Dorian Olivarez of Texas secures the match-winning takedown in the 144-pound finals of the Air Force Special Warfare Junior Folkstyle Nationals.
Olivarez emerges at 144 to win Junior boys OW at Air Force Special Warfare Folkstyle Nationals
by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling
Watch: Junior boys champion post-match interviews
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – 15 champions were decided in the Junior boys division at the Air Force Special Warfare 16U and Junior Folkstyle Nationals on Saturday afternoon at the UNI Dome.
Dynamic Texas product Dorian Olivarez pulled off a remarkable set of matches on Saturday at the UNI Dome, ousting returning champion Alex Braun of Minnesota 4-2 in the semifinals before dethroning top-ranked Pierson Manville of Pennsylvania 2-1 in the championship match.
Olivarez, himself a returning champion at the event, was named Outstanding Wrestler in the Junior boys division following his elite effort.
2022 USA Wrestling Triple Crown winner Mack Mauger of Idaho earned his fourth USA Wrestling Stop Sign at this event with a gritty 4-2 decision over Co`ji Campbell of Wisconsin in the 120-pound finals.
Returning 16U Folkstyle Nationals champion and double Fargo finalist Caleb Noble of Illinois continued his winning ways with an impressive 12-5 win against Braydon Pacheco of Kansas in the 106-pound finals.
175-pound champion Hudson Rogers of Idaho picked up back-to-back Junior Folkstyle titles with tight 2-1 win over Matthew Jens of Illinois, in a finals match that was decided on a penalty point in the final moments.
Arguably the most exciting match of the Junior boys finals came at 132 pounds as Geronimo Rivera of Utah outlasted Geoffrey Whelan of Virginia 7-6 in the ultimate tiebreaker. Rivera rode out Whelan for the final 30 seconds to take the title.
A complete list of championship finals and medal match results for the Junior boys division can be found below.
The Air Force Special Warfare 16U and Junior Folkstyle Nationals is the first leg of the USA Wrestling Triple Crown award. The competition resumes at 9 a.m. (CT) on Sunday with the conclusion of the 16U girls and boys tournaments.
Fans can watch the event live on FloWrestling.com. Brackets and match-by-match results are available on Trackwrestling.com.
For more information about this event, please visit usawrestlingevents.com.