World medalists Kilty, Figueroa and Facundo tally wins at FloWrestling’s Who’s #1

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – 22 of the best high school wrestlers in the country went head-to-head inside Lehigh University’s Grace Hall to determine the top spots of FloWrestling’s high school rankings at Who’s #1 on Sunday afternoon.

The day was highlighted by wins from three 2018 Cadet World medalists.

At 152 pounds, 2018 Cadet World champion and Junior World silver medalist Macey Kilty continued her busy summer into the fall, taking on Cadet Pan American champion Kennedy Blades in freestyle in the second women’s match in WNO history.

Blades was on the board quickly with a double for a takedown against the World champ. Kilty fashioned a four-point takedown and two more points to end the first period with a 6-2 lead.

The second period saw scoring in the final seconds with Blades scoring two in a scramble and was awarded a caution and one, but it was not enough as Kilty walked away with a 6-5 win.

It was Kilty’s second Who’s #1 appearance and her first win inside the Snake Pit. Kilty shows no signs of slowing down as she is off to Ostia, Italy, next week for the women’s Senior World Team acclimation camp and will serve as a training partner for the Senior World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Cadet World silver medalist Richard Figueroa of California won a catch-weight bout against Jacob Decatur with a 1-0 victory. Figueroa is ranked No. 1 at 106 pounds, while Decatur is No. 4at 113 pounds.

At 160 pounds, Alex Facundo of Michigan, ranked No. 2 coming into the event, picked off No. 1 Brevin Balmeceda of Florida with a series of takedowns for a 7-3 decision.

Facundo won a Cadet World bronze medalist earlier this summer in Zagreb, Croatia. He also has two USA Wrestling Folkstyle Nationals titles.

In addition to Facundo’s win, there were four other upsets in today’s action.

At 120 pounds, Fargo champion Eric Barnett defeated two-time Cadet World champion and top-ranked wrestler Kurt McHenry of Virginia with a 1-0 win.

McHenry is now 1-1 at Who’s #1. Last year, he edged out Malik Heinselman in dramatic fashion with a last-second takedown.

2017 Fargo champion Devin Winston of Missouri is now 2-0 against 2018 Cadet World bronze medalist Abe Assad of Illinois, securing a solid 6-2 win to claim the No. 1 spot at 182 pounds. Winston picked up his first win over Assad at the 2017 Cadet Duals.

Who’s #1 featured another freestyle matchup, pitting 2018 Fargo champion and No. 2 Carson Kharchla of Ohio against 2016 Fargo runner-up Julian Ramirez of Florida.

Kharchla took the 11-4 win with multiple takedowns for the top spot at 170 pounds.

The final upset of the night was in the co-main event, 132 pounds, which featured two age-group World Team members.

2017 Cadet World Team member Jordan Decatur of Ohio, ranked No. 2, picked off 2018 Cadet and Junior World Team member and No. 1 Joshua Saunders of Missouri with a decisive 5-3 victory.

In the night’s finale, the No. 1 spot was determined at 138 pounds as JoJo Aragona of New Jersey emerged the victor from a four-man bracket, maintaining his No. 1 spot.

Aragona took on U.S. Olympic Training Center athlete and Fargo runner-up Gabe Tagg, ranked No. 4, in his first bout, winning 8-4.

After No. 2 Keegan O’Toole of Wisconsin shut out No. 3 Jaden Abas from California with only the second major decision in Who’s #1 history, the final stage was set for the 138-pound championship bout.

Aragona scored two takedowns on O’Toole to cement his spot as the top-ranked wrestler at 138 pounds with a 5-2 win.

Fans can watch all of today’s matches on Flowrestling.org.

WHO’S #1

at Bethlehem, Pa., Oct. 7

Results
138: #1 JoJo Aragona (Green) dec. #4 Gabe Tagg (Black), 8-4
138: #2 Keegan O'Toole (Black) maj. dec. #3 Jaden Abas (Green), 8-0
120: #2 Eric Barnett (Black) dec. #1 Kurt McHenry (Green), 1-0
152: #1 Andrew Alirez (Green) dec. #2 Jace Luchau (Black), 3-2
160: #2 Alex Facundo (Black) dec. #1 Brevin Balmeceda (Green), 7-3
152 (freestyle): #1 Macey Kilty (Green) dec. Kennedy Blades (Black), 6-5
106: #1 Richard Figueroa II (Green) dec. #4 Jacob Decatur (Black), 1-0
182: #3 Devin Winston (Black) dec. #1 Abe Assad (Green), 6-2
170 (freestyle): #2 Carson Kharchla (Black) dec. #1 Julian Ramirez (Black), 11-4
132: #2 Jordan Decatur (Black) dec. #1 Josh Saunders (Green), 5-3
138: #1 JoJo Aragona (Green) dec. #2 Keegan O’Toole (Black), 5-2