Rivera upset returning champion Ayala in the semifinals, two 2017 finalists return to Cadet National Freestyle finals

FARGO, N.D. – The second day of the USMC Cadet Men’s Freestyle Nationals started with many notable contenders including returning national finalists, All-Americans and Triple Crown candidates. It ended the gold-medal finals set after an exciting semifinals, which included its share of drama.
Wisconsin’s Nicolar Rivera upset Iowa’s returning freestyle national champion Drake Ayala in the 106-pound semifinals, dominanting with an 11-0 technical fall.
To earn his spot in the finals, Rivera dominated his bracket so far, scoring a technical fall over every opponent including Cadet Pan-American gold medalist Sheldon Seymour of Pennsylvania in the round of 16.
A pair of last year’s runners-up, Colorado’s Dominick Serrano and California’s Ryan Franco, will return to the finals tomorrow afternoon for another chance at the national title.
Serrano has controlled his side of the bracket thus far, scoring a technical fall over all his opponents without giving up a single point. Serrano faces Ohio’s 2017 Cadet Nationals fifth-place finisher Michael Burnett.
In the 132-pound bracket, Franco’s only major challenge came from Georgia’s Jaxon Smith in the quarterfinals. Franco edged Smith 16-14, and tech-falled all his other opponents. The Californian faces the eighth-place winner at last year’s Cadet Nationals, Michigan’s Joshua Edmond.
Two of the USA’s UWW Cadet World team members returned to the United States from Croatia this week to compete for the national title.
Returning national champion Carson Manville of Pennsylvania wrestled at 65 kg two weeks ago. Manville, who is entered in Fargo at 145 pounds, will wrestle his Pan-American Trials finalist opponent, John Martin Best of West Virginia. In their last match, Manville defeated Best by technical fall, 10-0.
2018 UWW Cadet Greco-Roman World Team member Jakason Burks of Nebraska wrestled 51 kg for USA. Tomorrow, Burks competes for the 113-pound Cadet Nationals title. The Nebraska native faced 2018 Cadet Folkstyle National champion and Triple Crown contender Colton Drousias of Indiana in his quarter-finals bout, defeating Drousias 14-2.
Three will continue their fight for the coveted Cadet Triple Crown: Mason Gehloff of Minnesota at 88 pounds, Maxximus Martinez of Califnornia at 94 pounds, Jordan Williams of Oklahoma at 94 pounds, and Chris Island of California at 220 pounds. All were Cadet Folkstyle National champions in Iowa in April, and qualified for Monday’s freestyle finals.
The championship finals of the Cadet Men’s Nationals are on Monday, beginning at 1:30 p.m., live on FloArena.
USMC CADET NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Fargo, N.D., July 15
Cadet Freestyle finals pairings
88 - Jore Volk (Minnesota) vs. Mason Gehloff (Minnesota)
94 - Maxximus Martinez (California) vs. Carter Fousek (Iowa)
100 - Jordan Williams (Oklahoma) vs. Alex Almeyda (New Jersey)
106 - Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) vs. Yusief Lillie (Washington)
113 - Daniel Cardenas (Colorado) vs. Jakason Burks (Nebraska)
120 - Jesse Ybarra (Arizona) vs. Caleb Rathjen (Iowa)
126 - Michael Burnett (Ohio) vs. Dominick Serrano (Colorado)
132 - Ryan Franco (California) vs. Joshua Edmond (Michigan)
138 - Travis Mastrogiovanni (New Jersey) vs. Luke Geog (Ohio)
145 - Carson Manville (Pennsylvania) vs. John Martin Best (West Virginia)
152 - Manuel Rojas (Michigan) vs. Tate Picklo (Oklahoma)
160 - Quayin Short (Minnesota) vs. Connor Oneil (New Jersey)
170 - Luke Stout (Pennsylvania) vs. Sam Skillings (Wisconsin)
182 - Nathan Haas (California) vs. Rocky Elam (Missouri)
195 - Kolby Franklin (Pennsylvania) vs. Noah Pettigrew (Georgia)
220 - Chris Island (California) vs. Nathaniel Deasey (Arizona)
285 - Hayden Copass (Illinois) vs. Colby Whitehill (Pennsylvania)
Semifinal results
88
Jore Volk (Minnesota) defeated Tristan Stafford (Arkansas), 13-7
Mason Gehloff (Minnesota) defeated Christopher Martino (Idaho), 11-5
94
Maxximus Martinez (California) defeated Kai Owen (Florida), 5-0
Carter Fousek (Iowa) defeated Reid Nelson (Minnesota), 12-2 1:56
100
Jordan Williams (Oklahoma) defeated Stevo Poulin (New York), 8-6 5:20
Alex Almeyda (New Jersey) defeated Abraham Hinrichsen (Illinois), 12-2 3:35
106
Nicolar Rivera (Wisconsin) defeated Drake Ayala (Iowa), 11-0 1:48
Yusief Lillie (Washington) defeated Kyle Rowan (Ohio), 6-2
113
Daniel Cardenas (Colorado) defeated Anthony Noto (New York), 6-5
Jakason Burks (Nebraska) defeated Cooper Flynn (Tennessee), 4-0
120
Jesse Ybarra (Arizona) defeated Drew Roberts (Oregon), 10-0 1:35
Caleb Rathjen (Iowa) defeated Teague Travis (Missouri), 12-2 4:56
126
Michael Burnett (Ohio) defeated Cody Chittum (Tennessee), 10-7
Dominick Serrano (Colorado) defeated Wyatt Henson (Pennsylvania), 11-0 0:48
132
Ryan Franco (California) defeated Derek Fields (Ohio), 10-6
Joshua Edmond (Michigan) defeated Jake Niffenegger (Ohio), 11-0 2:05
138
Travis Mastrogiovanni (New Jersey) defeated Jagger Condomitti (Pennsylvania), 11-9
Luke Geog (Ohio) defeated Jackson Dean (New Jersey), 8-4
145
Carson Manville (Pennsylvania) defeated Nicholas Stonecheck (Georgia), 10-4
John martin Best (West Virginia) defeated Cael Valencia (California), 10-0 1:17
152
Manuel Rojas (Michigan) defeated Donald Cates (North Carolina), 11-10
Tate Picklo (Oklahoma) defeated Brock Ellis (Indiana), 8-2
160
Quayin Short (Minnesota) defeated Clayton Ulrey (Pennsylvania), 5-3
Connor Oneil (New Jersey) defeated Duwayne Villalpando (Kansas), 13-12
170
Sam Skillings (Wisconsin) defeated Sage Walker (Iowa), 9-2
Luke Stout (Pennsylvania) defeated Seth Shumate (Ohio), 10-0 4:15
182
Nathan Haas (California) defeated Kyle Haas (Kansas), 3-1
Rocky Elam (Missouri) defeated John Poznanski (New Jersey), 6-2
195
Kolby Franklin (Pennsylvania) defeated Elijah Olson (Colorado), 11-0 2:32
Noah Pettigrew (Georgia) defeated Dorian Crosby (Pennsylvania), 11-11
220
Chris Island (California) defeated Cruz Partain (Oklahoma), 8-4 5:52
Nathaniel Deasey (Arizona) defeated Braxton Mikesell (Washington), 8-0 3:44
285
Hayden Copass (Illinois) defeated Gavin Layton (Minnesota), 5-1
Colby Whitehill (Pennsylvania) defeated Jalen Stephens (Pennsylvania), 13-8