Navarro Schunke named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week
by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Photo: Navarro Schunke pictured at the 2021 16U Nationals in Fargo, N.D. (Tony Rotundo/wrestlersarewarriors.com)
Navarro Schunke (Brandon, S.D./Legends of Gold) has been named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week on May 17, 2023.
The South Dakota product doubled up on gold medals at the USA Wrestling Northern Plains Regional held at the Woodside Wisconsin Dells Center in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., over the weekend.
Schunke won both the freestyle and Greco-Roman brackets in the Junior division at 285 pounds. On the freestyle front, he recorded four victories, including a 44-second pin and three technical falls. Similarly, he reeled off three technical fall wins on the Greco-Roman side.
Schunke defeated Soren Herzog of Minnesota, a 2022 U17 Greco-Roman Nationals runner up and 2021 16U Greco-Roman Nationals finalist, by technical fall in the championship match of both tournaments. The Greco-Roman final between Schunke and Herzog came in at 9-0, while the freestyle finals contest featured substantially more action with a 22-12 final score.
Currently No. 6 in the FloWrestling National High School Rankings at 285 pounds, Schunke was a double champion at the 2021 16U Nationals held in Fargo, N.D. He was also a Northern Plains Junior freestyle champion in 2021.
In 2023 Schunke has collected first place prizes at the South Dakota high school state tournament and the NHSCA High School Nationals. Additionally, he posted a runner-up finish at the USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals held at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
To nominate a wrestler for this honor please email the athlete's name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments, and career accolades to communications@usawrestling.org.
