Updated: Returning champions dominate first session of USMC Junior/16U Nationals in women’s freestyle

FARGO, N.D. - #Fargo2024 kicked off Saturday, as the USMC Junior and 16U Nationals in women’s freestyle got underway in the FargoDome with the preliminary rounds in both tournaments.

Today is the largest-known female wrestling tournament in history with a total of 1,975 entries. That included 1,137 Junior competitors and 838 16U entries.

It was a strong start for the returning champions in both tournaments, as they dominated all of their first-session opponents

The four returning Junior champions were in command in the first session: Heather Crull of Indiana (105), Kaidance Gerg of Idaho (125), Eduarda Rodrigues of California (155) and Sabrina Nauss of Michigan (235)

Crull, who was also a U17 World bronze medalist last summer, pinned Emily Shoemaker of Utah in 52 seconds in her first match, then secured a 10-0 technical fall over Aubree Butler of New Jersey.

Gerg won her Junior title last year at 138, but has dropped to 125 pounds this season. She scored technical falls in her first three wins, dispatching Ashlynn Kistenmacher of Montana, 10-0, Felicity Davis of Pennsylvania, 11-0 and Jill High of Kansas, 10-0.

Rodrigues had one match this session, a 10-0 technical fall over Autumne Williams of Illinois.

Nauss, who was a 180-pound champion last year, jumped up to 235 for this year’s event. She did not have any matches this session, as she secured a bye and will have her round-of-32 opening match in the second session. Nauss is a graduated senior and has won four career Fargo titles. If she wins a fifth, she will become only the fourth girl to win five or more titles.

There are two returning 16U champions, Madison Nieuwenhuis of Michigan at 100 and Emma Bacon of Pennsylvania, who won the title at 112 last summer, but is competing now at 124.

Niewenhuis won her first two matches by technical fall, stopping Morghan Shultz of Nebraska, 10-0 and Summer Mutschler of Maryland, 10-0.

Bacon scored three straight 10-0 technical falls over Ashley Basmajian of Illinois, Symantha Cherek of Nebraska and Brooke Deeter of Utah.

Returning Junior runners-up remain without a loss: Valarie Solorio of Pennsylvania (100), Harlee Hiller of Illinois (115), Zao Estrada of South Carolina (115), Calli Gilchrist of Connecticut (120), Lexie Lopez of Colorado (125), Sydney Perry of Illinois (145) and Tirza Twoteeth of Montana (235)

Kaylyn Harrill of Nebraska, a 16U runner-up last year at 122, was defeated in her second match at 112 in the 16U bracket, falling to Maggie Cornish of California, 10-5. Harrill was seed

The other returning 16U runners-up all powered forward without a loss: Jaclyn Bouzakis of Pennsylvania (100), Kayla Batres of Connecticut (112), Jayci Shelton of Missouri (155), Brooke Huffman of Wisconsin (190) and Mia Cienega of Washington (190).

There has never been a Triple Crown winner in either the Junior or 16U divisions in girls wrestling. Three top stars came into Fargo after winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown, Junior wrestlers Valerie Hamilton of Illinois (145), and Tilisa Matakaiongo of Utah (235), plus 16U wrestler Kaili Manuel of Michigan (155). A victory on Saturday night in the finals would allow one or more of these athletes to make history.

Hamilton pinned her first two opponents, while Matakaiongo pinned her one opponent. Manuel opened with a two technical falls.

The second session begins at 4:00 p.m. Central Time, and both tournaments are scheduled to compete through the quarterfinal rounds this evening.

FloWrestling is once again the broadcaster for the USMC Junior/16U Nationals. See it all live on FloWrestling.