Nauss moves closer to third USMC Junior women’s title; Hamilton keeps Triple Crown hopes alive

Fargo, North Dakota – For about three minutes her 145-pound semifinal bout on Sunday morning, it appeared as if Valerie Hamilton’s quest for a Junior women’s Triple Crown was in serious trouble.

Moments later, Hamilton’s hand was raised after she rallied from an 8-3 deficit to pin California’s Olivia Davis 28 seconds into the second period and keep those Triple Crown hopes alive on the second day of the 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota.

The fall was Hamilton’s fifth in six matches as the Illinois standout’s only stumble was the first period against Davis.

Michigan’s Sabrina Nauss has been nearly flawless in her quest for a third Junior national championship and fifth Fargo title all-time. Nauss, who has a chance to join a group of three other women with at least five Fargo titles, moved into the finals at 235 pounds with an 11-1 technical fall over California’s Angel Hill. Nauss is 4-0 with three falls and one technical fall. Nauss will face Montana’s Tirza Twoteeth, the runner-up at last year’s Junior Nationals at 200 pounds. Twoteeth pinned Oklahoma’s Kinslee Collier in 36 seconds to secure her finals berth.

Returning Junior champions Heather Crull of Indiana and Eduarda Rodrigues of California also reached the finals in their quest to repeat as champions. Crull, wrestling at 105 pounds, went 5-0 with three falls and two technical falls. Crull pinned 2022 16U All-American Ashley Naranjo of Washington at 2:45 in the semifinals and is one of three Indiana finalists, joining 125-pounder Rose Kaplan and 140-pounder Aleksandra Bastaic.

Rodrigues has spent minimal time on the mat, outscoring opponents 52-0 in five technical falls at 155 pounds. Her actual time wrestled thus far: 4 minutes, 41 seconds. Rodrigues’ longest bout was her 11-0 semifinal win over Kansas’ Sage Rosario. It lasted 79 seconds.

Two 2023 16U champions are one win away from claiming Junior titles as Oklahoma’s Lynn Horn and Arizona’s Isis France are both wrestling for gold Sunday evening. Horn reached the 130-pound final after earning her fifth fall of the tournament, a semifinal win in 4:10 over California’s Janie Hauser. Horn is a dynamic thrower with an extensive background in judo, where she’s represented Team USA on age-group world teams in the sport. Horn will face California’s Samantha Sachs in the finals. Horn beat Sachs in the quarterfinals last year and won an 8-8 match on criteria last month at the Junior Duals. Sachs beat Horn at the Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals last fall.

Arizona’s Isis France stormed into the finals with a 84-second technical fall over Michigan’s Margaret Buurma at 135 pounds. France will face Michigan’s Isabella Cepak in the finals. France hasn’t given up a point in her five wins – three by fall and two by technical fall.

Kaylie Hall of West Virginia made history as she reached the Junior finals at 170 pounds. Hall’s 9-2 semifinal win over Ohio’s Alexandria Alli gave West Virginia its first women’s freestyle finalist in history – in either age group. Prior to Hall’s finals appearance, the state’s best finish in women’s freestyle was a pair of third-place finishes a year ago in the 16U Division – one by Hall and another by Violette Lasure, who now represents Pennsylvania. 

Heading into Sunday afternoon’s medal rounds, California led with 59 points, followed by Missouri (37), Pennsylvania (34), Indiana (27) and Illinois (26). Both Pennsylvania and Indiana punched three into Sunday evening’s finals.  California, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arizona and Michigan each had two finalists.

California has 15 All-Americans secured with Pennsylvania following with 11. 

The gold-medal finals will be held during the 6:00 p.m. CT session.

See it live on FloWrestling. https://flosports.link/4asFX5c

2024 U.S. Marine Corps Junior & 16U Nationals

Junior Women's Freestyle

Finals pairings

95 pounds

Kinlee Brandley (UT) vs. Samantha Bertini (MA)

100 pounds

Katey Valdez (CO) vs. Valarie Solorio (PA)

105 pounds

Heather Crull (IN) vs. Aroma Marrufo (MO)

110 pounds

Chloe Dearwester (OH) vs. Taylor Whiting (WI)

115 pounds

Zao Estrada (SC) vs. Cassidy Benwell (MO)

120 pounds

Aspen Blasko (MN) vs. Savannah Witt (PA)

125 pounds

Rose Kaplan (IN) vs. Karlee Brooks (AZ)

130 pounds

Lynn Horn (OK) vs. Samantha Sachs (CA)

135 pounds

Isis France (AZ) vs. Isabella Cepak (MI)

140 pounds

Haylie Jaffe (POA) vs. Aleksandra Bastaic (IN)

145 pounds

Valerie Hamilton (IL) vs. Sarah Henckel (CT)

155 pounds

Eduarda Rodrigues (CA) vs. Ugochi Anunobi (MD)

170 pounds

Kaylie Hall (WV) vs. Kali Hayden (OK)

190 pounds

Isabella Phillips (WA) vs. Ella Murphey (TN)

235 pounds

Sabrina Nauss (MI) vs. Tirza Twoteeth (MT)

Semifinal results

95 pounds

Kinlee Brandley (UT) pin Mya Hairston (MO) 1:47

Samantha Bertini (MA) pin Annalise Maralit (South Carolina) 1:13

100 pounds

Katey Valdez (CO) dec. Makennah Craft (OH) 4-2

Valarie Solorio (PA) tech fall Zoey Haney (MO) 10-0, 1:59

105 pounds

Heather Crull (IN) pin Ashley Naranjo (WA) 2:45

Aroma Marrufo (MO) dec. Addie Morse (OK) 4-1

110 pounds

Chloe Dearwester (OH) pin Abbi Cooper (CA) 2:50

Taylor Whiting (WI) dec. Mariah Dillard (TX) 7-6

115 pounds

Zao Estrada (SC) pin Harlee Hiller (IL) 2:02

Cassidy Benwell (MO) dec. Leiannah Landreth (KS) 15-6

120 pounds

Aspen Blasko (MN) tech fall Shayna Ward (CA) 11-0, 2:13

Savannah Witt (PA) dec. Calli Gilchrist (CT) 12-9

125 pounds

Rose Kaplan (IN) pin Alejandra Valdivienzo (CA) 4:16

Karlee Brooks (AZ) dec. Kaidance Gerg (ID) 5-3

130 pounds

Lynn Horn (OK) pin Janie Houser (CA) 4:10

Samantha Sachs (CA) dec. Carley Ceshker (WI) 3-2

135 pounds

Isis France (AZ) tech fall Margaret Buurma (MI) 10-0, 1:24

Isabella Cepak (MI) pin Celeste Detoles (UT) 1:01

140

Haylie Jaffe (PA) tech fall Lexie Ritchie (IL) 10-0, 2:39

Aleksandra Bastaic (IN) dec. Louise Juitt (MO) 10-3

145 pounds

Valerie Hamilton (IL) pin Olivia Davis (CA) 3:28

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

155 pounds

Eduarda Rodriguez (CA) tech fall Sage Rosario (KS) 11-0, 1:19

Ugochi Anunobi (MD) dec. Adriana Palumbo (NY) 12-11

170 pounds

Kaylie Hall (WV) dec. Alexandria Alli (OH) 9-2

Kali Hayden (OK) pin Jael Miller (PA) :45

190 pounds

Isabella Phillips (WA) dec. Genevieve An (GA) 12-10

Ella Murphey (TN) pin Alyssa Favara (PA) 2:41

235 pounds

Sabrina Nauss (MI) tech fall Angel Hill (CA) 11-1, 2:31

Tirza Twoteeth (MT) pin Kinslee Collier (OK) :36