Returning champ Neiuwenhuis reaches USMC Women’s 16U National finals, Manuel remains Triple Crown eligible

FARGO, N.D. – The women’s freestyle finals have been set after an exciting USMC 16U National Championships semifinal round in the FargoDome Sunday morning.

The lone 2023 16U Nationals champion to reach the finals has advanced with a chance to repeat as champion, Madison Nieuwenhuis of Michigan at 100 pounds. She scored a 6-1 win over Ryleigh Sturgill of Tennessee in the semifinals. She has a challenging opponent in the finals, 2023 U17 World bronze medalist Jaclyn Bouzakis of Pennsylvania, herself a 2023 16U Nationals runner-up.

Michigan’s Kaili Manuel remains on track to make history, as the only 16U Girls Triple Crown eligible wrestler to reach the finals. There has never been a 16U Girls Triple Crown winner. Manuel beat Ryen Hickey of Colorado, 14-6 in the semifinals, and will face New Jersey’s Ella Poalillo in tonight’s finals.

Joining Bouzakis as 2023 16U Nationals runners-up who reached the finals again this year are Kayla Batres of Connecticut (112), Jayci Shelton of Missouri (155) and Brooke Huffman of Wisconsin (190). Huffman beat another 2022 16U Nationals runner-up in the semifinals, Mia Cianega of Washington.

Taina Fernandez of Maryland, who is ranked No. 1 in the nation at 135 pounds at the high school level, powered to the finals at 136 pounds, where she will battle Corynne McNulty of Massachusetts for the title. Fernandez has dominated her opponents domestically in recent seasons, and is in her first year at the 16U level.

Pennsylvania and New Jersey are neck-and-neck in the team standings after the semifinals concluded, as both have placed four wrestlers in the finals. Pennsylvania holds an edge in the number of athletes alive in the consolation rounds, which continue this afternoon. All of the medal matches will be held in this session, so only the gold-medal finals will be held during the 6:00 p.m. CT session.

See it live on FloWrestling. https://flosports.link/4asFX5c

2024 U.S. Marine Corps 16U Women's Freestyle Nationals

At Fargo, N.D., July 14, 2024

Finals pairings

88 pounds - Brynn Engel (WI) vs. Lily Enos (IL)

94 pounds - Justice Gutierrez (CO) vs. Natalie Radecki (DE)

100 pounds - Jaclyn Bouzakis (PA) vs. Madison Nieuwenhuis (MI)

106 pounds - Marie Solomon (CA) vs. Julia Horger (PA)

112 pounds - Kayla Batres (CT) vs. Charlie Wylie (NJ)

118 pounds - Cheyenne Frank (MI) vs. Haley Gonzales (NY)

124 pounds - Mekala James (CA) vs. Victoria Carbano (NJ)

130 pounds - Taina McGowan (NJ) vs. Caroline Hilton (TN)

136 pounds - Taina Fernandez (MD) vs. Corynne McNulty (MA)

142 pounds - Violette Lasure (PA) vs. Greta Garbuzovas (GA)

148 pounds - Kaili Manuel (MI) vs. Ella Poalillo (NJ)

155 pounds - Jayci Shelton (MO) vs. Janiya Johnson (TN)

170 pounds - Matilda Hruby (CO) vs. Millie Azlin (OK)

190 pounds - Brooke Huffman (WI) vs. Tevia Nau Rarick (UT)

235 pounds - Brenda Banks (PA) vs. Deionna Borders (OH)

Semifinals results

88 pounds

Brynn Engel (WI) dec. Kylee Tran (OK) 9-6

Lily Enos (IL) dec. Katelyn Rowles (IN) 3-1

94 pounds

Justice Gutierrez (GO) dec. Libertie Nigh (OH) 8-1

Natalie Radecki (DE) pin Makayla Smith (PA) 2:48

100 pounds

Jaclyn Bouzakis (PA) tech fall Angelica Serratos (CA) 13-2, 2:39

Madison Nieuwenhuis (MI) dec. Ryleigh Sturgill (TN) 6-1

106 pounds

Marlee Solomon (CA) dec. Marie Sharp (NJ) 5-1

Julia Horger (PA) tech fall Bianca Eide (MN) 10-0, 2:00

112 pounds

Kayla Batres (CT) dec. Nakayla Dawson (MI) 3-0

Charlie Wylie (NJ) tech fall Lilly Quintanilla (WY) 12-1, 2:37

118 pounds

Cheyenne Frank (MI) dec. Emjay Neumann (WI) 9-7

Haley Gonzales (NY) dec. Carolyn Geckler (OH) 4-2

124 pounds

Mekala James (CAl) tech fall Kailin Sebert (TX) 13-3, 3:16

Victoria Carbonaro (NJ) tech fall Ariella Dobin (IL) 10-0, 0:59

130

Taina McGowan (NJ) dec. Riley Hanrahan (WI) 6-5.

Caroline Hilton (TN) dec. Kalynn Lyons (NE) 3-1

136 pounds

Taina Fernandez (MD) tech fall Meadow Mahlmeister (MT) 10-0, 1:21

Corynne McNulty (MA) dec. Maddie Marsh (IN) 8-0

142 pounds

Violette Lasure (PA) pin Dulcy Martinez (CA) 2:14

Greta Garbuzovas (GA) tech fall Harlow Skenandore (WI)

148 pounds

Kaili Manuel (MI) dec. Ryen Hickey (CO) 14-6

Ella Poalillo (NJ) tech fall Veronica Madrid (KS) 12-2, 1:53

155 pounds

Jayci Shelton (MO) pin Laila Hustoles (OK) 2:35

Janiya Johnson (TN) dec. Sarah Pulk (MN)

170 pounds

Matilda Hruby (CO) pin Emily Carvalho (CA) :50

Millie Azlin (OK) dec. Miley Walz (IA) 8-1

190 pounds

Brooke Huffman (WI) pin Mia Cienega (WA) 2:37

Tevia Nau Rarick (UT) tech fall Olivia Ruacho (CA) 13-0, 2:08

235 pounds

Brenda Banks (PA) dec. Mackenna Atkinson (PA) 5-1

Deionna Borders (OH) dec. Phoenix Molina (IL) 5-3