California’s depth gives it a 43-28 win over Pennsylvania to capture 16U Freestyle National Duals title

HERRIMAN, Utah – The championship dual meet of the 16U Freestyle National Duals on Saturday afternoon came down to a pair of underdogs, No. 4 seed California and No. 6 seed Pennsylvania. Both teams were impressive in powering through a gauntlet of excellent team to earn their spot on the raised mat in the Zions Bank Training Center.

When it was all said and done, California’s depth throughout the lineup and impressive freestyle skills led to a 43-28 victory over Pennsylvania, earning the championship team trophy.

California blasted out of the gate with three lightweight victories, with technical falls from Thales Silva (88) and Samuel Sanchez (100), which sandwiched a clutch 10-8 win by Thiago Silva over Gabe Benyo at 94 pounds.

The California run continued at 106, as Jax Vang scored a comeback win over Brayden Wenrich, 12-11. Wenrich jumped to a 7-4 lead early in the second period, when Vang powered back with eight straight points in less than 30 seconds to lead 12-7. Two late takedowns by Wenrich were not enough.

Pennsylvania stopped the streak at 112 when Shamus Regan shut down Emilio Escobar, 9-0. California won a highly-active match at 120, as Rocklin Zinkin hit a big four-pointer in the second period and closed out a 15-4 technical fall over Gabriel Ballard.

The California train kept rolling at 120, with a technical fall victory by Ashton Besmer, followed by a decision by Daniel Benavides at 126. Pennsylvania scored only its second win of the dual, when Jason Dube won a tough scrap against Ames-Michael Hoevker at 138.

Gregory Torosian got California back in its winning ways, with a 7-5 decision over Hudson Hohman at 144. Pennsylvania went on a mini-run, with technical fall victories by Mason Horwat (150) and Samuel Almendina (158). The Keystone Staters were within nine team points after their victories.

A huge win for California came at 165, when a close match was blasted wide open by Bailey Holman, who secured a 13-2 technical fall over Blake Hostetter. The momentum continued at 175, with Isai Fernandez having a big second period to defeat Nicholas Singer, 10-5. The match was blown open at 190 pounds, with David Calkins nailing a 10-0 technical fall over Kendahl Hoare, clinching the team victory.

The teams split the final two matches, with Brady Brown of Pennsylvania (215) and Noah Larios of California (285) closing out the dual meet with wins.

To reach the finals, California closed out its Pool A victory in the Gold/Silver bracket with two more wins, beating Georgia 47-25 and stopping No. 1 seed Indiana 43-33. California started its Pool A run with a 48-30 win over Illinois on Friday night.

In a nip-and-tuck battle to claim the pool, California won five straight weights to grab a lead it did not relinquish. Rocklin Zinkin (120) and Daniel Benavides (126) scored technical falls, then Matthew Orbata (138) received a forfeit. A victory by decision by Ashton Besmer (138) was followed by a big pin by Ames-Michael Hoevker (144) and California was on its way.

Pennsylvania had an excellent morning as well, knocking off No. 1 seed and returning champion Iowa in the final match of Pool B, 36-33. Earlier in the day, Pennsylvania stopped Wisconsin 46-26. Friday night, Pennsylvania defeated Utah Gold, 46-27 to start its Pool B action strong.

Against Iowa, in a huge battle between top stars, Brayden Wenrich of Pennsylvania stopped Hayden Schwab, 8-4 at 106 pounds. Pennsylvania started the dual with three straight wins from Caleb Tyler (285), Nathan Schuman (88) and Gabe Benyo (94), and later had another three match streak with Jason Dube (138), Hudson Hohman (144) and Mason Horwat (150).

2023 champion Iowa, which came in with the No. 1 seed, captured third place with a 44-28 win over No. 2 seed Indiana. Iowa closed out the victory with wins in the last four weight classes, with technical falls from Broedy Hendricks (175), Brayden Koester (190) and Mason Koehler (215) plus a decision from JT Kelso (285).

Wisconsin finished in fifth place, with a 43-32 victory over Illinois. Wisconsin went on a six-match run in the middle weight classes, with wins from Max Gonzalez (132), Hunter Stevens (138), Cade Aaberg (144), Bryston Scoles (150), Jacob Kidder (157) and Samuel Zanton (165).       

For seventh place, Utah Gold handled Georgia, 52-25, winning six straight matches in the middle weights, and capturing three forfeits.

The rest of the tournament was also concluded, with the Bronze/Copper Pool, Red/Blue Pool, Green Pool and Yellow Pool completing action on Saturday afternoon.

16U FREESTYLE NATIONAL DUALS

At Herriman, Utah, June 14

Color Pool Competition

Gold/Silver Pool (Places 1-8)

1st Place - California

2nd Place - Pennsylvania

3rd Place - Iowa

4th Place - Indiana

5th Place - Wisconsin

6th Place - Illinois

7th Place - Utah Gold

8th Place - Georgia

1st Place Match - California defeated Pennsylvania 43-28.

88          Thales Silva (California) over Nathan Schuman (Pennsylvania) TF 14-4             

94          Thiago Silva (California) over Gabe Benyo (Pennsylvania) Dec 10-8    

100        Samuel Sanchez (California) over Jake Benyo (Pennsylvania) TF 10-0 

106        Jax Vang (California) over Brayden Wenrich (Pennsylvania) Dec 12-11             

113        Shamus Regan (Pennsylvania) over Emilio Escobar (California) Dec 9-0             

120        Rocklin Zinkin (California) over Gabriel Ballard (Pennsylvania) TF 15-4             

126        Daniel Benavides (California) over Brady Slicker (Pennsylvania) Dec 10-6             

132        Ashton Besmer (California) over Wyatt Fry (Pennsylvania) TF 10-0     

138        Jason Dube (Pennsylvania) over Ames-Michael Hoevker (California) Dec 7-6        

144        Gregory Torosian (California) over Hudson Hohman (Pennsylvania) Dec 7-5        

150        Mason Horwat (Pennsylvania) over Nathan Cauwel (California) TF 11-0             

157        Samuel Almedina (Pennsylvania) over Isaac Padilla (California) TF 11-0             

165        Bailey Holman (California) over Blake Hostetter (Pennsylvania) TF 13-2

175        Isai Fernandez (California) over Nicholas Singer (Pennsylvania) Dec 10-5             

190        David Calkins (California) over Kendahl Hoare (Pennsylvania) TF 10-0             

215        Brady Brown (Pennsylvania) over Daniel Moylan (California) Fall 1:45

285        Noah Larios (California) over Caleb Tyler (Pennsylvania) Dec 11-6

3rd Place Match - Iowa defeated Indiana 44-28.

88          Cameron Schofield (Indiana) over Damien Yeoman (Iowa) Dec 14-7    

94          Chase Watkinson (Iowa) over Kellen Schoeff (Indiana) Dec 3-3            

100        Case Bridge (Indiana) over Ethan Humphrey (Iowa) TF 13-0  

106        Hayden Schwab (Iowa) over Case Bell (Indiana) Dec 9-0        

113        Jensen Boyd (Indiana) over Alexander Pierce (Iowa) Dec 5-3 

120        Gavin Landers (Iowa) over Colin Strayer (Indiana) TF 10-0    

126        Gage Spurgeon (Iowa) over Gavin Lewis (Indiana) Dec 5-5    

132        Dawson Youngblut (Iowa) forfeit

138        Clinton Shepherd (Indiana) over Justis Jesuroga (Iowa) TF 12-1            

144        Peyton Hornsby (Indiana) over Ethan Christoffer (Iowa) TF 11-0          

150        Maximus Dhabolt (Iowa) over Thomas Gibbs (Indiana) TF 12-1

157        Jaxon Miller (Iowa) over Matthew Staples (Indiana) Dec 10-4

165        Lucas Boe (Indiana) over Macklin Penner (Iowa) TF 10-0       

175        Broedy Hendricks (Iowa) over Michael White (Indiana) TF 19-8          

190        Brayden Koester (Iowa) over Conner Hoar (Indiana) TF 10-0 

215        Mason Koehler (Iowa) over Kellen Fellure (Indiana) Fall 1:46

285        JT Kelso (Iowa) over Hayden Smith (Indiana) Dec 4-3

5th Place Match - Wisconsin defeated Illinois 43-32.

88          Dreyton Kren (Wisconsin) over Faris Farah (Illinois) Fall 0:38

94          Colton Wyller (Illinois) over Riley Longdin (Wisconsin) TF 12-2         

100        Vincent DeMarco (Illinois) over Bryson Busler (Wisconsin) TF 14-4    

106        Camden Rugg (Wisconsin) over Pierce Bultmann (Illinois) TF 10-0      

113        Lukas Foster (Illinois) over William du Chemin (Wisconsin) Dec 13-8 

120        Rocco Cassioppi (Illinois) over Logan Schad (Wisconsin) TF 10-0

126        Jason Hampton (Illinois) over Alois Schlumpf (Wisconsin) Inj 1:53      

132        Max Gonzalez (Wisconsin) over Bruno Cassioppi (Illinois) Dec 7-5     

138        Hunter Stevens (Wisconsin) over Brandon Green (Illinois) Dec 12-10  

144        Cade Aaberg (Wisconsin) over Aiden Arnett (Illinois) TF 10-0             

150        Bryston Scoles (Wisconsin) over Ethan Sonne (Illinois) TF 10-0           

157        Jacob Kidder (Wisconsin) over Leonardo Rosas (Illinois) Dec 9-2        

165        Samuel Zanton (Wisconsin) over Alexander Tack (Illinois) TF 10-0     

175        Brody Kelly (Illinois) over Landen Grow (Wisconsin) TF 13-2

190        Owen Burling (Wisconsin) over Blake Livdahl (Illinois) TF 10-0          

215        Josh Hoffer (Illinois) over Cael Leisgang (Wisconsin) Fall 1:14            

285        Brendan Grabot (Wisconsin) over Jeremy Marshall (Illinois) Fall 2:59 

7th Place Match - Utah Gold defeated Georgia 52-25.

88          Ariah Mills (Georgia) over Gavyn DeCol (Utah Gold) TF 10-0             

94          Cody Clarke (Georgia) over Thomas Gorst (Utah Gold) Fall 0:23         

100        Kacen Jones (Utah Gold) forfeit

106        Trexden Olsen (Utah Gold) forfeit

113        Samuel Moody (Utah Gold) over Eli Flowers (Georgia) TF 12-2           

120        Kaleb Blackner (Utah Gold) over Major Chambers (Georgia) TF 10-0  

126        Christopher Phillips (Georgia) over Grady Roybal (Utah Gold) TF 12-1

132        Riker Ohearon (Utah Gold) over Jonderious Williams (Georgia) TF 12-0             

138        Austin Ellis (Utah Gold) over James Sievers (Georgia) Fall 0:32

144        Ladd Holman (Utah Gold) over Cruz Hezel (Georgia) Dec 9-4

150        Noah Bull (Utah Gold) over Paxon Legatt (Georgia) TF 16-6  

157        Shepard Stephens (Utah Gold) over Callum Mccormack (Georgia) TF 14-4             

165        Kaizen Detoles (Utah Gold) over Ethan Secoy (Georgia) Dec 15-12      

175        Dylan Reel (Georgia) over Calvin Harding (Utah Gold) TF 10-0           

190        Ronan An (Georgia) over Connor Kennedy (Utah Gold) Dec 17-8        

215        Sam Tanner (Utah Gold) over Robert McCoy (Georgia) TF 13-0           

285        Caden Young (Utah Gold) forfeit

Pool A

Indiana 49, Georgia 27

California 48, Illinois 30

Indiana 49, Illinois 26

California 47, Georgia 25

California 43, Indiana 33

Illinois 44, Georgia 31

Pool B

Iowa 45, Wisconsin 28

Pennsylvania 46, Utah Gold 27

Iowa 44, Utah Gold 25

Pennsylvania 46, Wisconsin 26

Illinois 44, Georgia 31

Pennsylvania 36, Iowa 33

Bronze/Copper Pool (Places 9-16)

Guaranteed Places

1st Place - Minnesota Blue

2nd Place - Missouri

3rd Place - Idaho

4th Place - Florida

5th Place - Washington

6th Place - Minnesota Red

7th Place - Michigan

8th Place - Maryland

1st Place Match - Minnesota Blue defeated Missouri 40-33.

88          Trey Kraemer (Minnesota Blue ) over Colton Larimer (Missouri) TF 10-0             

94          Owen Parish (Minnesota Blue ) over Wyatt Dannegger (Missouri) Dec 13-11         

100        Landon Thoennes (Minnesota Blue ) over Cade Crawford (Missouri) Fall 0:17      

106        Turner Ross (Minnesota Blue ) over Rowdy Angst (Missouri) TF 10-0 

113        Jordan Bell (Missouri) over Kyler Thier (Minnesota Blue ) TF 12-2      

120        Garrett Beane (Missouri) over Miklo Hernandez (Minnesota Blue ) Dec 16-16    

126        Gage Bjerga (Minnesota Blue ) over Carsten Burkemper (Missouri) TF 10-0           

132        Jet Brown (Missouri) over Grayson Eggum (Minnesota Blue ) Dec 3-2 

138        Miller Sipes (Missouri) over Jake Kos (Minnesota Blue ) Dec 9-8         

144        Lake Waters (Missouri) over Tyson Newman (Minnesota Blue ) TF 10-0             

150        Chance Ruble (Missouri) over Zane Engels (Minnesota Blue ) Dec 13-6             

157        Cooper Rowe (Minnesota Blue ) over Kellen Long (Missouri) Dec 12-6

165        Mark Svoboda (Minnesota Blue ) over Dominic Stinson (Missouri) TF 12-1           

175        Carter Brown (Missouri) over Judah Heeg (Minnesota Blue ) Dec 10-2

190        Carter Temple (Missouri) over Cael Fier (Minnesota Blue ) TF 11-1     

215        Jace Renfro (Missouri) over Matthew Veroeven (Minnesota Blue ) Dec 6-2             

285        Caleb Loomis (Minnesota Blue ) over Kyler Kuhn (Missouri) Fall 3:04

3rd Place Match - Idaho defeated Florida 44-31.

5th Place Match - Washington defeated Minnesota Red 41-34.

7th Place Match - Michigan defeated Maryland 43-35.

Pool A

Maryland 40, Missouri 38

Idaho 42, Minnesota Red 30

Missouri 50, Idaho 22

Minnesota Red 44, Maryland 35

Missouri 55, Minnesota Red 21

Idaho 42, Maryland 35

Pool B

Minnesota Blue 47, Florida 25

Washington 39, Michigan 36

Minnesota Blue 55, Michigan 21

Florida 44, Washington 28

Minnesota Blue 51, Washington 26

Florida 45, Michigan 30

Red/Blue Pool (Places 17-24)

1st Place - Virginia

2nd Place - Kansas

3rd Place - Colorado

4th Place - Texas Gold

5th Place - Louisiana

6th Place - New Jersey

7th Place - Nebraska

8th Place - South Dakota

1st Place Match

Virginia defeated Kansas 0-0

Kansas lost by forfeit

3rd Place Match - Colorado defeated Texas Gold 37-32.

5th Place Match - Louisiana defeated New Jersey 45-24.

7th Place Match - Nebraska defeated South Dakota 40-37.

Pool A

Colorado 45, New Jersey 28

South Dakota 47, Virginia 31

Virginia 46, Colorado 35

New Jersey 43, South Dakota 29

Colorado 46, South Dakota 27

Virginia 41, New Jersey 26

Pool B

Kansas 34, Nebraska 32

Texas Gold 44, Louisiana 26

Kansas 34, Texas Gold 31

Louisiana 44, Nebraska 27

Kansas 41, Louisiana 31

Texas Gold 43, Nebraska 30

Green Pool (Places 25-33)

1st Place - Oklahoma Outlaws Blue

2nd Place - Arizona

3rd Place - South Carolina

4th Place - Utah Black

5th Place - North Dakota

6th Place - North Carolina

Arizona 52, North Carolina 28

Oklahoma Outlaws Blue 66, Utah Black 12

South Carolina 40, North Dakota 35

Oklahoma Outlaws Blue 59, North Dakota 16

Utah Black 42, North Carolina 26

Arizona 53, South Carolina 25

Arizona 58, North Dakota 18

Oklahoma Outlaws Blue 77, North Carolina 2

South Carolina 37, Utah Black 31

Arizona 39, Utah Black 32

Oklahoma Outlaws Blue 58, South Carolina 24

North Dakota 50, North Carolina 21

Oklahoma Outlaws Blue defeated Arizona 64-10.

Utah Black defeated North Dakota 44-33.

South Carolina defeated North Carolina 48-25.

Yellow Pool (Places 34-39)

1st Place - Oregon

2nd Place - Oklahoma Outlaws Red

3rd Place - Texas Red

4th Place - Montana

5th Place - Arkansas

Oklahoma Outlaws Red 59, Montana 23

Oregon 49, Texas Red 20

Texas Red 44, Arkansas 21

Oregon 51, Montana 17

Oregon 56, Arkansas 9

Oklahoma Outlaws Red 58, Texas Red 22

Oklahoma Outlaws Red 56, Arkansas 16

Texas Red 44, Montana 27

Montana defeated Arkansas 42-25.

Oregon defeated Oklahoma Outlaws Red 40-35