34 athletes still eligible for Triple Crowns heading into Junior and 16U Nationals in Fargo, N.D.
by Adam Engel, USA Wrestling
There are a total of 34 wrestlers are eligible to win either a 16U and Junior Triple Crown at the 2020 USMC Junior and 16U National Championships, which start this weekend in Fargo, N.D.
To claim a Triple Crown, a wrestler must win a folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman national championship during the same year.
For boys, the first leg of the Triple Crown (folkstyle) has been completed. The winners of the 2022 Boys National High School Recruiting Showcase are eligible on the Junior level, while the winners of the 16U Folkstyle Nationals are eligible on the 16U level.
On the men’s side, 17 are eligible at 16U while 13 can win it at the Junior level. These athletes must still win the freestyle and Greco-Roman titles at the 16U Nationals in Fargo to receive this coveted award.
USA Wrestling established the 16U Triple Crown for boys in 2003. There have been 25 athletes who have won 26 Triple Crowns at the 16U level, with Taylor Massa of Michigan the only two-time winner (2008 and 2009).
The Junior Triple Crown for boys was added in 2007. There have been only seven athletes who have won nine Junior Triple Crowns, with the only two-time winners being Adam Coon of Michigan (2012 and 2013) and Tony Cassioppi of Illinois (2017 and 2018).
In February, USA Wrestling established a Girls 16U and Junior Triple Crown for the first time. To win a Girls 16U and Junior Triple Crown, an athlete must win a title at folkstyle nationals, freestyle nationals and the National High School Recruiting Showcase or the USA Wrestling Women’s Nationals.
The first two legs of the Girls Triple Crown have been completed. Four Junior girls are eligible for the Triple Crown, while none are eligible at the Girls 16U level.
The Women’s Age Group Council to working to create a Triple Crown Award for girls at the younger age-group levels.
A 2021 U16 Triple Crown winner, Mack Mauger of Idaho, is among those eligible for the Junior Triple Crown this year. Mauger is competing at 106 pounds as a Junior this year.
One of the 2021 U.S. Senior World Team members, men’s freestyle 125 kg wrestler Hayden Zillmer, won a 16U Triple Crown back at 2007 at 84 pounds. Other past U.S. Senior World Team members who have won either a 16U or Junior Triple Crown include World freestyle silver medalist Daton Fix of Oklahoma and World Greco-Roman silver medalist Adam Coon of Michigan.
16U Boys eligible for Triple Crown (Folkstyle national champions)
88 — Wyatt Lees (MI — Team Donahoe Wrestling Club)
94 — Domenic Munaretto (IL — Toss Em Up Wrestling Academy)
100 — Alex Rozas (LA — WWC Predator Wrestling)
106 — Chris Huerta (CA — The Empire Wrestling Club)
113 — Kellen Wolbert (WI — Askren Wrestling Academy Lake Country)
120 — Manuel Saldate (NV — Gold Rush Wrestling)
126 — Cale Seaton (IA — Big Game Wrestling Club)
132 — Alex Braun (MN — MN Elite Wrestling Club)
138 — Kane Naaktgeboren (IA — Big Game Wrestling Club)
145 — Leo Contino (CA — The Empire Wrestling Club)
152 — Bradley Rodriguez-Little (MN — MN Elite Wrestling Club)
160 — Anthony Rinehart (IN — Contenders Wrestling Academy)
170 — Adrien Reyes (CA — Dethrone Wrestling Club)
182 — De`Alcapon Veazy (IN — Legends of Gold)
195 — Melvin Whitehead (NV — Gold Rush Wrestling)
220 — Kai Calcutt (IL — Toss Em Up Wrestling Academy)
285 — Wyatt Schmitt (IL — Izzy Style Wrestling)
Junior Boys eligible for Triple Crown (High School Recruiting Showcase champions)
100 — Aidan Gruenenfelder (WI — Pec-Argyle Youth Wrestling)
106 — Mack Mauger (ID - Bear Cave Wrestling Club)
126 — Cory Land (AL — Ironclad Wrestling Club)
132 — Phoenix Blakely (IL — Alber Athletics Wrestling Club)
138 — Emilio Ysaguirre Jr. (AZ)
145 — Sloan Swan (CA — The Empire Wrestling Club)
152 — Hunter Garvin (IA — Big Game Wrestling Club)
160 — Daniel Magayna (IA — Immortal Athletics WC)
170 — Riley Davis (OR)
182 — Tate Naaktgeboren (IA — Big Game Wrestling Club)
195 — Wyatt Voelker (IA — Big Game Wrestling Club)
220 — Jared Thiry (IA — Immortal Athletics WC)
285 — Aden Attao (ID - Team Idaho Wrestling Club)
Junior Girls Triple Crown contenders
117 — Isabella Marie Gonzales (CA - Wolf Den WC) – Folkstyle Nationals, U15 Nationals
122 — Sofia Macaluso (NY) - – Folkstyle Nationals, U20 Nationals
127 — Shelby Moore (WA - White River Hornets Wrestling Club) - – Folkstyle Nationals, HS Showcase & U17 Nationals
138 — Paige Wehrmeister (MO - BullTrained Wrestling) - – Folkstyle Nationals, HS Showcase
16U Girls Triple Crown contenders
None
USA Wrestling Cadet Triple Crown winners (26 awards as of 2018)
2003
Taylor Moore of Missouri (189)
2004
Zachary Sanders of Minnesota (105)
2005
None
2006
None
2007
Hayden Zillmer of Minnesota (84)
2008
Dylan Ness of Minnesota (130)
Taylor Massa of Michigan (140)
2009
Taylor Massa of Michigan (152)
Jake Waste of Minnesota (160)
Devin Peterson of Wisconsin (171)
2010
Mitch Sliga of Indiana (189)
2011
Gannon Volk of Minnesota (91)
2012
Hunter Marko of Wisconsin (94)
Aaron Pico of California (132)
Bo Nickal of Texas (160)
Lance Benick of Minnesota (195)
2013
Daton Fix of Oklahoma (113)
Nick Reenan of Texas (152)
Mark Hall of Colorado (160)
Jacob Marnin of Iowa (285)
2014
Beau Breske of Wisconsin (170)
Keegan Moore of Minnesota (182)
2015
Mosha Schwartz of Colorado (88)
2016
Travis Wittlake, Jr. of Oregon (170)
2017
Ashton Sharp of Missouri (195)
2018
Mason Gehloff of Minnesota (88/94)
2019
None
2021
Mack Mauger of Idaho (94)
Koy Hopke of Wisconsin (220)
USA Wrestling Junior Triple Crown winners (9 awards as of 2021)
2007
None
2008
None
2009
Jade Rauser of Montana (105)
2010
Freddie Rodriguez of Michigan (105/112)
2011
Nkosi Moody of Illinois (98)
2012
Adam Coon of Michigan (285)
2013
Adam Coon of Michigan (285)
2014
Randon Miranda of California (100)
Danny Vega of Arizona (106)
2015
None
2016
None
2017
Anthony Cassioppi of Illinois (285)
2018
Anthony Cassioppi of Illinois (285)
2019
None
2021
None