Fargo Women’s division state highlights, with firsts, records and notable achievements

Fargo, North Dakota – Record entry numbers have become a standard at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals the last several years. Last year, the women’s divisions competed simultaneously after being split since the addition of the 16U women’s division in 2011.

A record 1,137 junior women took to the mats in the Fargodome, with another 838 competing in the 16U division. There were just six wrestlers who opted to compete in both age groups, which used to be a standard practice when the two divisions were spaced out through the week.

Here’s a list of some new records, notable accomplishments and achievements for the state associations in Fargo. NOTE: This is not a state-by-state recap, rather it highlights notable feats from the 2024 women’s divisions.

Alaska: Amelia Fawcett’s third-place finish in the Junior women’s division at 140 pounds was the first Junior women’s All-American for Alaska since McKenzie Cook won the 144-pound title in 2019.

Arizona: Junior women’s titles were won by Karlee Brooks at 125 pounds and Isis France at 135 pounds giving the state its first two Junior women’s champions in history. Brooks and France were just the second and third finalists in the Junior division, with the first coming back in 2014 when Areana Villescusa finished second at 121 pounds. France is the first two-time women’s champion in state history. She won the 16U title last year at 132 pounds.

Arkansas: Despite not hitting the podium in 2024, Arkansas set a state record for entries, bringing 32 wrestlers across both age divisions.

California: The Golden State won its 17^th Junior women’s division championship after placing 15 wrestlers on the podium. The 16U women finished third behind Pennsylvania and New Jersey. California has finished in the top three 12 of the 13 times since the tournament’s inception in 2011. The state crowned three champions – Juniors Samantha Sachs and Eduarda Rodrigues and 16U Mekala James. Alejandra Valdiviezo picked up her fourth career Fargo medal – she’s placed twice in each age group. Mason Harsch earned the tournaments Gorriaran Award, pinning six opponents in 7:33.

Colorado: When Katey Valdez started her Fargo career, she finished third at 94 pounds, then a year later claimed the championship. Last year, Valdez finished third at 100 pounds in the Junior division, and just like her 16U career, she went from third to first in consecutive years. The state’s 16U performance was good enough for a seventh-place finish, the eighth time in state history Colorado has finished in the Top 10 in 16U women.

Connecticut: Calli Gilchrist’s third-place finish at 120 pounds gave her a fourth medal in Fargo, making her the third wrestler in the state’s women’s wrestling history to place at least four times. Cara Broaddus placed five times from 2015-2018 and past U.S. women’s world team member Erin Clodgo was a four-time placewinner, winning two Junior titles from 2005-2008. Clodgo is a Vermont native, but wrestled for Team Connecticut. Junior runner-up Sarah Henckel placed for the third time overall.

Delaware: The First State had its first Fargo All-American on the women’s side with 94-pound runner-up Natalie Radecki. The Caravel Academy state champion was the state’s first finalist in any style since Brent Fleetwood won the 84-pound 16U title in 2010.

Florida: The Florida Junior women had four All-Americans for the second straight year with the top performance coming from Mya Bethel, who finished third at 155 pounds. Bethel was the 2023 16U champ at 152 pounds.

Georgia: With a third-place finish at Junior 190, Genevieve An earned her fourth Fargo medal, joining Amy Hou and Amani Jones as the only four-time placewinners in state history.

Hawaii: Kaylie Zeller and Jahila Miguel both placed in the Junior division, giving Hawaii multiple Junior women’s All-Americans for the first time since 2019. Zeller, a state champion as a junior at Campbell High School, was seventh at 95 pounds while Miguel, a state champion at Baldwin High, was seventh at 155 pounds.

Idaho: Joely Slyter and Kaidance Gerg hit the podium, giving Idaho multiple Junior women’s All-Americans for the fourth consecutive year. Slyter finished fifth at 105 pounds, while Gerg took third at 125. The state also had a pair of 16U All-Americans – Olivia Bezdicek (7^th, 124) and Roxy Sheen (5^th, 142), giving them multiple placers in the 16U division for the first time since 2021.

Illinois: Valerie Hamilton’s Triple Crown was the first Junior Women’s Triple Crown in USA Wrestling history and she was also the first Junior women’s wrestler from the state to earn an Outstanding Wrestler honor. Illinois earned eight medals in the Junior division, its third most all-time behind their state-record nine in 2017 and 2023. The state also had five All-Americans in 16U for the fifth straight tournament.

Indiana: With a title at 105 pounds on Sunday night, Heather Crull became the first wrestler in state history to win multiple Junior women’s championships. Two-time Olympian Kayla Miracle has two titles, but one in each age division, while other Junior champions include two-time Olympian Sarah Hildebrandt and 2016 U17 World bronze medalist Alara Boyd.

Iowa: Iowa had at multiple placewinners in 16U women for the fifth straight tournament. The top performance came at 170 pounds where Miley Walz finished fourth.

Kansas: The state had its best Junior women’s performance since 2008 as five wrestlers placed, led by Leiannah Landreth’s fifth-place finish at 115 pounds. The five All-Americans is also the second-best Junior performance in state history in medals won.

Maryland: With her 136-pound 16U championship, Taina Fernandez won Maryland’s third ever gold medal in the division. Fernandez is just the second wrestler to win a 16U women’s title though as Nebi Tsarni, this year’s Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award Winner by the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, was a two-time 16U champion. Maryland kept alive its tradition of tossing a rubber chicken onto the raised mat for its champions.

Massachusetts: The Bay State set a new state record for medals in the 16U women’s division with three All-Americans including the first finalist in state history in the division. Corynne McNulty finished second at 136 pounds, while Fern Jewett and Sara McLaughlin also hit the podium. Samantha Bertini’s Junior title at 94 pounds gave the state a Junior women’s champion for the third straight year.

Michigan: Kaili Manuel became USA Wrestling’s first 16U women’s Triple Crown winner with a title at 148 pounds. The seven All-Americans in the 16U division was also the new state record, eclipsing the previous high of six set last year. Sabrina Nauss won her fifth title all-time and third Junior championship. She’s one of four women ever to win at least five titles in Fargo, joining Hawaii’s Teshya Alo, Minnesota’s Emily Shilson and California’s Gracie Figueroa. Alo and Shilson won six, while Figueroa won five.

Minnesota: Aspen Blasko won Minnesota’s first Junior women’s title since Ngao Shoua Whitethorn won gold in 2021.

Missouri: With 11 Junior women’s All-Americans, Missouri set a new state record for medals in the division. The previous high was seven, which the state accomplished four other times. The state also finished second in the team standings behind California, it’s highest placement in history and the fifth straight time the state has been in the top six. Of the 30 wrestlers who made the Junior women’s finals on Sunday, only 115-runner-up Cassidy Benwell hadn’t previously placed in Fargo.

Montana: Montana tied its best output for Junior women’s medals with three, led by 235-pound runner-up Tirza Twoteeth. It’s the second straight year Montana had three medalists in the division. Paige Gershmel was seventh at 135 pounds while Gretchen Donally was sixth at 155. Twoteeth matched the state’s best individual performance in the Junior division, equaling her finish from a year ago.

Nebraska: Prior to 2024, the most medals Nebraska had won in 16U women’s freestyle was one – on four different occasions. Nebraska set a new state record with five All-Americans, led by Kalynn Lyons’ fourth-place finish at 130 pounds.

Nevada: With three All-Americans, Nevada tied its best output in its Junior women’s history. Noelani Lutz finished sixth at 120 pounds, Billie Bonwell was fourth at 170 and Maria Aiono was fourth at 190.

New Jersey: No state made a bigger splash compared to its previous perforamnces than New Jersey did in the 16U division. Prior to 2024, the Garden State’s best team placement was a 10^th-place finish in 2013 with four All-Americans. In 2024, New Jersey was second behind Pennsylvania in the team standings with a state-record seven All-Americans including four finalists – also a state record. Charlie Wylie and Taina McGowan won 16U titles, just the second and third titles won in state history in the division.

New Mexico: Lorianna Piestewa was the state’s lone All-American in either age group and just the third women’s freestyle All-American in state history. Piestewa finished fourth at 115 pounds. She was a high school state champion at Miyamura as a senior.

New York: Ragan Retell finished fourth at 125 pounds and Adriana Palumbo was fourth at 155 pounds. The placements gave each wrestler their third overall placement all-time in Fargo. Haley Gonzales won the state’s 10^th individual 16U title, which ranks tied for third among all states.

North Dakota: Alicia Kenfack became just the fifth wrestler in state history to earn a medal in the 16U women’s freestyle division. Kenfack was sixth at 100 pounds and was a state champion at Bismarck’s Legacy High School as a freshman this past season, going 44-0.

Ohio: Led by runner-up Deionna Borders at 235, Ohio set a state record for All-Americans in the 16U women’s division with six, beating the previous high of five set last season. Elizabeth Madison finished third at 170 pounds and won the most falls award, pinning seven opponents in 11:39. Libertie Nigh also finished third at 94 pounds. The 16U team finished sixth, which was also the highest in state history.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma won 16U and Junior women’s individual titles in the same year for the first time with Millie Azlin’s 16U title at 170 pounds and Kali Hayden’s Junior title at 170. Oddly, the two both won at the same weight.

Pennsylvania: The Keystone State won its second straight 16U team championship and earned 11 All-Americans, highlighted by four individual champions, which matched the total 16U champions the state had in its history. The Junior women finished third, which is the third straight year the state has earned a Top 10 finish. Pennsylvania has 22 Junior women’s medals in the last four tournaments. Violette Lasure, the 142-pound 16U champion, had he streak of 14 straight pins in Fargo snapped, but she still won the title. Last year while representing West Virginia, Lasure lost in the first round and pinned nine straight opponents to finish third. She pinned her first five opponents before winning by decision in the finals.

South Carolina: Zao Estrada became the first Junior women’s champion from South Carolina since Briena Delgado in 2010, but she also became the state’s third four-time Fargo All-American, joining both Briena and Brittany Delgado on that short list.

Tennessee: With four All-Americans, Tennessee set a new 16U women’s state record for the most medals won in a year with four. The previous high was two, which occurred in 2021 and 2023. Janiya Johnson won the state’s second 16U women’s title, following Piper Fowler’s title last year. Ella Murphey, the runner-up at 190 in Junior women, was the first Junior women’s finalist in state history. The 16U women’s team was eighth, the first time they’ve been in the Top 10.

Texas: The Lone Star State had four 16U All-Americans for the second straight year, led by Blake Baker, who finished fourth at 190 pounds. The top finisher on the Junior side was Alexa Rodriguez Lopez, who finished fourth at 95 pounds.

Utah: Utah set a new state record for Junior women’s freestyle All-Americans with four. Three of the four All-Americans – Kinlee Brandley, Kristina Kent and Celeste Detoles – finished in the top three with Brandley finishing as the runner-up at 94 pounds.

Virginia: Three Virginia wrestlers hit the podium, with the top finisher coming at 106 pounds as Sarissa Tucker took third. The Virginia girls squad also won the Beach wrestling championship on Sunday.

Washington: Four of the five women’s wrestlers who placed across both age divisions did so for the second time. Mia Cienega was fifth at 190 in the 16U division, while Ashley Naranjo, Libby Roberts and 190-ponud champion Isabella Roberts returned to the podium.

West Virginia: Kaylie Hall was the state’s lone All-American across the women’s tournaments, but she became the state’s first women’s finalist with a runner-up finish at Junior 170.

Wisconsin: Championships by Taylor Whiting (Junior 110) and Brooke Huffman (16U 190) gave Wisconsin multiple champions in the women’s tournaments for the fifth time since 2016. The state also tied its record for most medals in 16U women with eight, first set also in 2016.

Wyoming: Lilly Quintanilla became the first 16U women’s freestyle All-American since Charmayne Delong finished fourth at 132 pounds in 2017. Quintanilla, a state champion as a freshman from Thermopolis High School, was fourth at 112 pounds.