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Athlete of Week

Taina Fernandez named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare on July 15, 2025

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by Richard Immel, USA Wrestling

Taina Fernandez (Bowie, Md./DMV RTC/Titan Mercury WC) has been named USA Wrestling Athlete of the Week, presented by U.S. Air Force Special Warfare, on July 15, 2025.


The 16-year-old Maryland native achieved the remarkable, earning both a 16U Girls and Junior Girls title at the 2025 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in Fargo, N.D. Fernandez is the first individual to hit this mark since the tournament format adjusted in 2023 to hold both divisions simultaneously. It’s the 25th occurrence of a double champion on the girls side in tournament history.


Dominance is an understatement when examining Fernadez’s efforts at the Fargodome. She went 6-0 with one pin and five technical falls in both divisions, racking up a 115-2 combined score across her 12 matches. The only points Fernandez surrendered came from a first-period scramble takedown awarded to Minnesota’s Chloe Wehry in the 16U quarterfinals.


Both 135-pound championship bouts ended with 11-0 scores in favor of Fernandez. She defeated Maddie Marsh of Indiana in the Junior finals and Emily Beckley of Oklahoma in the 16U finals. The 16U Outstanding Wrestler award went to Fernandez at tournament’s end.


Fernandez departs Fargo as a three-time champion at the event, adding her two 2025 stop signs to the 16U championship she won last year.


It’s the third USA Wrestling national title for Fernandez in 2025. She topped the podium at the U17 Women’s Nationals and Girls National High School Recruiting Showcase prior to her Fargo run.


Fernandez won the 2024 U17 World Championships as a 15-year-old for Team USA last summer in Amman, Jordan. She is a three-time U15 Pan American champion and was this year’s U17 Pan American champion. She will look to repeat at U17 Worlds next month in Athens, Greece.


To browse every result from the 2025 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals, please visit USA Bracketing.

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To nominate a wrestler for this honor please email the athlete's name, wrestling program, weekly accomplishments, and career accolades to communications@usawrestling.org.

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