U17 World Champions Fernandez, Turner highlight loaded Who’s Number One card
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by Savannah Asmann, USA Wrestling
Taina Fernandez (left) and Morgan Turner (right) at the 2024 U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan.
The 2024-25 high school season officially begins next Sunday as FloWrestling will host its popular Who’s Number One all-star event at University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Sports Center in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on September 29, for the 12th annual event. This will be the fourth-straight year with a full slate of both boys and girls matches.
The lineup features four World medalists, including two U17 World Champions. Nine age-group Pan American Championship medalists are also slated to compete at this event.
Taina Fernandez of Maryland, a 2024 U17 World Champion, will face off against Jordyn Fouse of Pennsylvania in a clash at 135 pounds. Fernandez is also a three-time U15 Pan American Championships gold medalist.
At 105 pounds, the finale of the night will feature two-time U17 World medalist Morgan Turner of Illinois battling Julia Horger of Pennsylvania for the top ranking. Turner secured bronze earlier this year in Amman, Jordan, at the 2024 U17 World Championships. Last year, it was Turner at the top of the podium with a gold medal in Istanbul, Turkey.
U17 World bronze medalist Jaclyn Bouzakis of Pennsylvania matches up against 2023 U15 Pan American Champion Hailey Delgado of Texas. Heather Crull of Indiana, another 2023 U17 World bronze medalist, will see Taylor Whiting of Wisconsin at 110 pounds in the fifth matchup of the night.
U15 Pan American Championship gold medalists Isis France of Arizona and Epenesa Elison of California are in the lineup for the event on the 29th. Elison also holds the honor of being one of the first USA Wrestling Triple Crown Award winners when the prestigious award was introduced in the girls division in 2023. Athletes with U17 Pan American Championship gold medals include Sarah Henckel of Connecticut, Isabella Marie Gonzalez of California and Charlie Wylie of New Jersey.
Gonzalez has already created a strong resume, with a fifth place finish at this year’s U17 World Championships in Amman, Jordan, and three age-group Pan American Championship gold medals (U15 in 2021 and 2022, U17 in 2023).
Two-time U17 World Team Trials champion Everest Leydecker of Arizona will also compete against Me’kala James of California. In 2023, Leydecker defeated Aubre Krazer of Pennsylvania at 122 pounds, 6-2. Krazer is also on the card this year at 130 pounds, and will face Taina McGowan of New Jersey in the second bout of the afternoon.
Of those on this year’s card, Fernandez and Gonzales joined Leydecker in winning their matches at the 2023 Who’s Number One event.
The nation’s top boys and girls wrestlers battle for bragging rights and No. 1 rankings in this annual event, which will be broadcast live on FloWrestling. The girls card starts at 2 p.m. Eastern time, with the boys set for about 5 p.m. Eastern time. Doors will open at 1 p.m. for the event.
Fans can still purchase tickets to see this excellent event live. Tickets are required, and must be purchased online prior to the event. Click here to purchase tickets for this event.
For more information on the event, including the broadcast link, visit FloWrestling’s Who’s Number One Coverage page.
The full girls wrestling card, which includes the nation’s top talent, is below in weight order.
Girls' Bout Order - 2:00pm Eastern
155 pounds: Janiya Johnson of Tennessee vs. Sarah Pulk of Minnesota
130 pounds: Aubre Krazer of Pennsylvania vs. Taina McGowan of New Jersey
145 pounds: Charlotte Gilfoil of Pennsylvania vs. Sarah Henckel of Connecticut
100 pounds: Jaclyn Bouzakis of Pennsylvania vs. Hailey Delgado of Texas
110 pounds: Heather Crull of Indiana vs. Taylor Whiting of Wisconsin
140 pounds: Bella Williams of Oklahoma vs. Isis France of Arizona
120 pounds: Isabella Marie Gonzales of California vs. Savannah Witt of Pennsylvania
125 pounds: Everest Leydecker of Arizona vs. Me'kala James of California
135 pounds: Taina Fernandez of Maryland vs. Jordyn Fouse of Pennsylvania
115 pounds: Epenesa Elison of California vs. Charlie Wylie of New Jersey
105 pounds: Morgan Turner of Illinois vs. Julia Horger of Pennsylvania
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