Robinson named Outstanding Wrestler; 12 states represented among 16U Nationals women’s champions
by Koral Sugiyama, Special to TheMat.com
Jasmine Robinson throws her opponent belly-to-back in the 16U Nationals finals Photo by Tony Rotundo.
FARGO, N.D. –The first set of Fargo national champions were named Sunday afternoon during the 16U Women’s national finals.
Jasmine Robinson out of Allen, Texas hit the throw of the finals, although was only awarded four points. Robinson arrived at the tournament ranked fifth in the country for high school girls at the same weight class and is leaving as the number one. Robinson hit her opponent Genesis Gilmore (TN) with a four-point belly-to-back throw. Gilmore was able to fight out of the pin, but it wasn’t too much later that Robinson took her to her back once again and this time recorded the fall at 1:45. The Texas state champion was also awarded Outstanding Wrestler for the 16U women’s tournament.
A favorite of the tournament was eighth grade standout Ella Pagel out of Nerstrand, Minnesota at 164 pounds. Pagel wasted no time in her finals match. She got a takedown right away. After another takedown and a body lock from Pagel, her opponent Ali Haiser (MO) caught Pagel on her back and kept herself within striking distance on the scoreboard. However, Pagel erased all hope for Haiser when she took Haiser to her back for the pin just 26 seconds into the second period.
In her champion interview, Pagel stated, “I never expect to win. I take it one match at a time. I just go out there and battle…”
Also out of Minnesota is Skylar Little Soldier at 127 pounds. Skylar took third in this year’s U15 nationals before coming to Fargo to become this year’s 16U National champion. Her opponent Taydem Khamjoi (CA) was this year’s 16U Folkstyle National champion and Junior finalist. Khamjoi was the first to attack and score, but Little Soldier gained the lead after a takedown into a leg lace to secure momentum. Little Soldier kept the lead and took the win with a 13-4 decision.
Where California usually dominates the women’s finals, this year it was different. This 16U women’s tournament came out with 14 champs representing 12 different states. California walked away with only one champion, No. 4 Paige Morales from Clovis, California.
The 106-pound bout was the first match to feature two teammates up against one another – Morales versus No. 11 Kiely Tabaldo. The match was very heavy on hand fighting. Morales added pressure throughout and secured the hard-fought victory.
These two 16-year-olds are very familiar with the other’s wrestling style. Morales explained during her post-match interview that they’re best friends and have been wrestling for as long as she can remember.
Along with being a 16U national champion, Morales placed third at the most recent UWW Cadet nationals and is a 2019 U15 World silver medalist.
Two other states had a one-state final. At 117 pounds, Illinois’s No. 9 Cadence Diduch from Freeport defeated No. 14 Valerie Hamilton out of Gridley with a 4-0 decision. At 200 pounds, Missouri stepped out onto the mat. Missouri girls’ state champion, Catherine Dutton out of Springfield defeated Lebanon’s Mariyah Brumley, ending in a 12-0 technical-fall.
In the 94-pound final, Southeast Junior and 16U Regional champion, Valarie Solorio (FL), faced U15 National runner-up, Gabriella Gomez (IL). Gomez was the first to get a takedown. However, it was her last. Gomez continually got in on Solorio’s legs but was never able to finish as Solorio continued to defend in the splits before they were stalemated. The match ended in this same position and with Solorio taking home the title with a 6-3 decision. This is Florida’s second 16U women’s stop sign in their state history.
Indiana also earned their second 16U national champion in state history. At 100 pounds, Makenzie Smith defeated Mikayla Garcia (CA) with a late takedown as the clock zeroed out. With a 3-2 decision, Smith joined 2021 Olympian Kayla Miracle as the only 16U champions from Indiana.
At 112 pounds, No. 17 Cecilia Williams from Lansing, Mich. controlled most of the match except for a late takedown from her opponent, No. 2 Zao Estrada (S.C.) Estrada's takedown wasn’t enough to earn the title as the time ran out while she worked for a turn. Williams is the seventh 16U women’s champion for Michigan. Both athletes are well-decorated, each earning a triple crown in a regional tournament.
Also from Michigan is 180-pound champion Sabrina Nauss who was also a 2021 Double Folkstyle National champion. Nauss defeated Illinois’s Kiara Ganey with a 13-2 decision. The champion did make an appearance at the 2021 UWW Cadet Nationals at 76 kg where she placed third.
At 122 pounds, Julianna Morris (CT) was the aggressor against Shelby Moore (WA). Moore capitalized when Morris’ head would go under Moore. All five, unanswered takedowns from Moore came from a counter-attack. On her way to the finals, Moore didn’t give up a single point. The No. 2 wrestler outscored her opponents 47-0.
Also earning their first 16U freestyle national titles were Cassia Zammit (OH) at 132, Alessandra Elliott, (NY) at 138, and Nebi Tsarni (MD) at 144.
All-American Ragan Retell (NY) earned the Most Pins award with five pins in 7:17. Her only loss of the tournament was champion Skylar Little Soldier.
California took home the team title with 177 points. This is the state’s tenth 16U National Team trophy. Illinois was the runner-up with 129 points and Colorado came in third with 98 points.
Women’s wrestling returns on Tuesday, July 20 at 9 a.m. for Junior women. You can follow along on FloWrestling
16U WOMEN’S NATIONALS
At Fargo, N.D., July 18
94 LBS
1st Valarie Solorio (Florida) dec. Gabriella Gomez (Illinois), 6-3
3rd Katey Valdez (Colorado) pin Abbeygael Cabuag (California), 2:52
5th Megan Valdez (California) dec. Gigi Bragg (Michigan), 11-8
7th Eyvori Jacquez (Colorado) dec. Joely Slyter (Idaho), 8-8
100 LBS
1st Makenize Smith (Indiana) pin Mikayla Garcia (California), 1:39
3rd Juliana Alejandro (Nevada) tech. fall Clare Booe (Florida), 12-2 2:52
5th Aspen Blasko (Minnesota) dec. Angelina Cassioppi (Illinois), 2-1
7th Jayleah Pletz (Pennsylvania) dec. Aubre Krazer (Pennsylvania), 6-4
106 LBS
1st Paige Morales (California) dec. Kiely Tabaldo (California), 4-0
3rd Persaeus Gomez (Colorado) dec Rianne Murphy (Indiana), 4-2
5th Ana Malovich (Pennsylvania) inj dft. Chloe Dearwester (Ohio)
7th Heather Crull (Indiana) pin Lexia Schechterly (Pennsylvania), 3:50
112 LBS
1st Cecilia Williams (Michigan) dec. Zao Estrada (South Carolina), 4-2
3rd Calli Gilchrist (Connecticut) tech. fall Raegan Briggs (Ohio), 12-2 3:21
5th Emma Albanese (Nevada) tech. fall Emily Frost (New York), 10-0 1:48
7th Presley Anderson (California) dec. Joy Cantu (Indiana), 8-7
117 LBS
1st Cadence Diduch (Illinois) dec. Valerie Hamilton (Illinois), 4-0
3rd Elena Ivaldi (California) pin Carissa Qureshi (California), 3:51
5th Bianca Johnson (Washington) pin Anna Dicugno (Washington), 3:57
7th Daniella Nugent (Massachusetts) dec. Marissa Rumsey (Pennsylvania), 2-0
122 LBS
1st Shelby Moore (Washington) tech. f all Julianna Morris (Connecticut), 10-0 3:33
3rd Haylie Jaffe (Pennsylvania) dec. Alejandra Valdiviezo (California), 5-1
5th Savannah Witt (Pennsylvania) dec. Gianna Dibenedetto (California), 6-2
7th Camryn Brown (Connecticut) pin Payton Weese (Missouri), 2:58
127 LBS
1st Skylar Little Soldier (Minnesota) dec. Taydem Khamjoi (California), 13-4
3rd Ragan Retell (New York) tech. fall Alanna Haney (Washington), 15-3 1:53
5th Alexandra Viera (New York) tech fall Nicole Redmond (Kansas), 13-2 0:48
7th Sophia Barnes (Iowa) VFA Julia Fongaro (New Jersey), 10-3 2:57
132 LBS
1st Cassia Zammit (Ohio) dec. Sydney Perry (Illinois), 8-2
3rd Hanna Errthum (Wisconsin) tech. fall Mishell Rebisch (Alaska), 12-2 3:02
5th Lilly Luft (Iowa) dec. Mia Furman (Idaho), 8-0
7th Brenya Crahan (Missouri) tech. fall Hailie Misplay (North Carolina), 10-0 1:39
138 LBS
1st Alessandra Elliott (New York) dec. Lydia Roope (Michigan), 6-2
3rd Avangeline Turner (California) inj dft. Attalia Watson (Illinois), 8-4 3:38
5th Genevieve An (Georgia) pin Taylor Miess (Colorado), 1:56
7th Nya Jolley (Utah) pin Taylor Johnson (Missouri), 1:02
144 LBS
1st Nebi Tsarni (Maryland) dec. Amarisa Manuel (Michigan), 3-2
3rd Maggie Graham (Tennessee) dec. Lizzie Shunn (Utah), 10-4
5th Faith Bartoszek (Wisconsin) dec. Stella Steigler (Virginia), 5-0
7th Avry Ryhal (Pennsylvania) dec. Kaylie Petersen (Indiana), 12-5
152 LBS
1st Jasmine Robinson (Texas) pin Genesis Gilmore (Tennessee), 1:45
3rd Abbigail Smith (Colorado) pin Alison Evans (Colorado), 2:57
5th Abigail Ervasti (Minnesota) dec. Skylur Lewis (Arkansas), 4-1
7th Alexis Ritchie (Illinois) pin Gianna Falise (Colorado), 1:49
164 LBS
1st Ella Pagel (Minnesota) pin Ali Haiser (Missouri), 2:28
3rd Olivia Stean (Kansas) pin Jael Miller (Pennsylvania), 1:10
5th Bella Porcelli (Iowa) pin Abbie Miles (Pennsylvania), 1:13
7th Kaylee Davis (Oklahoma) pin Archer Jones (Arkansas), 3:57
180 LBS
1st Sabrina Nauss (Michigan) tech. fall Kiara Ganey (Illinois), 13-2 3:17
3rd Savannah Isaac (Ohio) tech. fall Blythe Cayko (Colorado), 10-0 1:52
5th Sophie Pollack (New York) pin Grace Johns (Kansas), 1:19
7th Kiley Mcclain (California) pin Destiny Madison (Florida), 0:30
200 LBS
1st Catherine Dutton (Missouri) tech. fall Mariyah Brumley (Missouri), 12-0 3:30
3rd Taylor Knox (Colorado) pin Genesis Carrillo (Puerto Rico), 2:48
5th Madisen Pillers (Washington) pin Alyssa Favara (Florida), 0:53
Team Standings
1 - California 177
2 - Illinois 129
3 - Colorado 98
4 - Michigan 97
5 - Missouri 74
6 - (tie) Minnesota and Pennsylvania 68
8 - New York 65
9 - Washington 62
10 - Ohio 59
11 - (tie) Florida and Indiana 46
13 - Connecticut 40
14 - Tennessee 35
15 - Kansas 29
16 - Maryland and Texas 25
18 - (tie) Nevada and Wisconsin 24
20 - Iowa 23
21 - South Carolina 20
22 - Utah 17
23 - (tie) Alaska and Puerto Rico 12
25 - (tie) Arkansas, Georgia and Idaho 9
28 - Virginia 7
29 - (tie) Massachusetts and Oklahoma 5
31 - (tie) New Jersey and North Carolina (2)