middle this year. Both have had strong spring seasons, but Huffman’s 16U Folkstyle National title and an undefeated run at the 16U National Duals gives her some deserved confidence

124 - Mekala James (CA) vs. Kailin Sebert (TX)

Haven’t heard of these athletes? You are not alone. But it will be great to see which of these can reach the finals. No. 17 seed James shocked the tournament with her 8-6 win over returning champion Emma Bacon in the round of 16, then a technical fall win in the quarterfinals. Sebert, the No. 4 seed, won an 8-8 criteria win over No. 5 seed Julissa Ortiz of Pennsylvania in the quarterfinals. Can James continue her magical run through the bracket, or will Sebert cool her off with a winning performance of her own?

16U Team Race

You can’t get any more tied than California and Pennsylvania is after the quarterfinals. Both teams have 42 points and both teams have six in the semifinals. Pennsylvania has a slight edge with 11 in the consolations. The next two teams, tied in third, are New Jersey and Wisconsin, and although they have five in the semis, neither have a lot in the consis. This one could go down right to the final few matches on Saturday evening.

Will there finally be a Girls Triple Crown winner at Junior or 16U levels?

After the first two years of having the Triple Crown at the Junior and 16U levels, there has not been anyone who could win the three required stages. That could change tomorrow. Valerie Hamilton of Illinois, the No. 1 seed at 145, remain eligible at the Junior level, while Kaili Manuel of Michigan, the No. 1 seed at 148 pounds, remains in the hunt at 148 pounds. Both are ranked high nationally, with Hamilton at No. 2 at 145, while Manuel is No 3 at 155. Will they both break through and make history?

Another Day at the Beach

For wrestlers who are no longer competing in the women’s events in Fargo, there is a Beach Wrestling Tournament set for 3:00 p.m. at Gastropub Volleyball. Girls in both Junior and 16U divisions are invited. This is the third year of a Beach Wrestling option alongside this tournament, and wrestlers and their families are encouraged to compete and have some fun, as well.  

Sunday, July 14th

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon - Session III

16U Girls/Junior Girls: Semifinals (2 Mats); Consolation and Consolation Semifinals (3 Rds)   

12:00 noon – 2:00 p.m. – Session IV

16U Girls/Junior Girls: 3rd-8th Medal Matches 

2:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Beach Wrestling - 16U Girls & Junior Girls at Gastropub Volleyball 3234 43rd St S, Fargo, ND 58104, Check in at 2:30 p.m., Competition at 3:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. - Session V

16U/Junior Girls: Parade of Champions and Championship Finals