Takedown Report

Junior Nationals

TDR Editor’s Notes ; The following are some excellent articles and resources with more information about the previous 49 ‘Junior Nationals’ which is often called “Fargo” by wrestlers and coaches. This year was to be celebrated as the grand 50th gathering for the largest tournaments in the country. Yet with the pandemic concerns and restrictions it was cancelled for this year. We have only been to two of these events with the first in the Dome at Northern Iowa in the late 1980s. The first time seeing almost 40 mats set up on the indoor football memory was a great jaw dropping moment. Then we attended the event in Fargo in 2001 and it looked even better. The wrestling was amazing to view but, we wait until next year.
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1 } – UPDATED JUNIOR AND 16U NATIONALS ALL-AMERICAN ALAMANAC IS NOW AVAILABLE
USA Wrestling | July 23, 2020, 
Need a Fargo fix? The Junior & 16U Nationals All-American Almanac is now available. This massive 187-page publication, written by wrestling journalist Jason Bryant, is the ultimate source of information on the largest wrestling tournament in the world, featuring complete information on two of USA Wrestling’s most important age-group national events. Bryant updated the document with all of the 2019 results, including changes in a number of all-time records. Price is just $20, and everyone who orders gets free updates for life. To order, visit FargoAlmanac.com This year was supposed to be the 50th anniversary of the Junior Nationals, which was created in Iowa City, Iowa in 1971. The USMC Junior and 16U National Championships which was scheduled for Fargo, N.D. was cancelled due to the COVID … rest of story at _{https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/July/23/Junior-and-16U-Nationals-Almanac-now-available?mc_cid=fb559ea200&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

2 } – Moments that made the Junior Nationals over nearly 50 years
The following story appeared in the July issue of WIN Magazine. Click here or call 888-305-0606 to subscribe to WIN Magazine.
By Mike Finn and Rob Sherrill
There have been 49 different Junior National championships over the past 50 years as the current COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 national tournament — as well as the U-16 (formerly Cadet) Nationals in freestyle, Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle — and prevented a golden anniversary of the event that has been held the past 27 years in Fargo, N.D. But as wrestlers, coaches and fans look to the return of this event in 2021, this is a good time to look backwards at some of the more historic moments of this event that started in Iowa City and eventually made stops at the likes of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Allendale, Mich., and Warrensburg, Mo., before Fargo became the annual host city for the event in 1993.
Click here or call 888-305-0606 to subscribe to WIN Magazine
The following is a chronological order of those moments:
1971 – The first Junior Nationals, organized by the United States Wrestling Federation (the predecessor to USA Wrestling, which was formed in 1983), was held at the University of Iowa Fieldhouse in Iowa City, Iowa. The first tournament was just a freestyle event and the first 10 wrestlers to win Junior National championships were Nathaniel Byrd (105.5, Michigan), Joe Corso (114.5, Iowa), Jimmy Carr (123, Pennsylvania),  … rest of story at _{https://www.win-magazine.com/2020/07/moments-that-made-the-junior-nationals-over-nearly-50-years/?mc_cid=b08de964d0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b#utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=moments-that-made-the-junior-nationals-over-nearly-50-years}

3 } – Fargo Champs by State (2010-19)
In any other year, we would be smack dab in the middle of the craziest week of wrestling on the high school calendar, Fargo! Or it’s official name, the Junior and 16U National Championships. Like many other events in wrestling,  sports, and life, in general, it has been canceled by the spread of COVID-19. So without any new matchups to breakdown or highlights to review, let’s take a look back at the last decade of action from the FargoDome. Here are the winners by age group and style over the last ten years. Some wrestlers may be on the list for multiple states; they have been listed for whichever state they represented during that tournament. Siblings that shared titles (there are a few during this time period) were each counted as champions. 
It should be no surprise when seeing the states that top each list. For the men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman, Illinois has been the class in both age groups on a consistent basis. While some states have made improvements of late, California continues to dominate on the women’s side.  For all of the Fargo information you can imagine and then some, check out Jason Bryant’s Fargo Almanac. If you order it, you’ll receive annual updates, as well. 
16U Men’s Freestyle 
Illinois (19) – Dean Hamiti Jr (145/2019), Hayden Copass (285/2019), Hayden Copass (285/2018), Dylan Ragusin (100/2017), Noah Surtin (113/2017), Fidel Mayora (138/2017), … rest of story at _{https://news.theopenmat.com/high-school-wrestling/fargo-champs-by-state-2010-19/78515?mc_cid=b08de964d0&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

4 } – .Mat Talk Online’s Jason Bryant talks Fargo with Pat Kelly on Air Time
Jason Bryant joins the program to celebrate what would have been Fargo Week. The journalist and wrestling personality discusses a wide range of topics with interesting and informed insight. Have a listen! … rest of story at _{http://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/mat-talk-onlines-jason-bryant-talks-fargo-with-pat-kelly-on-air-time/?mc_cid=fb559ea200&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

5 } – JUNIOR NATIONAL MEMORIES: ADAM COON, SEAN HAGE, BRENT METCALF AMONG TOP JUNIOR BOYS NEWSMAKERS
The Junior Nationals has always been a showcase of the best high school athletes in the nation. For many athletes, Junior Nationals gave them an opportunity to show the world (and college coaches) their skills and potential, truly opening the door for opportunities in the future. For a select few, Junior Nationals truly allowed some talented wrestlers to take a step above their peers and become history-makers. On the final day of our series (as Fargo was scheduled to end today had it not been cancelled) we remember three newsmakers on the boys side who used their abilities in both freestyle and Greco-Roman to make big news: Adam Coon of Michigan, Sean Hage of Georgia and Brent Metcalf of Michigan.
Adam Coon of Michigan, first two-time Junior Triple Crown winner
USA Wrestling started its Triple Crown award program in 1997 in the Kids division, to honor wrestlers who win USA Wrestling national titles in folkstyle, Greco-Roman and freestyle the same year. In 2003, USA Wrestling expanded … rest of story at _{https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/July/24/Fargo-Memories-Coon-Hage-and-Metcalf?mc_cid=cddd407beb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

6 } – JUNIOR NATIONAL MEMORIES: TESHYA ALO WINS CADET WORLDS AND FARGO JUNIOR TITLE FIVE DAYS APART
One of the most miraculous weeks in Junior Nationals history happened in 2014, when Hawaiian legend Teshya Alo won the 2014 Cadet World Championships in Snina, Slovakia, quickly flew to Fargo, N.D., then won the Junior Nationals, in less than a week. Alo had a great season in 2013, winning her first Junior Nationals title after her freshman year, and also winning a bronze medal at the Cadet World Championships. In the summer after her sophomore year, Alo earned a spot a return trip to the Cadet Worlds by winning the UWW Cadet Nationals. Her 56 kg weight class at the Cadet Worlds was set to finish on July 17 in Slovakia. The Junior Nationals, one of her favorite events, was set for July 21-22 in North Dakota. Alo and her family decided that she could do both events back-to-back. In Snina, Alo won five straight matches to capture the gold, some by a razor-thin margin. She had two victories were by one point. … rest of story at _{https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2020/July/23/Junior-Nationals-Memory-Teshya-Alo-wins-Worlds-and-Juniors-same-week?mc_cid=fb559ea200&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

7 } – Cadet and Junior Nationals King: David Kjeldgaard won 11 medals and eight championships
With no Fargo this year, it’s a fine opportunity to go back through the history books and talk to the most accomplished Cadet and Junior age-group wrestler in USA Wrestling history. It’s not Cael Sanderson or Kyle Snyder or John Smith, rather, Council Bluffs, Iowa native and former Oklahoma Sooner David Kjeldgaard. Now working in Texas, Kjeldgaard was one of three 11-time All-Americans at the two age-groups and is one of two wrestlers to ever win eight championships between Cadet (now 16U) and Juniors. He’s the only wrestler in American wrestling history to place 11 times and win eight titles. … rest of story at _{http://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/cadet-and-junior-nationals-king-david-kjeldgaard-won-11-medals-and-eight-championships/?mc_cid=1419bf9910&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

8 } – Talented Nebraska team misses chance to compete in ‘largest wrestling tournament in the world’
It became an annual summer trip for Zac Dominguez, a pilgrimage to the Fargo, North Dakota, event that’s recognized as the largest wrestling tournament in the world. That is until COVID-19 grabbed control of the country. “I’ve been to Fargo every year since 1993,” Dominguez said. “Twenty-seven years, first time not going. I’m going to put an asterisk by this year. It doesn’t count.” Dominguez, president and head of coaching of MWC Wrestling Academy in Papillion, also is on USA Wrestling’s Junior Olympic committee. As the coronavirus grew into a pandemic this spring, he said the committee still hoped the Fargo nationals could be staged. But in late May, it was canceled. The tournament would have taken place this week, wrapping up Friday. “We held out as long as we could. … We just went month to month and hoped for the best,” Dominguez said. “We’re wrestlers. We love to compete, we love to get after it. It was tough, but it’s safety first. “Safety of our athletes, safety of our parents, safety of our organization. That was our primary concern.” The cancellation prevented one of Nebraska’s most talented teams from competing at Fargo. … rest of the story at _{https://omaha.com/sports/high-school/talented-nebraska-team-misses-chance-to-compete-in-largest-wrestling-tournament-in-the-world/article_e8411f28-df44-5d30-82bb-76443f6b9be1.html?mc_cid=a3e4678353&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b}

August 8, 2020 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized