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Fargo Day 6 preview (7/22): 16U Greco-Roman semifinals and finals, Junior Greco-Roman gets going
by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Cody Merrill of California is among the 16U freestyle finalists who reached the semifinals in Greco-Roman. Photo by Austin Bernard.
WHAT’S NEW: Junior Greco-Roman gets rolling with a big field of competitors
With 1,098 entries in the pre-registration, the Junior Greco-Roman event is about 130 athletes larger than in 2019, the last time it was held. There should be some great competition during the two days in the Fargodome.
2019 Junior Nationals runner-up Ryan Cody of Florida (160 in 2019, 195 in 2021) is the only finalist from two years ago who is back in the Greco-Roman field again this year.
There are just two 2021 Junior Freestyle champions who are also entered in Greco-Roman: Zane Donley of Oklahoma (106) and Kannon Webster of Illinois (120). Donley moved up a weight from where he won the freestyle title.
In 2019, the last time there was a Junior Nationals Greco-Roman event, Illinois captured the 16U team title, with California in second, followed by Georgia, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.
The 2021 16U National Duals champion was Minnesota, which beat Oklahoma in the finals, 48-26. Rounding out the top five in Greco-Roman were California, Illinois and Pennyslvania.
Please be aware of the schedule change, with the morning session going 30 minutes earlier, with an 8:30 a.m. start.
WHAT FINISHES: 16U Greco-Roman completes with two still alive for the 16U Triple Crown
The 16U Greco-Roman Nationals will get finished on Thursday, with semifinals in the 8:30 a.m. morning session and finals held at the 2:00 p.m. session. This will complete the 16U tournaments, with men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle already in the history books.
Koy Hopke (220) and Mack Mauger (94) still are in contention for the USA Wrestling Triple Crown awards.
There have been only 23 different wrestlers to win a 16U Triple Crown since the program began in 2003. There has only been one two-time 16U Triple Crown winner, Taylor Massa of Michigan (2008, 2009). There were no 16U Triple Crown winners in 2019.
Of the 2021 16U freestyle champions who entered, those still alive in the semifinals in Greco-Roman include Hopke and Mauger, plus Javaan Yarbrough of Ohio (88), Adrian Meza of Arizona (126), Zach Henson of Minnesota (132), Joel Adams of Nebraska (138) and Navarro Schunke of South Dakota (285). Meza has moved up one weight class from where he won the 16U Nationals in freestyle (at 120).
Team Pennsylvania has the most wrestlers in the semifinals (10). They have a significant lead in the team race with 78 points - the next closest team is Team Minnesota with 41.
THURSDAY SCHEDULE
8:30 am – 12:00 noon - 16U Greco-Roman: Session III Semifinals and Consolation
8:30 am – 1:00 p.m. - Junior Greco-Roman: Session I - Preliminaries and Consolations
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. - 16U Greco-Roman: Session IV Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. - Junior Greco-Roman: Session II – 1/8 Championship, and Consolations
WHAT’S NEW: Junior Greco-Roman gets rolling with a big field of competitors
With 1,098 entries in the pre-registration, the Junior Greco-Roman event is about 130 athletes larger than in 2019, the last time it was held. There should be some great competition during the two days in the Fargodome.
2019 Junior Nationals runner-up Ryan Cody of Florida (160 in 2019, 195 in 2021) is the only finalist from two years ago who is back in the Greco-Roman field again this year.
There are just two 2021 Junior Freestyle champions who are also entered in Greco-Roman: Zane Donley of Oklahoma (106) and Kannon Webster of Illinois (120). Donley moved up a weight from where he won the freestyle title.
In 2019, the last time there was a Junior Nationals Greco-Roman event, Illinois captured the 16U team title, with California in second, followed by Georgia, Minnesota and Pennsylvania.
The 2021 16U National Duals champion was Minnesota, which beat Oklahoma in the finals, 48-26. Rounding out the top five in Greco-Roman were California, Illinois and Pennyslvania.
Please be aware of the schedule change, with the morning session going 30 minutes earlier, with an 8:30 a.m. start.
WHAT FINISHES: 16U Greco-Roman completes with two still alive for the 16U Triple Crown
The 16U Greco-Roman Nationals will get finished on Thursday, with semifinals in the 8:30 a.m. morning session and finals held at the 2:00 p.m. session. This will complete the 16U tournaments, with men’s freestyle and women’s freestyle already in the history books.
Koy Hopke (220) and Mack Mauger (94) still are in contention for the USA Wrestling Triple Crown awards.
There have been only 23 different wrestlers to win a 16U Triple Crown since the program began in 2003. There has only been one two-time 16U Triple Crown winner, Taylor Massa of Michigan (2008, 2009). There were no 16U Triple Crown winners in 2019.
Of the 2021 16U freestyle champions who entered, those still alive in the semifinals in Greco-Roman include Hopke and Mauger, plus Javaan Yarbrough of Ohio (88), Adrian Meza of Arizona (126), Zach Henson of Minnesota (132), Joel Adams of Nebraska (138) and Navarro Schunke of South Dakota (285). Meza has moved up one weight class from where he won the 16U Nationals in freestyle (at 120).
Team Pennsylvania has the most wrestlers in the semifinals (10). They have a significant lead in the team race with 78 points - the next closest team is Team Minnesota with 41.
THURSDAY SCHEDULE
8:30 am – 12:00 noon - 16U Greco-Roman: Session III Semifinals and Consolation
8:30 am – 1:00 p.m. - Junior Greco-Roman: Session I - Preliminaries and Consolations
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. - 16U Greco-Roman: Session IV Finals, Medal Matches & Awards
4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. - Junior Greco-Roman: Session II – 1/8 Championship, and Consolations