Haakon Peterson of Wisconsin (in red) repeated as USMC 16U Greco-Roman Nationals champion. Photo by Austin Bernard

FARGO, N.D. — In a final session filled with numerous technical falls and a pin, 17 champions were decided during the USMC 16U Greco-Roman Nationals finals at the Fargodome on Thursday afternoon.

Two talented wrestlers — Haakon Peterson of Wisconsin at 94, Kentucky’s Jayden Raney at 113 — doubled up after they won a freestyle championship earlier in the week. Peterson also won the 16U Greco-Roman title last year at 88 pounds, making him the only repeat champion.

In the team standings, California grabbed the national championship after crushing the competition with three champions and 183 points. Wisconsin finished second with 137 points.

Wisconsin’s Caleb Noble became the day’s first champion with an 8-7 win over Tanner Tran of Tennessee at 84. Noble carried a 6-0 lead via takedown and two gut wrenches for the majority of the first period. A few seconds before the break, Tran tossed Noble for a five-point throw to trail by one at the break. Noble continued to be the aggressor and scored a late takedown to secure his first Fargo championship. In the fall, Noble will be a freshman at Spire Academy in Ohio and will be coached by Olympic gold medalist Kenny Monday.

At 94, Peterson continued the Wisconsin party with a 4-0 win over Nebraska’s Cole Welte. Despite early pressure, Peterson remained patient and carried a 1-0 lead after the first period. He charged toward Welte out of the break and worked for a takedown. Later in the period, he forced a step out for the bout’s final point. With the win, Peterson secured his third Fargo championship and second of the week. In every Fargo appearance so far, Peterson has made the finals.

Lincoln Sledzianowski of Florida pummeled Nebraska’s Hudson Loges for a speedy 8-0 tech fall at 100. A four-point throw of Sledzianowski accounted for half the points. He closed it out with a two and two combo with nearly 50 seconds remaining. Sledzianowski was named Outstanding Wrestler.

A bout later at 106, Oregon’s Jeremiah Wachsmuth shut down Iowa’s Ryker Graff, 6-0. Both wrestled a fast-paced, push-heavy match but Wachsmuth’s positioning and immovable defense caused problems for Graff. In the second period, with a 2-0 lead, Wachsmuth worked from top on par terre and threw Graff out of bounds for four points. Despite late forward action from Graff, Wachsmuth stopped any production from Graff.

At 113, Kentucky’s Jayden Raney found his offense at the most critical time. In a tied match, with limited time, he rolled through a headlock to defeat Declan Koch of Wisconsin, 3-1. With the win, Raney doubled up with stop signs in Fargo, one in each style.

Raney’s twin brother, Jordyn, followed with a national championship of his own at 120. Jordyn created a second-period surge of offense to beat Wisconsin’s Amryn Nutter, 6-3. The brothers became Kentucky’s first 16U Greco-Roman Nationals champions.

At 126, Colorado’s Thomas Verrette used patient defense and positioning to defeat California’s Elias Navida, 2-0. The bout’s only points originated about 30 seconds into the match with a whiparound takedown from Verrette, who won in his first Fargo appearance.

Verrette spends a lot of time training at the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He’ll be a freshman at Ponderosa High School in the Denver metro area.

Billy Greenwood followed Verrette with another title for Colorado. He attacked and pushed around Nathaniel Askew of Georgia, for a 10-2 victory at 132. Greenwood snapped Askew down for a four-point throw to win as time expired. Greenwood’s win follows his family’s strong Fargo Greco-Roman history. His brother, Job, a senior at University of Wyoming, earned two Junior Greco All-American honors. He is also a current member of the U23 Greco-Roman World Team.

Gabriel Bouyssou of Rhode Island continued his successful week with a 12-5 win over Minnesota’s Alex Braun at 138. He is the first Rhode Island wrestler to win a 16U Greco-Roman national championship. Bouyssou took a 2-0 lead with a quick takedown and rolled through for two more. He led 6-0 at one point but allowed Braun to find offense and make it a battle. But near the end, Bouyssou separated the score for a national championship. Earlier in the week, Bouyssou placed third in 16U freestyle. Braun finished seventh. Now, Bouyssou is a four-time Fargo All-American.

California’s Aliaksandr Kikinou topped Tennessee’s Hunter Sturgill, 4-2, for a stop sign trophy at 145. After a 2-1 lead at the break, Kikinou scored a takedown with seconds remaining to win it. His next goal is to be an Olympic champion — inspired by his dad who won a 2009 World bronze medal for Belarus.

Ohio’s Tristin Greene contained Kaleb Shine of Montana, 7-0, at 152. Greene carried a 1-0 lead into the break but settled into his offense. He pummeled Shine, who sported a bulky protective facemask. Nearly thirty seconds into the second period, Greene chopped Shine down for a takedown and later finished the win with a four-point throw near the edge.

Tristian Steldt of Wisconsin’s needed 28 seconds to win a national championship at 160. He punished California’s Angelo Posada in a tight headlock and pinned him early in the match. Steldt became Wisconsin’s third champion of the day. Steldt anticipated his throw from Posada’s underhook and successfully countered.

At 170, Minnesota’s Bryce Burkett stopped Jarrel Miller Jr., a 2022 16U Freestyle champion, for a 3-0 win. Burkett scored the only takedown of the match. This was a rematch of the 16U freestyle finals, won by Miller, 7-4.

Coby Merrill of California concluded his strong week with a national championship at 182. He defeated Adam Waters of Pennsylvania, 3-1, and stymied any offense from Waters. Merrill finished as runner-up in the 16U freestyle tournament. His brother, Cody, won the Junior freestyle tournament at 195.

Missouri’s Brennan Carey made quick work of Florida’s Michael Mocco at 195. Carey finished Mocco in 33 seconds with an 8-0 tech fall. Carey attacked from the whistle and grabbed four points from an arm spin. From there, with Mocco on the ground, he rolled through for two gut wrenches. Mocco’s corner challenged the sequence, but the call remained.

California’s Nicholas Sahakian returned to All-American status after he placed seventh last year. He defeated Rylan Kuhn of Missouri, 3-1 for the title. After an early 1-0 lead, Sahakian worked on top in par terre and twisted Kuhn for two.

In the session’s final championship bout, Missouri’s Sampson Stillwell crushed Wyatt Schmitt, 8-1. After a 2-1 lead late in the first period, Stillwell sent Schmitt to the mat and rolled through for a two-and-two combo before the break. Stillwell contained Schmitt for the rest of the bout.

There was no 16U Triple Crown winner this year.

USMC 16U Greco-Roman Nationals

At Fargo, N.D., July 21, 2022.

88

1st Caleb Noble (Wisconsin) dec. Tanner Tran (Tennessee), 9-7

3rd Christopher Swann (Georgia) dec James Hemmila (Illinois), 7-1

5th Daniel Goodwin (Colorado) tech fall Carter Kendrick (South Dakota), 9-0 0:46

7th Jose Cordero (Tennessee) tech fall Mason Brayfield (Missouri), 10-1 2:26

94

1st Haakon Peterson (Wisconsin) dec. Cole Welte (Nebraska), 4-0

3rd Saxton Scott (Idaho) dec. Kole Davidheiser (Pennsylvania), 10-7

5th Rider Seguine (Idaho) tech fall Brock Johnson (Kansas), 9-0 1:35

7th Nathan Rioux (Indiana) tech fall Jaron Bensinger (Michigan), 8-0 0:57

100

1st Lincoln Sledzianowski (Florida) tech fall Hudson Loges (Nebraska), 8-0 1:32

3rd William Phillips (Tennessee) dec. Boden Banta (Idaho), 5-3

5th Lawson Eller (Minnesota) forfeit Revin Dickman (Indiana)

7th Tas Storer (California) dec. Gavin Pardilla (Illinois), 5-0

106

1st Jeremiah Wachsmuth (Oregon) dec. Ryker Graff (Iowa), 6-0

3rd Tyler Dekraker (Virginia) dec. Evan Sanati (Virginia), 5-0

5th Kody Tanimoto (Texas) dec. Vincent Luttrell (New Mexico), 6-2

7th Liam Neitzel (Wisconsin) dec. Chase Mills (Minnesota), 5-0

113

1st Jayden Raney (Kentucky) dec Declan Koch (Wisconsin), 3-1

3rd Isaiah Cortez (California) tech fall Connor Fiser (Iowa), 9-0 2:29

5th Edwin Sierra (California) dec Brodie Christmas (Alabama), 8-5

7th Moses Mendoza (California) dec Wyatt Medlin (Illinois), 6-4

120

1st Jordyn Raney (Kentucky) dec. Amryn Nutter (Wisconsin), 6-3

3rd Christian Fretwell (Florida) dec. Billy Townson (California), 7-4

5th Elijah Cortez (California) tech fall Maximus Riggins (Iowa), 9-0 2:41

7th Cooper Hilton (Tennessee) dec. Jacob Herm (Wisconsin), 7-6

126

1st Thomas Verrette (Colorado) dec. Elias Navida (California), 2-0

3rd Gauge Botero (Pennsylvania) tech fall Brock Weiss (Pennsylvania), 15-6 1:51

5th Phoenix Contos (Ohio) dec. Kaden Allen (Kansas), 12-6

7th Gage Walker (Oklahoma) pin Chase Van hoven (Virginia), 2:24

132

1st Billy Greenwood (Colorado) tech fall Nathaniel Askew (Georgia), 10-2 4:00

3rd Nolan Fellers (Iowa) pin Draven Mccall (Florida), 0:24

5th Tre Haines (Washington) dec. Tyson Sherlock (Maryland), 4-1

7th Garrett Reece (Colorado) tech fall Giosue Hickman (Arizona), 9-1 2:38

138

1st Gabriel Bouyssou (Rhode Island) dec. Alex Braun (Minnesota), 12-5

3rd Elvis Solis (Florida) inj dft Landon Desselle (Tennessee)

5th Kane Naaktgeboren (Iowa) pin Tucker Stangel (Iowa), 3:59

7th Logan w. Paradice (Georgia) tech fall Jayden Haueter (Minnesota), 9-0 3:09

145

1st Aliaksandr Kikiniou (California) dec. Hunter Sturgill (Tennessee), 4-1

3rd Benjamin Smith (Maryland) dec. Gabriel Delgado (Nevada), 8-6

5th Ryder Yoshitake (California) pin Alexander Smith (Indiana), 11-4 1:28

7th Emil Necula (Georgia) tech fall Kyle Lew (Texas), 8-0 0:26

152

1st Tristin Greene (Ohio) dec. Kaleb Shine (Montana), 7-0

3rd Damarion Ross (Iowa) dec. Gianni Maldonado (Florida), 2-1

5th Banks Love (Utah) dec. Claudio Torres (Florida), 7-6

7th Waylon Cressell (North Dakota) dec. Leister Bowling (Colorado), 10-5

160

1st Tristan Steldt (Wisconsin) pin Angelo Posada (California), 4-0 0:28

3rd Aidan Squier (New Jersey) tech fall Bekhruz Sadriddinov (Pennsylvania), 13-3 3:10

5th Anthony Gutierrez (Illinois) dec. Macon Ayers (Virginia), 6-1

7th Brenton Russell (Indiana) pin Tyrel Miller (Ohio), 0:41

170

1st Bryce Burkett (Minnesota) dec. Jarrel Miller Jr. (Ohio), 3-0

3rd Gavin Blondeaux (Nevada) dec. Hudson Rogers (Idaho), 5-2

5th Brent Slade (Iowa) dec. Nicholas Ronchetti (Illinois), 6-4

7th Jake Stacey (Tennessee) dec. Luke Hancock (Kansas), 5-4

182

1st Coby Merrill (California) dec. Adam Waters (Pennsylvania), 3-1

3rd De'alcapon Veazy (Indiana) dec. Artem Skyba (Pennsylvania), 6-4

5th Karson Tompkins (Texas) forfeit Cittadino Tuttle (Minnesota)

7th William Ward (North Dakota) dec. Brock Hacker (Georgia), 3-0

195

1st Brennan Carey (Missouri) tech fall Michael Mocco (Florida), 9-0 0:33

3rd Aiden Cooley (Texas) dec. Cole Carter (Alabama), 5-1

5th Jason Singer (Pennsylvania) tech fall Behlen Waugh (Ohio), 8-0 1:04

7th Jake Conroy (Pennsylvania) tech fall Mark Marin III (California), 9-0 4:0

220

1st Nicholas Sahakian (California) dec. Rylan Kuhn (Missouri), 3-1

3rd Mason Ellis (Alabama) dec. Jay Henderson (Utah), 7-5

5th Melvin Whitehead (Nevada) forfeit Koen Mattern (Washington)

7th James Bechter (Ohio) tech fall Jayden Tadeo-Gosal (California), 8-0 0:49

285

1st Sampson Stillwell (Missouri) dec. Wyatt Schmitt (Illinois), 8-1

3rd Evan Gratz (Wisconsin) pin Lee Smith (Illinois), 1:37

5th Caleb Rodriguez (Florida) tech fall Brayden Hill (Kansas), 9-1 2:55

7th Connor Aney (Washington) dec. Naimana Filivaolelei (Utah), 7-4

16U Greco-Roman Team standings

1 California 183

2 Wisconsin 137

3 Florida 115

4 Pennsylvania 97

5 Iowa 94

6 Tennessee 82

7 Missouri 72

8 Ohio 68

9 Colorado 66

10 Minnesota 65

11 Illinois 64

12 Kentucky 50

13 Idaho 48

14 Georgia 47

15 Nebraska 40

16 Indiana 39

17 (tie) Nevada and Virginia 36

19 Texas 35

20 Alabama 34

21 (tie) Oregon and Rhode Island 25

23 (tie) Kansas and Utah 23

25 Maryland 22

26 Washington 21

27 Montana 20

28 New Jersey 15

29 North Dakota 10

30 (tie) New Mexico and South Dakota 7

32 Oklahoma 5

33 (tie) Arizona and Michigan 2

Most pins in the least amount of time

Jay Henderson of Utah at 220: Four pins in 4:09

Most outstanding wrestler:

Lincoln Sledzianowski of Florida at 10

Peterson repeats as champion at USMC 16U Greco-Roman Nationals; Kentucky's Raney twins both win titles

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