Returning Junior All-Americans start strong in session one of Junior Boys freestyle at U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals

FARGO, North Dakota – There weren’t too many landmines for returning Junior Boys All-Americans in Monday’s first session of the 2025 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota.

Of the 51 wrestlers who previously placed in Junior Boys, 45 got through unscathed. The concentration of early upsets came at 113 pounds where four of the eight returning All-Americans were bounced from the championship bracket with many of the culprits coming from past 16U Freestyle placewinners.

Nebraska’s Cole Welte, a 2022 16U Freestyle All-American, knocked off returning All-American Daniel Alire of Arizona 13-2 in the first round. Hawaii’s Analu Woode, a placer last year, beat Ohio’s Ethan Powell, who was third at 100 pounds last year in Junior Boys, in the second round. Illinois’ Kaleb Pratt teched returning Junior placer Jason Foutz of Pennsylvania in the second-round. Georgia’s Christopher Metz picked off returning All-American Mason Brayfield of Missouri 12-10 in the opening round as well.

It wasn’t all bad news for previous medalists at 113. Returning champion Christopher Swann of Georgia opened up with a pair of technical falls. Swann was last year’s champion at 106 pounds. Michigan’s Jarrett Smith, a 2023 16U Freestyle champion, is also off to a 2-0 start. Smith won Junior Greco last year.

At 126 pounds, Utah’s Lander Bosh picked off returning All-American Dominic Deputy of Pennsylvania 10-3, while Georgia’s Dallas Russell beat returning All-American Blake Cosby of Michigan 6-4 in the second round at 150 pounds.

Some of the deeper weights involving returning Junior All-Americans are 120 and 175 pounds, each of which have six returning placers and 126 pounds, which has five.

There’s 14 returning Junior Boys All-Americans who have a Junior National or 16U National title on their resume regardless of style. They combined to go 28-0 on the day.

At 190 pounds, returning champion and 2024 Outstanding Wrestler Adam Waters of Pennsylvania is 2-0 and is fresh off a U20 Pan Am championships just two days ago in Lima, Peru.

At 105 pounds, returning All-American Cason Craft of Oklahoma opened up his tournament with an 11-0 technical fall over Ohio’s Zane Russell. Craft, who took fifth in Junior Boys last year, is the only returning Junior All-American in the weight. Craft was last year’s Junior Greco-Roman champion at 106 pounds.

New York’s Dunia Sibomana started off his tournament strong with a pair of quick technical falls. Sibomana won the Junior Boys title at 113 pounds last year and is one of the favorites at 120 this year. Junior Boys All-American and 2024 Junior Greco-Roman champion Nicolas Enzminger of North Dakota also started off with two technical fall victories.

Past champions who are 2-0 after Session 1: Isaiah Cortez (California, 132), Kellan Wolbert (Wisconsin, 138), Blue Stiffler (Georgia, 138), Haakon Peterson (Wisconsin, 144), Brandon Dean (Colorado, 150), Logan Paradice (Georgia, 150), (Melvin Miller (Pennsylvania, 165) and Coby Merrill (California, 285).

Quick Facts: The Junior Boys tournament started in 1971 with 200 entries. In its 54^th year, the tournament set another record with 1,887 entries.  Only two weight classes, 100 and 106 pounds, have less than 100 wrestlers. The largest weight this year is 144 pounds with 159 wrestlers. The smallest weight is 100 pounds, with 41.

Top 10 States with wrestlers alive in the championship bracket:
1. Pennsylvania 47

2. Illinois 36

3. California 32

4. Iowa 32

5. Indiana 28

6. Wisconsin 23

7. Minnesota 22

8. Ohio 22

9. Oklahoma 19

10. Florida 18

Junior freestyle continues on Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m. where the plan is to compete through the Round of 16 on the championship side. All of the action is broadcast live by FloWrestling.