Nieuwenhuis advances, Manuel remains in the hunt for Triple Crown Award as 16U semifinals are set

FARGO, N.D. - The first day of action inside the Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State University is complete. The 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Junior & 16U Nationals kicked off with women’s freestyle competition, which was completed through the quarterfinals on Saturday night, setting up an exciting Sunday tournament.

Entering the quarterfinals, there were a total of 30 previous All-Americans on the championship side of the bracket. Following the quarterfinal round, just 15 remain in contention to win a 2024 16U National Title.

Madison Nieuwenhuis of Michigan is the lone returning champion that is still alive on the championships side of the bracket. Nieuwenhuis, competing at 100 pounds, collected victories over Morghan Shultz of Nebraska, Summer Mutschler of Maryland, Ava Schultz of Minnesota, and Katie Biscoglia of Iowa en route to the semifinals. Nieuwenhuis faces Ryleigh Sturgill of Tennessee in the semifinals on Sunday morning.

Kaili Manuel of Michigan is the last contender for the prestigious USA Wrestling Triple Crown Award this year. She advanced to the semifinals after picking up two wins by fall and two by technical fall on Saturday. Manuel won the first two legs of the Triple Crown earlier this year. A victory in the finals on Sunday night would cement Manuel into the history books.

There is an impressive streak occurring this year in the 142-pounds bracket, as Violette Lasure of Pennsylvania has recorded four consecutive wins by fall so far this tournament. Lasure continues her streak from last year, where she secured nine-straight falls, all in the consolation bracket.

At 124 pounds, Me’kala James of California brought down returning champion Emma Bacon of Pennsylvania in an 8-6 decision in the round of sixteen on Saturday afternoon. James then went on to secure a spot in the semifinals, where she will match up against Kailin Sebert of Texas. Four returning All-Americans entered the tournament at 124 pounds, and none advanced to the semifinals.

Taina Fernandez of Maryland cruised to the semifinals at 136 pounds with three technical fall victories and one win by fall. This is the first 16U Nationals for Fernandez, a three-time U15 Pan American Champion.

One of two semifinal bouts at 190 pounds features Brooke Huffman of Wisconsin facing off against Mia Cienega of Washington. Both were national finalists at this tournament last year, Huffman at 180 pounds and Cienega at 200 pounds.

In the team race, California and Pennsylvania are tied for the top spot with 42 points. New Jersey and Wisconsin follow with a score of 35 points. Michigan rounds out the top five with 28 points.  

Action continues at 9 a.m. CT inside the Fargodome. The semifinals and three consolation rounds will be contested in session three, followed by the 3rd-8th medal matches. The finals are slated for a 6 p.m. CT start on Sunday evening.

Follow the action live on FloWrestling, check out full results on FloArena, and join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #Fargo2024.

Click here for the full schedule of the 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Junior & 16U Nationals

1          California, 42 points  

1          Pennsylvania, 42 points                     

3          New Jersey, 35 points

3          Wisconsin, 35 points

5          Michigan, 28 points

6          Colorado, 21 points

6          Illinois, 21 points

6          Ohio, 21 points

6          Oklahoma, 21 points

6          Tennessee, 21 points

11        Minnesota, 16 points

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

Me’kala 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)

88 pounds

Brynn Engel (WI) tech. fall Anabelle Wessel (NY), 10-0

Kylee Tran (OK) dec. Fern Jewett (MA), 10-6

Katelyn Rowles (IN) pin Cadence Grulla (GA), 2:17

Lily Enos (IL) dec. Kayla Pastika (MN), 6-0

94 pounds

Justice Gutierrez (CO) dec. Khyla Lipumano (AZ), 8-1

Libertie Nigh (OH) dec. Kiana Lien (CA), 10-4

Natalie Radecki (DE) pin Alliya Walker (VA), 1:36

Makayla Smith (PA) pin Siera Becker (IA), 2:58

100 pounds

Jaclyn Bouzakis (PA) tech. fall Dilynn Albrecht (WI), 10-0

Angelica Serratos (CA) dec. Lilly Breeden (MO), 3-2

Ryleigh Sturgill (TN) pin Killian Evans (MO), 3:30

Madison Nieuwenhuis (MI) tech. fall Katie Biscoglia (IA), 10-0

106 pounds

Marlee Solomon (CA) tech. fall Chloe Skiles (IL), 10-0

Marie Sharp (NJ) dec. Abigail Gonzalez (FL), 4-3

Julia Horger (PA) pin Camryn Gresham (OH), 2:29

Bianca Eide (MN) dec. Ella Cohen (CA), 8-7

112 pounds

Kayla Batres (CT) tech. fall Nevada Daniels (TX), 10-0

Nakayla Dawson (MI) tech. fall Samiyah Rahming (PA), 10-0

Lilly Quintanilla (WY) dec. Maggie Cornish (CA), 4-1

Charlie Wylie (NJ) tech. fall Kinzie Williams (ID), 11-0

118 pounds

Cheyenne Frank (MI) tech. fall Mackenzie Carder (OH), 14-3

Emjay Neumann (WI) pin Isabella Ndinga Mbappe (OH), 1:02

Carolyn Geckler (OH) dec. Ava Strayer (IN), 7-3

Haley Gonzales (NY) dec. Justice Anthony (WV), 6-4

124 pounds

Mekala James (CA) tech. fall Keanna Conrad (ID), 10-0

Kailin Sebert (TX) dec. Julissa Ortiz (PA), 8-8

Ariella Dobin (IL) tech. fall Franky Groom-frey (WI), 12-1

Victoria Carbonaro (NJ) tech. fall Zorina Johnson (OR), 12-0

130 pounds

Riley Hanrahan (WI) dec. Amelia Poplawski (WI), 12-5

Taina Mcgowan (NJ) tech. fall Brooklyn Perez (AZ), 10-0

Kalynn Lyons (NE) dec. Lauren Zaragoza (CA), 5-3

Caroline Hilton (TN) tech. fall Lilliana Banks (WI), 10-0

136 pounds

Taina Fernandez (MD) tech. fall Camille Rainey (TX), 11-0

Meadow Mahlmeister (MT) dec. Clover Williams (OK), 5-2

Corynne Mcnulty (MA) tech. fall Paisley Denault (MI), 13-2

Maddie Marsh (IN) dec. Timberly Martinez (CO), 9-2

142 pounds

Violette Lasure (PA) pin Carli Antonelli (OK), 1:06

Dulcy Martinez (CA) dec. Roxy Sheen (ID), 10-5

Harlow Skenandore (WI) dec. Lucia Ledezma (CA), 4-2

Greta Garbuzovas (GA) tech. fall Kelice Luker (OK), 10-0

148 pounds

Kaili Manuel (MI) pin Breanne Gibbs (MO), 1:17

Ryen Hickey (CO) dec. Juliet Alt (PA), 8-5

Ella Poalillo (NJ) tech. fall Cassandra Gonzales (MN), 11-0

Veronica Madrid (KS) pin Amalia Djoumessi (IA), 0:35

155 pounds

Jayci Shelton (MO) tech. fall Sara Martinez lopera (IL), 10-0

Laila Hustoles (OK) tech. fall Sarah Eddy (WY), 10-0

Janiya Johnson (TN) tech. fall Rhaigyn Trenary (IN), 10-0

Sarah Pulk (MN) tech. fall Elizabella Laurin (TN), 10-0

170 pounds

Matilda Hruby (CO) pin Addeline Graser (NE), 0:56

Emily Carvalho (CA) pin Carli Vargas (MO), 3:52

Millie Azlin (OK) dec. Elizabeth Madison (OH), 5-3

Miley Walz (IA) dec. Isabella Mcfarlane (FL), 11-2

190 pounds

Brooke Huffman (WI) tech. fall Cambree Anderson (ND), 13-0

Mia Cienega (WA) pin Riley Alborn (OH), 0:23

Olivia Ruacho (CA) dec. Alaina Claassen (PA), 7-1

Tevia nau Rarick (UT) tech. fall Brooklyn Neece (IN), 11-0

235 pounds

Brenda Banks (PA) pin Naomi Gonzalez (NY), 2:50

Mackenna Atkinson (PA) pin Paige Wainscott (OK), 0:35

Phoenix Molina (IL) dec. Jayden Moehle (MO), 10-2

Deionna Borders (OH) pin Shelby Wells (TX), 1:44