Top Seeds Roll on Day One of 16U Boys Freestyle at 2026 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals

FARGO, North Dakota – Higher seeds reigned supreme on day one of the 2026 U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals at the FARGODOME with only five top-five seeds dropping out of title contention in the 16U Boys freestyle division. 11 of the 17 No. 1 seeds bonused their way through the opening day of competition.

Leonidas Murrillo of Pennsylvania is the only returning 16U champion from last year who is still alive to repeat. At 100 pounds, Murillo notched a 10-0 technical fall in 68 seconds to get his title defense underway. The only other defending champion in the field was Washington’s Miro Parr-Coffin, who was upset by Ohio’s Cole Palma, 2-2, at 106 pounds. Palma scored a takedown with nine seconds to go in the match to win on criteria.

Three other 2025 Fargo All-Americans were upset on Friday. California’s Daniel Serrano upended Ohio’s Grady Moos (106), 9-7, who finished fourth last year. Ausome Guillermo of California, who also finished fourth in 2025, was defeated by Bryce Fiore of Florida, 13-2, at 133 pounds. Also, in the 113-pound bracket, 2025 fifth-place finisher Cody Bakhsh of Delaware dropped a narrow 11-10 decision to Nolan DeShon of Ohio.

2025 runners-up Johnathan Thompson of Iowa (94) and Asher Bacon of Pennsylvania (157) also started their 2026 Fargo runs in shutout fashion. Thompson won his only match of the day in 32 seconds with a 10-0 technical fall. Bacon had two matches at 157 pounds, winning his opening bout 11-0, followed by an 18-second, 10-0 affair.

At the conclusion of day one, 12 wrestlers kept their Triple Crown hopes alive, with Noah Thomas of Illinois (113) bowing out of the title contention on Friday evening.

Wrestlers on USA Wrestling Triple Crown watch in the 16U Boys division tomorrow include:

• Colton Wiseman of Indiana (94)
• Johnathan Thompson of Iowa (94)
• Patrick Pina III of Arizona (126)
• Jeffrey Dunaway of Illinois (132)
• Marco Costa of California (138)
• Jeremiah Hayes of Illinois (144)
• Caden Woodall of Arizona (150)
• Jaimon Mogard of Iowa (157)
• Harrison Murdock of Georgia (165)
• Dresden Beard of Kansas (190)
• Leland Havens of Wisconsin (285)
• Sawyer Schendel of Minnesota (285)

The opening day of the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals featured 17 wrestlers who recorded two pins each to lead the tournament. Pennsylvania’s Parker Joseph (138) had a tournament-low 1:33 of mat time to score his two pins. The fastest fall of the day came from Beckett Edstrom of Minnesota (126), who needed just 10 seconds to win by fall in the round of 64.

The 88-pound bracket only featured 34 entries, and only two bouts were completed on Friday evening.

Competition continues on Saturday with the Junior Boys freestyle division beginning the day at 9 a.m. CT. The 16U Boys freestyle division resumes action at 3 p.m. CT.

The U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals will be broadcast live on FloWrestling. Brackets and live results will be available on USA Bracketing.

Visit the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals Event Hub and USA Wrestling’s social media platforms for complete coverage of the action in Fargo.

• Event Hub
• Live Stream
• Brackets and Results

1. Pennsylvania, 53

2. Illinois, 40

3. Ohio, 39

4. Iowa, 35

5. California, 28

6. Indiana, 27

7. Wisconsin, 26

8. Minnesota, 23

T9. Florida, 22

T9. New Jersey, 22

T9. Oklahoma, 22