Day 1 preview: Massive Junior Women and 16U Women brackets will battle through the quarterfinals

The USMC Junior and 16U National Championships in women’s freestyle will cover all the  mats on the floor of the FargoDome all day on Saturday. Both tournaments will go advance through the quarterfinal rounds on Saturday night. This round will not only determine four athletes in each weight class who still have a chance to become champions but will also determine the first four All-Americans. Any athlete who reaches the semifinals is guaranteed a top-eight finish.

Weigh-ins are over and the brackets are posted live on FloArena

Here is a data-driven preview of each tournament separately below. Based upon the preliminary numbers, this year’s USMC Junior/16U Nationals in Fargo will be the largest female wrestling tournament ever in the United States, and perhaps in world history.

JUNIOR WOMEN’S FREESTYLE

Returning Junior champions – No. 15 Heather Crull of Indiana (106, now at 105), Kaidance Gerg of Idaho (138, now at 125), Eduarda Rodrigues of California (152, now at 155) and Sabrina Nauss of Michigan (180, now 235)

Returning Junior runners-up – Valarie Solorio of Pennsylvania (100), Harlee Hiller of Illinois (106, now at 115), Zao Estrada of South Carolina (112, now at 115), Calli Gilchrist of Connecticut (117, now at 120), Lexie Lopez of Colorado (122, now at 125), Sydney Perry of Illinois (144, now at 145) and Tirza Twoteeth of Montana (200, now 235)

Other returning Junior All-Americans (and current weight class) – Katey Valdez of Colorado (100), Aroma Maruffo of Missouri (105), Rylee Balcazar of Colorado (105), Chloe Dearwester of Ohio (110), Gigi Bragg of Michigan (110), Gabriella Gomez of Illinois (115), Lindsey Lopez of Colorado (115), Emma Albanese of Nevada (115), Angelina Vargas of Missouri (115), Shayna Ward of California (120), Aspen Blasko of Minnesota (120), Savannah Witt of Pennsylvania (120), Angelina Cassioppi of Illinois (120), Milana Borrelli of Florida (120), Rose Kaplan of Indiana (125), Tyler Swanigan of Michigan (125), Regan Retell of New York (125), Anna Vogt of Texas (130), Kayla Edwards of California (135), Gretchen Donally of Montana (145), Brenya Crahan of Missouri (145), Clare Waite of Idaho (145), Adriana Palumbo of New York (155), Ugochi Anunobi of Maryland (155), Rachel Schauer of Wisconsin (170), Kylee Lindsley of Montana (170), Isabella Renfro of Missouri (190), Bella Porcelli of Iowa (190), Isabella Phillips of Washington (190), Maria Aiono of Nevada (190), Tilisa Matakaiongo of Utah (190), Chloe Hoselton of Illinois (235), Fernando Canedo of California (235), Arian Chavez of Texas (235),

National Girls High School Rankings Pound-4-Pound wrestlers entered: No. 11 Sabrina Nauss of Michigan (235), No. 15 Heather Crull of Indiana (105), No. 16 Karlee Brooks of Arizona (125), No. 18 Eduarda Rodrigues of California (155), No. 20 Zao Estrada of South Carolina (110), No. 22 Sydney Perry of Illinois (145), No. 23 Valerie Hamilton of Illinois (145), No. 25 Chloe Dearwester of Ohio (110)

2022 16U National champions moving up into Juniors – Mary Manis of Florida (106, now at 125), Sierra Chiesa of Pennsylvania (117, now at 125), Lynn Horn of Oklahoma (127, now 130), Isis France of Arizona (132, now 135), Morgan Lucio of Arizona (144, now at 140), Mya Bethel of Florida (152, now 155), Brooklyn Graham of Iowa (180, now 190) and Keliikki Nau Rarick of Utah (200, now 235).

Triple Crown Eligible: Valerie Hamilton of Illinois (145), Tilisa Matakaiongo of Utah (235)  

Top 10 in Freestyle PIN:

1. Valerie Hamilton (IL, 145), 1,373

2. Heather Crull (IN, 105), 1,338

3. Zao Estrada (SC, 110), 1,338

4. Haylie Jaffe (PA, 140), 1,327

5. Sierra Chiesa (PA, 125), 1,315

6. Jordyn Fouse (PA, 135), 1,305

7. Sabrina Nauss (MI, 235), 1,304

8. Kayla Batres (CT, 110), 1,303

9. Karlee Brooks (AZ, 125), 1,299

10. (tie) Isis France (AZ, 135) and Sydney Perry (IL, 145), 1,291

2023 Top Five Junior Nationals Teams: 1. Illinois, 2. California, 3. Michigan, 4. Pennsylvania, 5. Colorado

2024 16U National Duals Top Five Teams: 1. Pennsylvania, 2. Missouri, 3. California, 4. Illinois, 5. Michigan

16U WOMEN’S NATIONALS

Returning 16U champions – Emma Bacon of Pennsylvania (112, now at 124).

Returning 16U runners-up – Jaclyn Bouzakis of Pennsylvania (94, now at 100), Kayla Batres of Connecticut (106, now 112), Kaylyn Harrill of Nebraska (122, now 112), Jayci Shelton of Missouri (144, now 155), Brooke Huffman of Wisconsin (190, now 190) and Mia Cianega of Washington (200, now 190).

Other returning 16U All-Americans – Lily Enos of Illinois (88), Khyla Lipumano of Arizona (94), Libertie Nigh of Ohio (94), Lilly Breeden of Missouri (100), Bianca Eide of Minnesota (106), Elizabeth Valenzuela-Smith of Arizona (100), Sandy Breeden of Missouri (106), Charlie Wylie of New Jersey (112), Nakayla Dawson of Michigan (112), Daylee Watson of Pennsylvania (112), Stevie Joyce Martin of California (118), Justice Anthony of West Virginia (118(, RaeAnn Craft of New York (118), Raenah Smith of Washington (124), Rianna Bernal of California (124), Danica Torres of Arizona (124), Julissa Ortiz of Pennsylvania (130), Lilliana Banks of Wisconsin (130),  Britney Rueb of South Dakota (130), Timberly Martinez of California (136), Cassandra Gonzales of Minnesota (148), Violet Lasure of Pennsylvania (142), Lucia Ledezma of California (142), Millie Azlin of Oklahoma (170), Ylyana Sandoval of Oregon (170), Mackenna Atkinson of Pennsylvania (235),

2023 14U National freestyle champions moving up into 16U Nationals: Brynn Engel of Wisconsin (88), Marie Sharp of New Jersey (106), Olivia Bezdicek of Idaho (124), Taina Fernandez of Maryland (136), Kaili Manuel of Michigan (148), Matilda Hruby of Colorado (170)

National Girls High School Rankings Pound-4-Pound wrestlers entered: No. 5 Jaclyn Bouzakis of Pennsylvania (100), No. 6 Taina Fernandez of Maryland (136), No. 21 Emma Bacon of Pennsylvania (124)

Triple Crown eligible: Kaili Manuel of Michigan (155).

Top 10 in Freestyle PIN:

1. Taina Fernandez (MD, 136), 1,405                          

2. Emma Bacon (PA,124), 1,316                   

3. Kayla Batres (CT, 112), 1,303                   

4. Kaili Manuel (MI, 148), 1,301    

5. Violette Lasure (PA, 142), 1,300               

6. Jaclyn Bouzakis, (PA), 1,294                    

7. Charlie Wylie (NJ, 112), 1,265                  

8. Mackenzie Carder (OH, 118), 1,257                        

9. Sarissa Tucker (VA, 106), 1,241                

10. Kaylyn Harrill (NE, 112), 1239

2023 Top Five 16U Nationals Teams: 1. Pennsylvania, 2. Michigan, 3. (tie) Missouri and Oklahoma, 5. Arizona

2024 16U National Duals Top Five Teams: 1. Pennsylvania, 2. Wisconsin, 3. California, 4. Ohio, 5. Indiana

FloWrestling is once again the broadcaster for the USMC Junior/16U Nationals. See it live on FloWrestling.

Saturday, July 13th

9:00 a.m. - Session I -9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

16U Girls/Junior Girls: Championship (3 Rds) and Consolation (2 or 3 Rds) 

4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. - Session II - 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM

16U Girls/Junior Girls: Championship & Quarterfinals and Consolation (4 Rds)