Returning champs Valdez, Crull reach Junior women’s finals at U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals

FARGO, N.D. – Two returning champions in the Junior division of the 2025 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals have advanced to the finals on Sunday afternoon,

Advancing to finals after semifinal victories on Sunday morning were Katey Valdez of Colorado (100) and Heather Crull of Indiana (105).

Valdez scored a 10-0 technical fall over Sandy Breeden of Missouri in the semifinals, and will face 2024 16U National champion and 2023 U17 World bronze medalist Jaclyn Bouzakis of Pennsylvania in the finals.

Crull stopped Killian Evans of Missouri in a 12-2 technical fall in the semifinals. Crull, a 2023 U17 World bronze medalist will battle Julia Horger of Pennsylvania in the finals.

At 115 pounds, Harlee Hiller of Illinois edged 2024 Junior Nationals champion Taylor Whiting of Wisconsin in a 10-10 criteria decision, ending Whiting’s attempt to repeat as champion.

There will be no Junior Triple Crown winners this year in the women’s tournament. The Triple Crown is given to athletes who win three specific national titles during the same season. There has been only one Junior Girls Triple Crown winner, Valerie Hamilton of Illinois in 2024.

In the semifinals at 235 pounds, Triple Crown candidate Tilisa Matakaiongo of Utah was defeated by Chloe Hoselton of Illinois, 11-8, ending Matakaiongo’s run to a Triple Crown.

In the quarterfinals at 190 pounds, Mahalia Adams of Virginia defeated Brooke Huffman of Wisconsin, 11-9, ending Huffman’s attempt to win a Junior Triple Crown.

The team race will be a battle between Pennsylvania and California. As the semifinals ended, Pennsylvania had 119 points and California had 108, with the next teams, Michigan and New Jersey, at 49 points.  Pennsylvania has six in the finals, while California has one in the finals. California has 13 wrestlers still competing, while Pennsylvania has nine.

The medal matches will be held at 1:30 p.m., with the championship matches set for 2:30 p.m. live on FloWrestling.

U.S. MARINE CORPS JUNIOR NATIONALS

At Fargo, N.D., July 13, 2025

Junior Women’s finals pairings

95 - Natalie Radecki (DE) vs. Zoey Haney (MO)

100 - Jaclyn Bouzakis (PA) vs. Katey Valdez (CO)

105 - Julia Horger (PA) vs. Heather Crull (IN)

110 - Charlie Wylie (NJ) vs. Kayla Batres (CT)

115 - Harlee Hiller (IL) vs. Mackenzie Carder (OH)

120 - Savannah Witt (PA) vs. Caley Graber (MN)

125 - Emma Bacon (PA) vs. Cecilia Williams (MI)

130 - Taina McGowan (NJ) vs. Zorina Johnson (OR)

135 - Maddie Marsh (IN) vs. Taina Fernandez (MD)

140 - Alexis Lazar (MI) vs. Nora Akpan (MN)

145 - Violette Lasure (PA) vs. Olivia Davis (CA)

155 - Olivia Georges (NJ) vs. Sarah Henckel (CT)

170 - Jael Miller (PA) vs. Autumn Elsbury (IA)

190 - Mahalia Adams (VA) vs. Kanata Richardson (MI)

207 - Mia Cienega (WA) vs. Maddie Miller (OH)

235 - Deionna Borders (OH) vs. Chloe Hoselton (IL)

Junior Women’s semifinals

95

Natalie Radecki (DE) F. Serah Yogi (HI), 2:56

Zoey Haney (MO) T.F. Lillee Denson (MI), 12-2 (1:29)

100

Jaclyn Bouzakis (PA) T.F. Killian Evans (MO), 12-0 (1:32)

Katey Valdez (CO) T.F. Sandy Breeden (MO), 11-0 (4:46)

105

Julia Horger (PA) Dec. Sarissa Tucker (VA), 12-9

Heather Crull (IN) Dec. Madison Nieuwenhuis (MI), 7-0

110

Charlie Wylie (NJ) T.F. Reanah Utterback (IA), 12-2 (2:49)

Kayla Batres (CT) T.F. Kendall Moe (IN), 10-0 (0:18)

115

Harlee Hiller (IL) Dec. Taylor Whiting (WI), 10-10

Mackenzie Carder (OH) T.F. Joely Slyter (ID), 14-4 (5:29)

120

Savannah Witt (PA) T.F. Calli Gilchrist (CT), 11-0 (2:46)

Caley Graber (MN) T.F. Cheyenne Frank (MI), 12-2 (1:21)

125

Emma Bacon (PA) Inj. Me'kala James (CA),

Cecilia Williams (MI) Dec. Madilyn Peach (WI), 12-5

130

Taina McGowan (NJ) F. Corynne McNulty (MA), 2:25

Zorina Johnson (OR) F. Abigail Mozden (OH), 1:53

135

Maddie Marsh (IN) F. Lauren Zaragoza (CA), 0:36

Taina Fernandez (MD) T.F. Morgan Lucio (AZ), 10-0 (3:45)

140

Alexis Lazar (MI) F. Ailee Briggs (FL), 2:31

Nora Akpan (MN) Dec. Riley Hanrahan (WI), 8-4

145

Violette Lasure (PA) F. Elise Twait (ID), 1:39

Olivia Davis (CA) Dec. Faith Bane (NC), 3-1

155

Olivia Georges (NJ) F. Cassandra Gonzales (MN), 5:04

Sarah Henckel (CT) Dec. Amelia Fawcett (AK), 12-10

170

Jael Miller (PA) T.F. Kendall Bibla (FL), 15-5 (3:26)

Autumn Elsbury (IA) Dec. Makayla Vasser (NE), 8-3

190

Mahalia Adams (VA) Dec. Libby Dix (IA), 12-4

Kanata Richardson (MI) Dec. Selena Mares-Castro (WA), 5-1

207

Mia Cienega (WA) T.F. Taylor Orner (PA), 12-0 (2:38)

Maddie Miller (OH) F. Angel Hill (CA), 0:35

235

Deionna Borders (OH) Dec. Brenda Banks (PA), 5-0

Chloe Hoselton (IL) Dec. Tilisa Matakaiongo (UT), 11-8

Junior Women’s Quarterfinals

95

Serah Yogi (HI) T.F. Francesca Gusfa (NJ), 14-4 (4:50)

Natalie Radecki (DE) T.F. Alexa Rodriguez Lopez (TX), 13-2 (3:00)

Lillee Denson (MI) Dec. Lilly Breeden (MO), 10-5

Zoey Haney (MO) F. Olivia Polansky (MA), 2:14

100

Jaclyn Bouzakis (PA) T.F. Jaelle Cortez (CA), 10-0 (1:48)

Killian Evans (MO) T.F. Lola Gonzales (CO), 12-2 (4:11)

Sandy Breeden (MO) T.F. Jaidyn Alvarado (KS), 10-0 (1:23)

Katey Valdez (CO) F. Ella Thomas (OH), 1:13

105

Heather Crull (IN) T.F. Katie Biscoglia (IA), 13-0 (3:44)

Madison Nieuwenhuis (MI) Dec. Ava Fodera (CA), 5-0

Sarissa Tucker (VA) Inj. Libertie Nigh (OH), 4:43

Julia Horger (PA) F. Kyrstan Perez (OK), 2:48

110

Charlie Wylie (NJ) T.F. Addie Morse (OK), 10-0 (4:35)

Reanah Utterback (IA) Dec. Jayden Keller (MO), 9-5

Kendall Moe (IN) Dec. Nakayla Dawson (MI), 4-2

Kayla Batres (CT) T.F. Adalyne Montiel (WA), 10-0 (1:21)

115

Harlee Hiller (IL) Dec. Angelina Gochis (IL), 10-5

Taylor Whiting (WI) T.F. Jessa Joiner (MO), 12-2 (2:00)

Joely Slyter (ID) F. Samiyah Rahming (PA), 4:20

Mackenzie Carder (OH) F. Libby Roberts (WA), 0:37

120

Savannah Witt (PA) F. Gabrielle Severin (NY), 2:26

Calli Gilchrist (CT) F. Morgan Maschmann (NE), 4:04

Cheyenne Frank (MI) F. Angelina Borelli (CA), 0:16

Caley Graber (MN) T.F. Stevie Joyce Martin (CA), 10-0 (0:34)

125

Emma Bacon (PA) F. Shayna Ward (CA), 1:45

Me'kala James (CA) T.F. Regina Stoeser (SD), 13-3 (4:18)

Cecilia Williams (MI) F. Martynique Davis (AZ), 4:54

Madilyn Peach (WI) Dec. Mika Yoffee (NV), 8-7

130

Corynne McNulty (MA) Dec. Kailin Sebert (TX), 13-4

Taina McGowan (NJ) T.F. Emma Chacon (AZ), 10-0 (4:32)

Zorina Johnson (OR) T.F. Jaelyn Skelley (TX), 10-0 (2:46)

Abigail Mozden (OH) Dec. Brooklyn Perez (AZ), 9-8

135

Taina Fernandez (MD) T.F. Kate Doughty (CO), 10-0 (1:40)

Morgan Lucio (AZ) F. Sophia Slaughter (VA), 4:03

Maddie Marsh (IN) T.F. Lilliana Banks (WI), 11-0 (2:05)

Lauren Zaragoza (CA) T.F. Mariana Bowen (TN), 10-0 (4:44)

140

Alexis Lazar (MI) Dec. Vivienne Gitke (CO), 6-6

Ailee Briggs (FL) T.F. Jordyn Parker (TX), 13-2 (3:59)

Nora Akpan (MN) T.F. Louise Juitt (MO), 12-2 (5:48)

Riley Hanrahan (WI) F. Dulcy Martinez (CA), 3:45

145

Violette Lasure (PA) Dec. Greta Brus (IA), 7-1

Elise Twait (ID) F. Maggie Ortmann (MO), 3:23

Faith Bane (NC) Dec. Timberly Martinez (CO), 7-2

Olivia Davis (CA) F. Jada Lawrence (SC), 1:38

155

Olivia Georges (NJ) F. Ellie Higginbotham (MO), 5:11

Cassandra Gonzales (MN) Dec. Margaret Buurma (MI), 5-4

Amelia Fawcett (AK) Dec. Eloise Woolsey (NM), 9-8

Sarah Henckel (CT) Dec. Jestinah Solomua (CA), 7-7

170

Jael Miller (PA) T.F. Sally Johnson (TN), 10-0 (1:29)

Kendall Bibla (FL) F. Maddie Hayden (MI), 4:39

Makayla Vasser (NE) F. Chaniah Bernier (MD), 1:14

Autumn Elsbury (IA) F. Riley Lancaster (FL), 5:32

190

Mahalia Adams (VA) Dec. Brooke Huffman (WI), 11-9

Libby Dix (IA) F. Riley Alborn (OH), 1:58

Kanata Richardson (MI) F. Evelyn Vargas (CA), 5:08

Selena Mares-Castro (WA) F. Josephine Larson (IL), 3:25

207

Amie Hartman (ID) T.F. Phoenix Molina (IL), 11-0 (6:00)

Tirza Twoteeth (MT) F. Sophiea Quinn (MO), 2:58

Taylor Orner (PA) F. Maddie Miller (OH), 0:54

Mia Cienega (WA) T.F. Keilikki Nau Rarick (UT), 11-0 (4:59)

235

Brenda Banks (PA) Dec. Kitana Leafaatoto (NV), 6-2

Deionna Borders (OH) Dec. Alexis Stinson (MO), 3-2

Tilisa Matakaiongo (UT) Dec. Ariana Chavez (TX), 7-4

Chloe Hoselton (IL) F. Maliana Heimuli (TX), 3:35