Returning champs Forrest, Bouzakis reach USMC Junior Freestyle Nationals semifinals, Craft still Triple Crown eligible

FARGO, N.D. - Session IV of the USMC Junior Freestyle Nationals is a true test for any talented wrestler. An athlete must wrestle two very challenging rounds, first the round of 16, then the quarterfinals. Win them both and your dream of becoming a national champion remains alive. As a bonus, all quarterfinal winners are guaranteed to be All-Americans, with the worst outcome possible being sixth place.

Tonight’s Session IV proved just how difficult it can be to survive the special challenges of Fargo. The intensity was at a high level in the FargoDome, and the nation’s best high school wrestlers put on a great show.

There are two returning champions had little trouble reaching the semifinals, Pennsylvania stars Jax Forrest at 132 pounds and Vince Bouzakis at 157 pounds.

Forrest scored a 10-0 technical fall over Logan Swensen of Minnesota in the quarterfinals and will battle Matthew Botello of Massachusetts in the semifinals.

Bouzakis shut out Joey Canova of New Jersey in the quarterfinals, and will draw Isaias Jimenez of Arizona in the semifinals.

Three returning Junior Nationals runners-up also powered into the semifinals, Aaron Seidel of Pennsylvania (126), Daniel Zepeda of California (144) and William Henckel of Connecticut (175).

But after that, all bets were off.

The hunt for a Junior Triple Crown was whittled down to just one wrestler, Cason Craft of Oklahoma (106). Craft scored a 10-0 technical fall over Charles Esposito of New Jersey in the quarterfinals and will face Antonio Quiroz of Nevada in the semifinals.

Two of the Triple Crown contenders were defeated in the round of 16, Geronimo Rivera of Utah (132), who lost to Logan Swenson of Minnesota, and Jaxton Packer of Idaho (126), who was beaten by No. 1 seed Christian Castillo of Arizona.

Two Triple Crown contenders at 113 pounds was knocked off in the quarterfinals. Brayden Teunissen of Illinois edged Alex Rozas of Louisiana, 4-3, and in one of the bigger surprises of the day, Dunia Sibomana of New York scored a 12-2 technical fall over Caleb Noble of Illinois. Another Triple Crown contender was beaten at the 285-pound quarterfinals, as Parker Ferrell of Virginia beat Shilo Jones of Idaho, 8-3.

To show how tough this event can be, four No. 1 seeds were defeated in the round of 16.

No. 17 seed Christopher Swann of Georgia defeated No. 1 seed Jarrett Smith of Michigan at 105 pounds. No. 17 seed Jake Knight of Iowa beat No. 1 seed and Nathan Rioux of Indiana at 120 pounds. No. 17 seed Travis Grace of California knocked off No. 1 seed Charlie Millard of Wisconsin at 165 pounds. At 215 pounds, No. 16 seed Melvin Whitehead of Nevada received an injury default victory in 1:40 over No. 1 seed and 2023 16U Nationals champion Dreshaun Ross of Iowa.

Two more No. 1 seeds were beaten in the quarterfinals. At 126 pounds, Iowa’s Koufax Christensen stopped No. 1 seed and two-time U17 World Team member Christian Castillo of Arizona, 7-4. Then at 138 pounds, Sergio Vega of Arizona rolled to a 12-2 technical fall over No. 1 seed Alex Braun of Minnesota.

The other No. 1 seeds have reached the quarterfinals: Michael Rundell of Illinois (100), Jax Forrest of Pennsylvania (132), Pierson Manville of Pennsylvania (144), Landon Robideau of Minnesota (150), Vince Bouzakis of Pennsylvania (157) and Adam Waters of Pennsylvania (175).

There were five 2023 16U Nationals champions beaten in the round of 16. Smith and Ross were also 2023 16U Nationals champions and were among those who lost that round.

In a battle of Iowans, Kael Voinovich knocked off 2023 16U Nationals champion Kyler Knaack at 157 pounds. Gunner Henry of Indiana won a criteria decision over 2023 16U Nationals champion Elijah Diakomihalis of New York at 190 pounds. Also at 285 pounds, Rocco Dellagatta of New Jersey eliminated 16U Nationals champion Jacob Levy of Georgia.

Another 2023 16U Nationals champion was beaten in the quarterfinals, when Hunter Hollingsworth of Oklahoma scored a 10-0 technical fall over 16U Nationals champion Blue Stiffler of Georgia.

When the carnage was over, there was only one 2022 16U Nationals champion who survived the fourth session, Melvin Miller of Pennsylvania (157), who will face talented Kody Routledge of Oklahoma in the semifinals.

While you may not know the names of some of the semifinalists competing tomorrow, they all survived the largest Junior Nationals freestyle field in history and have truly earned the right to be there.

The team race is pretty much decided. Pennsylvania, with 13 in the semifinals, has already scored 91 points. Tied in second with 35 points are California, New Jersey and Oklahoma, all with five semifinalists.

Wednesday’s semifinals begin at 10:00 a.m., with third-, fifth- and seventh-place medal matches at 3:00 p.m. The championship finals are set for 5:30 p.m.

FloWrestling is once again the broadcaster for the USMC Junior/16U Nationals. See it live on FloWrestling. https://flosports.link/4asFX5c

USMC JUNIOR FREESTYLE NATIONALS

At Fargo, N.D., July 16

Semifinal pairings

100 pounds

Michael Rundell (IL) vs. Brock Goebel (NE)

Ethan Powell (OH) vs. Xavier Diaz (PA)

106 pounds

Christopher Swann (GA) vs. Brady Byrd (IN)

Cason Craft (OK) vs. Antonio Quiroz (NV)

113 pounds

Brayden Teunissen (IL) vs. Ayden Dodd (OH)

Revin Dickman (IN) vs. Dunia Sibomana (NY)

120 pounds

Davis Motyka (PA) vs. Gauge Botero (PA)

Blake Beissel (MN) vs. Brock Rothermel (PA)

126 pounds

Koufax Christensen (IA) vs. Edwin Sierra (CA)

Nathan Desmond (PA) vs. Aaron Seidel (PA)

132 pounds

Jax Forrest (PA) vs. Matthew Botello (MA)

Jake Hockaday (IN) vs. Seth Mendoza (IL)

138 pounds

Sergio Vega (AZ) vs. Hunter Hollingsworth (OK)

Drew Gorman (GA) vs. Carter Freeman (IA)

144 pounds

Pierson Manville (PA) vs. Daniel Zepeda (CA)

Smokey Mcclure (WA) vs. Jace Roller (OK)

150 pounds

Landon Robideau (MN) vs. Maddox Shaw (PA)

Paul Kelly (CA) vs. Daishun Powe (AL)

157 pounds

Vince Bouzakis (PA) vs. Isaias Jimenez (AZ)

Melvin Miller (PA) vs. Kody Routledge (OK)

165 pounds

Travis Grace (CA) vs. Elliott Humphries (MA)

Alessio Perentin (NJ) vs. Clayton Giddens (OK)

175 pounds

Adam Waters (PA) vs. Ryan Burton (NJ)

Keenan Sheridan (SD) vs. William Henckel (CT)

190 pounds

Harvey Ludington (NJ) vs. Anders Thompson (MT)

Cade Ziola (NE) vs. Carson Thomas (OH)

215 pounds

Michael Calcagno (IL) vs. Angelo Posada (CA)

Evan McGuire (MN) vs. Anthony Harris (NJ)

285 pounds

Dean Bechtold (PA) vs. Daniel Herrera (IA)

Parker Ferrell (VA) vs. Rocco Dellagatta (NJ)

Quarterfinal results

100 pounds

Michael Rundell (IL) tech fall Trace Rial (IA), 10-0 1:10

Brock Goebel (NE) tech fall Kristian Declercq (IL), 10-0 2:02

Ethan Powell (OH) tech fall Damian Trujillo (NM), 12-2 4:57

Xavier Diaz (PA) pin Kacen Jones (UT), 1:20

106 pounds

Christopher Swann (GA) tech fall Carter Chunko (PA), 16-6 5:46

Brady Byrd (IN) tech fall Daniel Alire (AZ), 10-0 5:17

Cason Craft (OK) tech fall Charles Esposito (NJ), 10-0 2:05

Antonio Quiroz (NV) tech fall Jackson Soney (IL), 14-3 2:41

113 pounds

Brayden Teunissen (IL) dec. Alex Rozas (LA), 4-3

Ayden Dodd (OH) pin Roman Luttrell (NM), 9-4 4:07

Revin Dickman (IN) pin Abdirahman Unle (NE), 18-16 5:59

Dunia Sibomana (NY) tech fall Caleb Noble (IL), 12-2 1:57

120 pounds

Davis Motyka (PA) dec. Jake Knight (IA), 15-13

Gauge Botero (PA) dec. Musa Tamaradze (MA), 13-12

Blake Beissel (MN) tech fall Gage Singleton (OR), 18-8 5:24

Brock Rothermel (PA) tech fall Dru Ayala (IA), 15-5 3:57

126 pounds

Koufax Christensen (IA) dec. Christian Castillo (AZ), 7-4

Edwin Sierra (CA) dec. Billy Townson (CA), 4-3

Nathan Desmond (PA) tech fall Joseph Curry (OH), 10-0 3:35

Aaron Seidel (PA) tech fall Gavin Jendreas (IN), 13-2 4:53

132 pounds

Jax Forrest (PA) tech fall Logan Swensen (MN), 10-0 2:09

Matthew Botello (MA) tech fall Moses Mendoza (CA), 13-2 5:47

Jake Hockaday (IN) pin Adrian Meza (AZ), 5:41

Seth Mendoza (IL) pin Tyler Dekraker (PA), 8-2 3:34

138 pounds

Sergio Vega (AZ) tech fall Alex Braun (MN), 12-2 4:40

Hunter Hollingsworth (OK) tech fall Blue Stiffler (GA), 10-0 4:17

Drew Gorman (GA) tech fall Sam Herring (PA), 12-2 3:34

Carter Freeman (IA) dec. Kellen Wolbert (WI), 12-9

144 pounds

Pierson Manville (PA) dec.Tyson Charmoli (MN), 4-0

Daniel Zepeda (CA) tech fall Jesse Grajeda (CA), 14-4 3:22

Smokey Mcclure (WA) dec. Kyrel Leavell (IN), 13-5

Jace Roller (OK) pin Logan W. Paradice (GA), 1:58

150 pounds

Landon Robideau (MN) tech fall Garrett Reece (CO), 10-0 1:47

Maddox Shaw (PA) tech fall Dominic Serio (IL), 13-3 4:27

Paul Kelly (CA) dec. Hunter Sturgill (TN), 6-0

Daishun Powe (AL) inj. dft. Jason Kwaak (NY), 7-1 3:57

157 pounds

Vince Bouzakis (PA) dec. Joey Canova (NJ), 5-0

Isaias Jimenez (AZ) dec. Kael Voinovich (IA), 6-4

Melvin Miller (PA) tech fall Caleb Olson (IA), 10-0 1:14

Kody Routledge (OK) tech fall Ayson Rice (SD), 10-0 1:51

165 pounds

Travis Grace (CA) dec. Maximus Norman (TN), 12-10

Elliott Humphries (MA) dec. Luke Sipes (PA), 9-1

Alessio Perentin (NJ) tech fall Gunner Holland (FL), 13-0 2:39

Clayton Giddens (OK) tech fall Dominic Bambinelli (GA), 10-0 5:51

175 pounds

Adam Waters (PA) tech fall Caden Wilson (WA), 12-0 1:42

Ryan Burton (NJ) pin Caleb Dennee (WI), 0:40

Keenan Sheridan (SD) pin Anthony Rinehart (IN), 3:24

William Henckel (CT) tech fall Waylon Cressell (IN), 11-0 5:34

190 pounds

Harvey Ludington (NJ) tech fall John Murphy (MN), 10-0 0:44

Anders Thompson (MT) dec. Robert Kucharczk (FL), 11-6

Cade Ziola (NE) dec. Gunner Henry (IN), 9-0

Carson Thomas (OH) dec. Gage Yackee (OH), 4-3

215 pounds

Michael Calcagno (IL) pin Melvin Whitehead (NV), 5-0 1:41

Angelo Posada (CA) tech fall Antonio Palmer (NE), 14-3 1:56

Evan McGuire (MN) tech fall Austin Johnson (PA), 12-1 1:21

Anthony Harris (NJ) dec. Cason Howle (SC), 12-4

285 pounds

Dean Bechtold (PA) pin Jackson Barnhart (IL), 11-8 2:09

Daniel Herrera (IA) tech fall John Pardo (PA), 10-0 0:51

Parker Ferrell (VA) dec. Shilo Jones (ID), 8-3

Rocco Dellagatta (NJ) dec. Rylan Kuhn (MO), 8-4

Team Standings

1            Pennsylvania       91

2            California            35

2            New Jersey          35

2            Oklahoma            35

5            Illinois   28         

6            Iowa      21         

6            Indiana  21         

6            Minnesota            21 

6            Ohio      21