Alo earns sixth Fargo championship; California takes seventh-consecutive team title

Six time Fargo champion Teshya Alo of Hawaii. Photo: John Sachs, tech-fall.com

FARGO, N.D. – Teshya Alo made USA Wrestling history on Tuesday night, winning her fourth-straight Junior Nationals title and sixth overall national championship at the Fargodome.

Alo, representing Hawai’i, capped off her sensational Fargo career with a 12-0 tech fall win over Colorado’s Ashlynn Ortega. The 2014 Cadet World champion teched her way through the tournament, outscoring her opponents 52-0.

“It feels really good,” Alo said. “These girls are getting stronger and better, which is amazing to see. The wrestling community for girls is getting so huge and it’s awesome. When I was small I was the only girl wrestling an all boy’s tournament, I’m like, let’s get some girls in here.”

Washington’s Brenda Reyna stunned the crowd when she pinned Cadet World champion Ronna Heaton in the 117-pound finals. Reyna countered a Heaton attack and whipped her to her back for the fall in 1:09. Reyna will represent Team USA at the Junior World Championships this September.

“I thought it was going to be a little longer,” Reyna said. “I was surprised that I pinned her. She’s the only one that has really beaten me that many times. I believed I could [beat her] and it was awesome.”

Two-time Junior World Team member Rachel Watters defended her 159-pound championship, taking a 7-0 decision over 2015 Cadet World bronze medalist Alexis Bleau of New York.

Gracie Figueroa of California, who won a Cadet Nationals title earlier this week, added another stop sign to her collection, winning the 121-pound bracket with a 12-1 tech fall over teammate Alexandria Hedrick.

This marks the second-consecutive year that Figueroa has claimed titles in both the Cadet and Junior divisons.

Three others completed the Cadet and Junior sweep this evening.

Minnesota’s Emily Shilson won her Junior Nationals championship in similar fashion to the Cadet Nationals title she earned earlier this week. She faced Naomi Chavez of Texas, who she stuck in 32 seconds. The championship performance earned Shilson the Outstanding Wrestler award in her first year of Fargo competition.

“[Before the finals my brother] said to ‘stay calm, wrestle your style and don’t wrestle anyone else’s style and to go out there and dominate,” Shilson said. “It feels great. I can’t wait for next year.”

Cadet World silver medalist member Alleida Martinez of California and Alexandria Liles of Texas also wrapped up their weeks with Cadet and Junior championships. Martinez won the 105-pound bracket while Liles topped all at 130 pounds.

At 172 pounds, Sara Kouba became the first Junior Women’s Nationals champion from Wisconsin after a dominating 18-8 performance against Joanna Mack from California.

A Cadet Nationals runner-up three days ago, Washington’s Cameron Guerin found redemption in the 112-pound final with a quick fall against Amanda Walker of Pennsylvania in 45 seconds to take the Junior crown.

Similarly, Michaela Beck of New York won the Junior title at 125 pounds after falling short in the Cadet finals on Saturday. Beck edged out California’s Gabrielle Garcia, 3-1.

2015 Cadet bronze medalist Kayla Marano of Georgia broke through, claiming her first national championship with a 7-5 decision over 2016 Cadet Nationals champion Jayden Laurent of Wisconsin.

The 198-pound finals pitted teammates from California against each other as Alexandera Castillo and Victoria Espinoza went head-to-head. Espinoza emerged with an 8-5 victory to take her second USA Wrestling national title this year as she won the 2016 Folkstyle Nationals in April.

In the team race, California took home its ninth official Wells Fargo Cup and seventh in a row. The squad takes home 25 All-Americans, tying their 2014 results for second all-time. Texas and Washington each had 10 All-Americans.

Action from the Fargodome will resume tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. (CT) with start of the Cadet freestyle competition and women’s freestyle Junior Duals.

All matches from the 2016 ASICS/Vaughan Cadet and Junior National Championships can be viewed live on Flowrestling.com with a FLO PRO account. Complete brackets, results and team scores can be found on Trackwrestling.com.

2016 ASICS/VAUGHAN JUNIOR GRECO-ROMAN NATIONALS
July 19 at The Fargodome in Fargo, N.D.

Championship Results
97 lbs. – Emily Shilson (Minnesota) fall Naomi Chavez (Texas), 0:32
105 lbs. – Alleida Martinez (California) tech. fall Jasmine Weaver (Virginia), 14-3
112 lbs. – Cameron Guerin (Washington) fall Amanda Walker (Pennsylvania), 0:45
117 lbs. – Brenda Reyna (Washington) fall Ronna Heaton (South Dakota), 1:09
121 lbs. – Gracie Figueroa (California) tech. fall Alexandra Hedrick (California), 12-1
125 lbs. – Michaela Beck (New York) dec. Gabrielle Garcia (California), 3-1
130 lbs. – Alexandria Liles (Texas) tech. fall Emma Bruntil (Washington), 10-0
139 lbs. – Teshya Alo (Hawaii) tech. fall Ashlyn Ortega (Colorado), 12-0
148 lbs. – Kayla Marano (Georgia) dec. Jayden Laurent (Wisconsin), 7-5
159 lbs. – Rachel Watters (Iowa) dec. Alexis Bleau (New York), 7-0
172 lbs. – Sara Kouba (Wisconsin) tech. fall Joanna Mack (California), 18-8
198 lbs. – Victoria Espinoza (California) dec. Alexandera Castillo (California), 8-5

Team Results (Top 10)
1. California 111.0
2. Washington 49.0
3. Texas, TX 42.0
4. Wisconsin 35.0
5. New York 23.0
6. Illinois 19.0
7. Hawaii 17.0
8. Virginia 15.0
9. Iowa 12.0
T10. Colorado 10.0
T10. New Jersey 10.0

Final Results
97 pounds
1st Place - Emily Shilson of Minnesota
2nd Place - Naomi Chavez of Texas
3rd Place - Asia Ray of Texas
4th Place - Brooke Thurber of Wisconsin
5th Place - Genae Sampract of Illinois
6th Place - Daniela Salazar of Texas
7th Place - Angelina Gomez of Texas
8th Place - Maria Reyes of Washington
1st Place Match - Emily Shilson (Minnesota) won by fall over Naomi Chavez (Texas) (Fall 0:32)
3rd Place Match - Asia Ray (Texas) won by tech fall over Brooke Thurber (Wisconsin) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match - Genae Sampract (Illinois) won by fall over Daniela Salazar (Texas) (Fall 0:33)
7th Place Match - Angelina Gomez (Texas) won by tech fall over Maria Reyes (Washington) (TF 12-0)

105 pounds
1st Place - Alleida Martinez of California
2nd Place - Jasmine Weaver of Virginia
3rd Place - Mckayla Campbell of Ohio
4th Place - Tiare Ikei of Hawaii
5th Place - Mia Rodriguez of Illinois
6th Place - Carly Valleroy of Missouri
7th Place - Charlotte Fowler of Texas
8th Place - Aleeah Gould of California
1st Place Match - Alleida Martinez (California) won by tech fall over Jasmine Weaver (Virginia) (TF 14-3)
3rd Place Match - Mckayla Campbell (Ohio) won by tech fall over Tiare Ikei (Hawaii) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match - Mia Rodriguez (Illinois) won by injury default over Carly Valleroy (Missouri) (Inj. 0:00)
7th Place Match - Charlotte Fowler (Texas) won by decision over Aleeah Gould (California) (Dec 2-1)

112 pounds
1st Place - Cameron Guerin of Washington
2nd Place - Amanda Walker of Pennsylvania
3rd Place - Macey Kilty of Wisconsin
4th Place - Alisha Howk of Missouri
5th Place - Cara Broadus of Connecticut
6th Place - Sariyah Jones of California
7th Place - Laylani Allen of California
8th Place - Kasey Baynon of Georgia
1st Place Match - Cameron Guerin (Washington) won by fall over Amanda Walker (Pennsylvania) (Fall 0:45)
3rd Place Match - Macey Kilty (Wisconsin) won by tech fall over Alisha Howk (Missouri) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match - Cara Broadus (Connecticut) won by tech fall over Sariyah Jones (California) (TF 10-0)
7th Place Match - Laylani Allen (California) won by fall over Kasey Baynon (Georgia) (Fall 0:47)

117 pounds
1st Place - Brenda Reyna of Washington
2nd Place - Ronna Heaton of South Dakota
3rd Place - Andribeth Rivera of Puerto Rico
4th Place - Nguyet Tran of California
5th Place - Alanah Vetterick of Iowa
6th Place - Delilah Houck of California
7th Place - Jessica Sanchez of California
8th Place - Mya Kretzer of Kansas
1st Place Match - Brenda Reyna (Washington) won by fall over Ronna Heaton (South Dakota) (Fall 1:09)
3rd Place Match - Andribeth Rivera (Puerto Rico) won by fall over Nguyet Tran (California) (Fall 1:14)
5th Place Match - Alanah Vetterick (Iowa) won by tech fall over Delilah Houck (California) (TF 10-0)
7th Place Match - Jessica Sanchez (California) won by tech fall over Mya Kretzer (Kansas) (TF 10-0)

121 pounds
1st Place - Gracie Figueroa of California
2nd Place - Alexandra Hedrick of California
3rd Place - Natalie Smith of Washington
4th Place - Kaylee Moore of Washington
5th Place - Shaina Murray of New Jersey
6th Place - Alyssa Aceval of California
7th Place - Sierra Powell of Virginia
8th Place - Sierra Joner of Washington
1st Place Match - Gracie Figueroa (California) won by tech fall over Alexandra Hedrick (California) (TF 12-1)
3rd Place Match - Natalie Smith (Washington) won by tech fall over Kaylee Moore (Washington) (TF 11-1)
5th Place Match - Shaina Murray (New Jersey) won by tech fall over Alyssa Aceval (California) (TF 11-0)
7th Place Match - Sierra Powell (Virginia) won by fall over Sierra Joner (Washington) (Fall 2:23)

125 pounds
1st Place - Michaela Beck of New York
2nd Place - Gabrielle Garcia of California
3rd Place - Breanna Douglas of Kansas
4th Place - Erin Redford of Washington
5th Place - Hali Davis of Texas
6th Place - Monica Mendoza of Illinois
7th Place - Zoe Buteau of Maine
8th Place - Joye Levendusky of New York
1st Place Match - Michaela Beck (New York) won by decision over Gabrielle Garcia (California) (Dec 3-1)
3rd Place Match - Breanna Douglas (Kansas) won by decision over Erin Redford (Washington) (Dec 7-4)
5th Place Match - Hali Davis (Texas) won by tech fall over Monica Mendoza (Illinois) (TF 10-0)
7th Place Match - Zoe Buteau (Maine) won by fall over Joye Levendusky (New York) (Fall 1:47)

130 pounds
1st Place - Alexandria Liles of Texas
2nd Place - Emma Bruntil of Washington
3rd Place - Jenna Garcia of California
4th Place - Nicole Joseph of California
5th Place - Sarah Conner of Oregon
6th Place - Hailey Cox of Utah
7th Place - Brittany Bates of Texas
8th Place - Dalia Garibay of California
1st Place Match - Alexandria Liles (Texas) won by tech fall over Emma Bruntil (Washington) (TF 10-0)
3rd Place Match - Jenna Garcia (California) won by decision over Nicole Joseph (California) (Dec 5-4)
5th Place Match - Sarah Conner (Oregon) won by decision over Hailey Cox (Utah) (Dec 12-8)
7th Place Match - Brittany Bates (Texas) won by tech fall over Dalia Garibay (California) (TF 10-0)

139 pounds
1st Place - Teshya Alo of Hawaii
2nd Place - Ashlynn Ortega of Colorado
3rd Place - Ellie Keen of Wisconsin
4th Place - Alara Boyd of Indiana
5th Place - Abigail Nette of Louisiana
6th Place - Mckenna Hutchison of California
7th Place - Brooke Logan of Arizona
8th Place - Mackenzie More of Florida
1st Place Match - Teshya Alo (Hawaii) won by tech fall over Ashlyn Ortega (Colorado) (TF 12-0)
3rd Place Match - Ellie Keen (Wisconsin) won by fall over Alara Boyd (Indiana) (Fall 1:39)
5th Place Match - Abigail Nette (Louisiana) won by tech fall over Mckenna Hutchison (California) (TF 12-1)
7th Place Match - Brooke Logan (Arizona) won by tech fall over Mackenzie More (Florida) (TF 10-0)

148 pounds
1st Place - Kayla Marano of Georgia
2nd Place - Jayden Laurent of Wisconsin
3rd Place - Skylar Grote of New Jersey
4th Place - Solin Piearcy of California
5th Place - Kelani Corbett of Hawaii
6th Place - Emily Cue of Colorado
7th Place - Lena Flanagan of Washington
8th Place - Brooke Pagan of New York
1st Place Match - Kayla Marano (Georgia) won by decision over Jayden Laurent (Wisconsin) (Dec 7-5)
3rd Place Match - Skylar Grote (New Jersey) won by tech fall over Solin Piearcy (California) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match - Kelani Corbett (Hawaii) won by fall over Emily Cue (Colorado) (Fall 4:41)
7th Place Match - Lena Flanagan (Washington) won by fall over Brooke Pagan (New York) (Fall 1:49)

159 pounds
1st Place - Rachel Watters of Iowa
2nd Place - Alexis Bleau of New York
3rd Place - Abby Lees of Washington
4th Place - Morgan Becker of Illinois
5th Place - Alexis Cavero of California
6th Place - Alyssa Schrull of Montana
7th Place - Megan Lloyd of Texas
8th Place - Ophelia Lara of California
1st Place Match - Rachel Watters (Iowa) won by decision over Alexis Bleau (New York) (Dec 7-0)
3rd Place Match - Abby Lees (Washington) won by decision over Morgan Becker (Illinois) (Dec 5-0)
5th Place Match - Alexis Cavero (California) won by fall over Alyssa Schrull (Montana) (Fall 1:51)
7th Place Match - Megan Lloyd (Texas) won by tech fall over Ophelia Lara (California) (TF 12-1)

172 pounds
1st Place - Sara Kouba of Wisconsin
2nd Place - Joanna Mack of California
3rd Place - Nkechinyere Nwankwo of Texas
4th Place - Hailey Cancelleri of New York
5th Place - Christie Sandez of California
6th Place - Natalie Kemp of Wisconsin
7th Place - Jaryssa Tambi of California
8th Place - Nia Crosdale of New York
1st Place Match - Sara Kouba (Wisconsin) won by tech fall over Joanna Mack (California) (TF 18-8)
3rd Place Match - Nkechinyere Nwankwo (Texas) won by tech fall over Hailey Cancelleri (New York) (TF 10-0)
5th Place Match - Christie Sandez (California) won by fall over Natalie Kemp (Wisconsin) (Fall 1:33)
7th Place Match - Jaryssa Tambi (California) won by fall over Nia Crosdale (New York) (Fall 1:43)

198 pounds
1st Place - Victoria Espinoza of California
2nd Place - Alexandera Castillo of California
3rd Place - Jesse Kirby of Virginia
4th Place - Corey Burton of California
5th Place - Katelyn Blanchard of California
6th Place - Mckyla Kerr of Illinois
7th Place - Sierra Pesnell of Idaho
8th Place - Megan Houser of Idaho
1st Place Match - Victoria Espinoza (California) won by decision over Alexandera Castillo (California) (Dec 8-5)
3rd Place Match - Jesse Kirby (Virginia) won by fall over Corey Burton (California) (Fall 4:46)
5th Place Match - Katelyn Blanchard (California) won by fall over Mckyla Kerr (Illinois) (Fall 0:36)
7th Place Match - Sierra Pesnell (Idaho) won by fall over Megan Houser (Idaho) (Fall 0:21)