Takedown Report

High School National News (2021) – # 18

TDR Editor’s Notes ; Most of the stories involve the biggest tournament of the year in Fargo, North Dakota last month. This event is actually a group of tournaments with Greco-Roman, Freestyle, Women’s and different age level tournaments which create a week long festival. Explore into and onward of the wrestling! Contact us at the Editor’s office at martinkfleming@gmail.com Blog # 2970 (8/25/21)
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1 } – US Marine Corps Jr & 16U National Champs
Why the Junior and 16U National Championships are so incredibly rad even after 50 years of tournaments.
… rest of story and videos at https://www.flowrestling.org/events/6911775-2021-us-marine-corps-junior-and-16u-national-championships/videos?playing=7101394&limit=60&mc_cid=d1b37a6e41&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

2 } – A College Wrestling Fan’s Guide To Fargo 2021
Breaking down all the committed and uncommitted wrestlers in the boys’ divisions at Fargo 2021
It’s Fargo time, one of the biggest high school wrestling events of the year. Which means it’s also one of the biggest events of the year for college wrestling fans. Whether it’s wrestlers looking to get another tough tournament under their belts before attending a school they’ve already committed to, or uncommitted wrestlers looking to raise their stock in the eyes of their future coaches, Fargo is fertile grounds for college recruiters and for college fans searching for a glimpse at what lies ahead.  With that in mind, we’ve prepared the information below to help NCAA fans more easily follow the action in North Dakota.
Completed, Jul 17-232021 US Marine Corps Junior and 16U National Championships
Below is a list of committed wrestlers by their weight and age division in which they have registered to compete, as well as national ranking, and state team, by college alphabetically. … rest of story at https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/7106317-a-college-wrestling-fans-guide-to-fargo-2021?mc_cid=48744dd3ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

3 } – Fargo 2021 Finals Twitter Notes & Stats
The stuff only Jason Bryant knows from his Fargo Almanac. Live tweeted but collected here.
Facts, stats and figures dropped on Twitter by Jason Bryant during the Fargo finals in each division. Follow @jasonmbryant for the live feed or come here for updated nuggets periodically during the finals. 
Thursday, July 22
16U Greco-Roman
Haakon Peterson of Wisconsin avenges the loss from the men’s freestyle final to win the 16U Greco-Roman title at 88 pounds. Peterson wins the state’s 27th title in the division, which is sixth all-time. Idaho has 7 All-Americans, the most in 16U Greco-Roman in state history and three finalists is the most in state history as well. 
Mack Mauger doubles up in Fargo and takes home a triple crown with the 6-0 win in the finals at 94 pounds. Mauger wins the state’s 10th ever 16U Greco-Roman title. 
Layne Kleimann wins Utah’s 16th all-time 16U Greco-Roman national title with a dominant tech in the finals at 100 pounds. … rest of story at https://rokfin.com/stack/375/Fargo-Facts?mc_cid=fb87a783fb&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

4 } – U.S. MARINE CORPS JUNIOR & 16U NATIONALS IN FARGO, N.D., JULY 17-23 WILL CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF JUNIOR NATIONALS
FARGO, N.D. – The nation’s best young boys and girls wrestlers will once again come together for the world’s largest wrestling competition, the U.S Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals at the Fargodome on the campus of North Dakota State in Fargo, N.D.
The event was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Based upon preliminary registration, this year’s event should shatter participation records, with more than 6,200 athletes already signed up to compete.. This is a year of celebration, as the 50th Junior Nationals will be held in Fargo in 2021. This would have occurred last year if the pandemic had not stopped the event. The first Junior Nationals was held in 1971 in Iowa City, Iowa, with only a men’s freestyle division, and was held 49 straight years prior to last year.
The Junior Nationals were held in Iowa City, Iowa for 12 years (1971-1983), Cedar Falls, Iowa for eight years (1984-1990), Warrensburg, Mo. for one year (1991), St. Paul, Minn. for one year (1992) and Fargo, N.D. for 27 years (1993-2019). This will be the 28th year that Fargo has hosted this event. As part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Junior Nationals, a number of the champions from the first Junior Nationals in 1971 will be honored guests at the competition. This competition produces great stories of champions, many who go on to glory in college wrestling, and ultimately at the World and Olympic levels. For six straight days, starting on Sunday, July 18 and running through Friday, July 23, there will be one championship finals held each day.
The U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals features high school wrestlers in grades 9-12. Every year, the Junior division features talented athletes who are proven winners, as well as many top young stars who are making names for themselves. The event opens with men’s and women’s freestyle early in the week, with Greco-Roman in the second half of the week. Only seven different wrestlers have won the coveted USA Wrestling Triple Crown on the Junior level since the program was created in 2007, earned by claiming folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman Junior National titles in the same year. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/13/Junior-Nationals-advance?mc_cid=48744dd3ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

5 } – 2021 JUNIOR & 16U NATIONALS SPECIAL SECTION
USMC Junior and 16U Nationals Event Schedule

FloWrestling Fargo Coverage Page

Articles and Features
Team Illinois wins the 2021 Junior Greco-Roman team title; Alaska’s Bockert wins Outstanding Wrestler
2021 Junior Nationals Greco finalist biographies
Friday’s Junior Greco finals are set; Team Illinois boasts five finalists
2021 USMC Junior & 16U Nationals smashes participation record with combined 5,900 entries in six tournaments
Fargo Day 7 preview (7/23): Junior Greco-Roman closes out the biggest Junior/16U Nationals ever
Junior Greco-Roman semifinals set for Friday; Oklahoma’s Williams looking to win second Fargo title of the week
Mauger and Hopke win Triple Crown awards in 16U Greco-Roman finals; Team Pennsylvania wins team title; Nebraska’s Adams named Outstanding Wrestler
Junior Greco-Roman action begins; Junior freestyle champion Webster headlines action … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/13/Fargo-Special-Section?mc_cid=48744dd3ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

6 } – 2021 16U AND JUNIOR FOLKSTYLE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS ARE ELIGIBLE TO COMPETE FOR USA WRESTLING TRIPLE CROWNS IN FARGO
The USA Wrestling Triple Crown is given to any athlete who wins USA Wrestling Folkstyle, Greco-Roman and Freestyle national titles in the same year. This coveted award is available on the 10U, 12U, 14U, 16U and Junior levels. The winners from the USA Wrestling Folkstyle National Championships in Iowa in April won the first leg of the Triple Crown. The final two legs of the 2021 Triple Crown at the 16U and Junior level will be at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior & 16U Nationals in Fargo, N.D., which starts this weekend. There are 15 Junior and 17 16U athletes who enter Fargo still eligible for the Triple Crown. Winning a Triple Crown at these age levels is difficult. Only 23 have won 16U Triple Crowns going back to when it began in 2003, while only seven have won Junior Triple Crowns since it started in 2007.
There has been only one two-time 16U Triple Crown winner, Taylor Massa of Michigan (2008, 2009). … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/14/Triple-Crown-eligible-wrestlers-in-Fargo?mc_cid=f4f15d3e7b&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

7 } – Fargo 16U Preview
The 16U age group(formerly Cadets) is always filled with excitement as there is an element of surprise at many weights with the young kids hitting a big national tournament. This year’s Indiana squad is one to watch as they were double All-American as a team at the National Duals. This is the first time Indiana has ever doubled up at the duals. Many of these same wrestlers will be looking for individual honors at Fargo which could make this year a very good year. Seven of the wrestlers taking the mats will have experience at Bankers Life. Two-time state placer Aidan Torres of Chesterton has the most state experience. He was 4-1 in the Greco duals and 4-5 in freestyle. Other placers that will be coming include Whiteland’s Joey Buttler and his fantastic hair. Buttler was 4-3 in Greco at the duals and 4-4 in freestyle. Western’s little guy Tanner Tishner looks to impress after going 5-4 in freestyle and 4-4 in Greco at the duals. Other state qualifiers that will be heading to Fargo include Evan Cruz, Tony Wood, Cameron Clark, and Logan Farnell.
Some young guns that you need to watch out for include future Brownsburg Bulldog Revin Dickman. He was 9-0 in freestyle at the duals and 5-3 in Greco. He is ranked in numerous grade level rankings and will be one to watch when he dons his purple singlet. Snider’s phenom De’Alcapon Veazy has already been in the high school level rankings and was 6-3 in freestyle and 7-1 in Greco at the national duals. … rest of story at https://indianamat.com/index.php?/articles.html/high-school-news/fargo-16u-preview-r1079/&mc_cid=48744dd3ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And FARGO DAY 7 PREVIEW (7/23): JUNIOR GRECO-ROMAN CLOSES OUT THE BIGGEST JUNIOR/16U NATIONALS EVER
USA Wrestling’s USMC Junior/16U Nationals has set an all-time record for entries, just in time to celebrate the historic 50th Junior Nationals. With 5,900 entries over six tournaments, the quality matched the quantity for a fantastic week of wrestling.
WHAT FINISHES: The Junior Greco-Roman Nationals ends with semifinals and finals
The Greco-Roman Junior division heads into the semifinals at 9:00 a.m. and the last few rounds of consolations, with the finals, including all of the medal matches, set for 2:00 p.m.
NOTES by the numbers
0 – athletes who remain eligible for the Junior Triple Crown
1 – athletes who won the Junior Freestyle Nationals title and have reached the Junior Greco-Roman semifinals: Jordan Williams of Oklahoma
3 – Points separating first-place Illinois (21 pts) and second place California and Wisconsin (18 pts.) after day one. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/22/Preview-day-7?mc_cid=dabacf228e&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

8 } – TEAM ILLINOIS WINS 2021 JUNIOR NATIONALS MEN’S FREESTYLE TEAM TITLE; IOWA’S AYALA NAMED OUTSTANDING WRESTLER
FARGO, N.D. — Team Illinois took home the team title of the 2021 Junior Nationals as the men’s freestyle finals action wrapped up on Tuesday at the FargoDome. Iowa’s Drake Ayala won the Outstanding Wrestler award after winning his finals bout at 126 pounds, becoming a two-time Junior Nationals champion. Team Michigan led the way with three individual champions. Ayala, who is committed to the University of Iowa, wasted no time to pick up his 126-pound Fargo title. Wrestling Indiana’s #12 Sergio Lemley, a 2021 USA Wrestling Junior Folkstyle Nationals champion, Ayala scored multiple times and used a strong gut wrench to finish up the win. Ayala, a three-time 3A Iowa state champion, continues to pick up impressive accolades before he begins his career with the Hawkeyes. The session wrapped with the largest upset of the day, as Wisconsin’s Ben Kawczynski (285 pounds) knocked off Georgia’s top-ranked Chase Horne in the finals with a 12-4 upset victory. Kawczynski, who is set to wrestle at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, stacked scores throughout both periods to win in dominant fashion. He placed third at the 2021 USA Wrestling Junior Folkstyle Nationals and was a 2021 Wisconsin DI state champion at 285. Horne, an N.C. State commit, entered the tournament ranked as the No. 13 pound-for-pound wrestler in the nation by FloWrestling.
In perhaps the premier ranked-on-ranked match of the session, #3 Jordan Williams of Oklahoma pulled off an impressive late move to defeat Iowa’s #4 Caleb Rathjen, a University of Iowa commit. Williams was trailing the 3-1 match late, but pulled off late heroics to win the title. With Rathjen in on a leg with under 10 seconds left, Williams rolled him through on a crotch lift for two as time expired. The move was reviewed, but ultimately confirmed to give Williams the 3-3 win on criteria. Williams is now a three-time champion at this event, winning the 16U division twice (2018, 2019). … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/20/Junior-Freestyle-Finals-wrap?mc_cid=42d5eec6a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

9} – MEYER SHAPIRO WINS GOLD; LILLEDAHL, ROWLEY AND MULLEN TAKE SILVER AT THE CADET WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Budapest, Hungary – The second day of the Cadet World Championships wrapped up with Meyer Shapiro bringing home a gold medal for the Red White and Blue. Shapiro, the 65 kg champion, defeated Georgia’s Giorgi Gogritchiani in the finals, 8-4. Shapiro got on the board first, earning a passivity point in the first period. However, 20 seconds into the second period, Gogritchiani executed a perfectly-timed lateral whip for four points. Shapiro quickly got a reversal to cut the score to 4-2. With only 90 seconds left in the match, Shapiro got to work, setting a high pace and increasing his attack rate. He scored his first takedown at the one minute mark, still trailing on criteria, 4-4. 20 seconds later, he converted on another takedown taking the lead 6-4. He tacked on another two points countering a last-ditch throw attempt by Gogritchiani, nearly earning a pin before the final buzzer. While celebrating his victory, Shapiro was already thinking ahead to his future goals. “It’s the best feeling ever. After that kid tried to throw me, I saw his back just slap on the mat, I was really hype. I don’t really remember what happened after that, but I was definitely super excited. I think it’s probably one of the best feelings I’ll ever had. I can’t wait to try to make a Junior Team next year and try to win again,” he said in his post-match interview. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/20/Meyer-Shapiro-Cadet-World-champ?mc_cid=42d5eec6a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

10 } – Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award State Winners Announced
The National Wrestling Hall of Fame on Tuesday announced the state winners of the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award (DSHSEA). 
The DSHSEA was established in 1996 to honor Olympic and World champion Dave Schultz, whose career was cut short when he was murdered in January 1996. He was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in 1997 and as a member of the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016.  The award recognizes and celebrates the nation’s most outstanding high school senior male wrestlers for their excellence in wrestling, scholastic achievement, citizenship, and community service.  Winners are evaluated and selected on the basis of three criteria: success and standout performances and sportsmanship in wrestling; review of GPA and class rank, academic honors and distinctions; and participation in activities that demonstrate commitment to character and community.  “This year has been so hard for so many seniors whose seasons and state championships were either shortened, postponed or canceled as a result of the pandemic,” said Hall of Fame Executive Director Lee Roy Smith. “Despite the many challenges they encountered, these student-athletes demonstrated tremendous resolve while working to achieve their academic and athletic goals. 
“In recognition of their fortitude, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame is excited to recognize these young men with our Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, and we wish them continued success, on and off the mat.” 
DSHSEA regional winners will be announced on July 27 and the national winner will be announced on August 10. Regional winners are selected from state winners, and the national winner will be chosen from the regional winners. 
… rest of story at https://nwhof.org/news/dave-schultz-high-school-excellence-award-state-winners-announced-2?mc_cid=42d5eec6a4&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

11 } – BASSETT PINS HIS WAY TO GOLD, JESUROGA TAKES BRONZE, TEAM USA FINISHES SECOND AT THE MEN’S FREESTYLE CADET WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Budapest, Hungary – The men’s freestyle portion of the Cadet World Championships drew to a close this evening. It was a three-horse race between Team USA, India and Russia for the team title, and it came down to the very last match of the night. When the dust settled, India came out on top, winning their first Cadet team title in history. The U.S. claimed second and Russia settled for third. While finishing runner-up after a stellar performance was bittersweet, the U.S. contingent had plenty to celebrate. At 45 kg, Bo Bassett became the second American to claim a Cadet World title this week. Bassett, who earned two pins and a technical fall en route to the finals, was the youngest competitor in his bracket at only 14 years old. For gold, he squared off with Russia’s Alikhan Ashinov in a battle that was pivotal to the team race. Ashinov was the third wrestler to score the first takedown on Bassett in this tournament. Similarly to the others, he faired poorly. Bassett stormed back, earning two points on a go-behind and quickly followed it up with a set of exposure points off another Ashinov shot. Bassett sprinkled in a little bit of folkstyle on top, using a head lever turned into a cement job to stick Ashinov at the 1:25 mark. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/21/MFS-Cadet-final-day-wrap?mc_cid=fd10261731&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

12 } – FARGO ROSTERS: MICHIGAN, NEW YORK, NORTH CAROLINA, OKLAHOMA
Starting on July 1, USA Wrestling will start publishing the state team rosters for the 2021 USMC Junior and 16U Nationals set for Fargo, N.D. State teams will be posted whenever a final roster has been submitted and confirmed with the state association. In addition to the list of athletes (by age-group, style and weight), boys who are included in the most recent FloWrestling rankings, as well as girls who are included in the most recent National Girls High School rankings, will be identified. This morning, we add four more state teams: Michigan, New York, North Carolina and Oklahoma. These teams have healthy sized rosters, and there are nationally ranked boys and girls on all of these rosters looking to make an impact in Fargo. Rosters are coming in quickly, so please be aware that we may post more than one story on certain days. It is being verified that these are final rosters, so when they are completed, they will be edited and posted. … rest of story at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/13/Fargo-rosters-MI-NY-NC-OK?mc_cid=48744dd3ab&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

And FARGO ROSTERS: MISSOURI, SOUTH CAROLINA, SOUTH DAKOTA, WASHINGTON
… full list linked at https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Wrestling/Features/2021/July/07/Fargo-rosters-MO-SC-SD-WA?mc_cid=9d57322631&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

August 27, 2021 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment