The Freestyle Fun Continues In The Journeymen World Classic Girls' Division
The Freestyle Fun Continues In The Journeymen World Classic Girls' Division
Fans of international freestyle wrestling will want to tune into this year's Journeymen World Classic girls' division.
The Senior World Championships just ended but wrestling fans can still tune in to the Journeymen World Classic girls' division this weekend to get their fix of international freestyle competition.
High school-age female wrestlers from around the world will converge in New York's Capital District when competitors from the USA, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Italy, Canada, and Hungary battle it out in 11 weight classes for coveted Journeymen hammer awards.
Over 20 Ranked Wrestlers Have Registered
With over 100 registered competitors and over 20 nationally ranked wrestlers in the brackets, your chances of finding elite competitors on the mat are quite high.
Not to mention the fact that the national rankings have not yet been updated to remove last year's graduating seniors, which raises the odds considerably that you'll find more ranked wrestlers in the brackets once that update is released.
Over 20 International Wrestlers Have Registered
This event has more than nationally ranked domestic hammers, as over 20 wrestlers from five foreign countries are crossing international borders to compete.
That includes Hungary's 2023 U17 Euro champ Sophie Ritter, Italy's U17 World bronze medalist Fabiana Rinella, and four other UWW age-level continental medalists.
It's particularly impressive for the 11 wrestlers from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan who are making the 6,000-mile-plus trek Central Asia to New York from Central Asia. Google flights from Bishkek to Albany, they're neither cheap nor quick!
Watch Italy's Fabiana Rinella win a U17 world bronze over American Karlee Brooks at the 2023 World Championships:
There Are 5 Ranked Wrestlers Including 2 Fargo Finalists At 106
The most stacked division maybe 106 pounds, which features five ranked wrestlers including Fargo finalists Kayla Batres (in the 16U tournament) and Harlee Hiller (in the junior tournament).
Watch Hiller make the 2023 Fargo finals with a victory over Chloe Dearwester in the semifinals:
Additionally, U17 world teamer and Who's Number One competitor Rianne Murphy will be moving up from 100 to compete in the 106 division as well.
A Potential Clash Of Fargo Champs At 112-Pounds
We could see two 2023 Fargo champs face off in the 112-pound weight class. Clare Booe won the junior tournament in North Dakota this summer and Emma Bacon won the 16U stop sign.
There will be other tough competitors in their bracket, however, such as the nationally ranked Fargo All-American Lexia Schechterly, who will, depending on the draw, have something to say about whether or not this match happens.
Taina Fernandez Is Entered At 127
Perhaps one of the most electric young talents in America is entered in the 127-pound bracket, as high school freshman and U15 Pan-Am champ Taina Fernandez will wrestle in the Fall Classic less than a month after winning her match at Who's Number One.
Watch Fernandez tech-fall her opponent at Who's Number One from just last September 2:
Maryland native Fernandez will be tested by two ranked Americans, Taina McGowan and Isabella Cepak, as well as several foreign wrestlers, including 2023 Euro champ Sophie Ritter.
More Rising Stars To Catch
Isis France, who wrestles at Wyoming Seminary by way of Arizona, burst onto the scene this summer with a Fargo 16U stop sign. France is registered at 135-pounds.
Blair Academy's Sarah Henckel, a WNO alum who also placed third at this summer's 16U national championship in Fargo, is entered at 155-pounds.
They'll be challenged by top domestic and international talent from around the world, all looking to make a name for themselves at the Journeymen Fall Classic.