2016 USAW Cadet and Junior National ChampionshipsJul 15, 2016 by Willie Saylor
Whose Fargo Is Most Pivotal?
Whose Fargo Is Most Pivotal?
Fargo is wrestling's version of the meat market. High schoolers are wrestling their guts out while college coaches (and journalists) are evaluating their ev
Fargo is wrestling's version of the meat market. High schoolers are wrestling their guts out while college coaches (and journalists) are evaluating their every move. No other place quite makes a wrestler's collegiate value fluctuate quite like the Fargodome floor.
Unsigned seniors-to-be look to capitalize on that when they chase a stop sign (and recruiting dollars) this week at the Junior National Championships.
Below we'll take a look at wrestlers who can up their stock the most at Fargo.
In some cases, these guys are sleepers. Some have showed promise but leveled off. Others have had recent, eye-opening performances, and want to see if they can keep it going. Some just don't have enough data.
They are ranked here in order, more or less, according to how much we can learn about them, and who has the most to gain on the recruiting front.
12. Anthony Mantanona, California - 160
Why Fargo Means So Much: Here's the book on Mantanona: He's a high flyer that likes to have fun. I repeat, fun. That's rare in this sport. The FloNationals champion is so talented, he'll get significant money from a lot of places, which is why he's last on our list. But winning here would prove he doesn't just like to have fun... he also puts in the work and wants to win on the biggest stage. His athleticism combined with a demonstrated work ethic will get everyone knocking on his door.Mantanona turned heads at FloNationals:
11. Jake Woodley, PA and Brandon Kui, NJ - 182
Why Fargo Means So Much: Typically, state champions at upperweights in power states garner a lot more fan fare—especially when they back it up with national credentials. Woodley was fourth at both FloNationals and Fargo last year. Kui went 6-1 at Junior Duals.10. Max Murin, Pennsylvania - 132
Why Fargo Means So Much: Murin had his breakout in Akron in 2015 when he beat Paul Konrath and Drew West to finish sixth. He was the runner-up in Hershey this year when Brian Courtney went bananas and beat three returning state champs. Murin then placed third in Akron while losing only to Arujau. Still, he's list of head-to-heads isn't extraordinarily long, meaning there are still some things to be learned. Murin could make a lot of money this week if he can march through the quarterfinals and beyond.
9. Dakota Galt, South Dakota - 138
Why Fargo Means So Much: A true sleeper, Galt made headlines when he pinned Mitch McKee at last year's Junior Duals. He has a couple other quality wins, but nothing that jumps off the page. He's shown he can beat elite guys, so I include him here as a guy who has a shot to turn heads in Fargo.8. AJ Pedro, Massachusetts - 170
Why Fargo Means So Much: Pedro has been on the cusp of the nation's top talent for nearly five years. Starting as a Junior High Big Board member and continuing on at each of the grade level's back half of the rankings, Pedro has been steady, but just hasn't made the jump. The kid goes to arguably the most prestigious high school (Exeter Academy) in the country. So you know he's the whole package. A good performance in Fargo shoots him up the ladder.7. Jaden Enriquez, California - 138
Why Fargo Means So Much: A few years ago, I would have told you Jaden Enriquez was destined for stardom. I thought he was one of the country's next big things. He was super successful every step of the way—double Schoolboy titles, fifth in FS in his first trip to Fargo, fourth as a freshman in the California state tournament, and then won a USAW folkstyle title. The next year he was a Fargo runner-up to Chad Red and state runner-up to Julian Flores.
While he's still been good (fifth in Akron, sixth at USAW folkstyle), Enriquez has dealt with an injury that kept him out of the state tournament. He had a solid, 5-2, mark at Junior Duals. If he returns to his former self in Fargo this week, we'll all know he's back.
6. Luke Troy, California - 160
Why Fargo Means So Much: Wait. Why is Troy on here? He committed to Iowa, right?Right.
But I just had to include him. Once thought of as one of the best up-and-comers, Troy was injured at Ironman, took a loss to an unranked foe at state, and wrestled a limited schedule since. I'm dying to know how good he is at wrestling right now.
5. Max Lyon, Iowa - 182
Why Fargo Means So Much: If you asked people about the best preps in Iowa a year ago, Lyon would have been on almost everyone's list. But he didn't have much elite competition to make him nationally relevant, in addition to a DNP in Fargo last summer.That's no longer a problem.
He just knocked off Jelani Embree and Jeremy Thomas at Junior Duals. That said, it's still a limited sample size, and consistency still hasn't been demonstrated—he posted losses to Joe Grello, Logan Gruszka and Anthony Welsh at the same tournament.
There's still so much to learn about Lyon, who right now seems like a boom or bust.
Lyon takes out Jelani Embree at Junior Duals:
4. Tim Kane, Connecticut - 132
Why Fargo Means So Much: Like Woodley and Kui, Kane and Lyon are very similar. You want to talk boom or bust? What if I told you that, in the last 12 months, Kane tech'ed Vitali Arujau and pinned Max Murin? There were several other solid wins in there as well, but with some clunky losses. His brother, Charlie, is a Hofstra Pride commitment, so perhaps they have an inside track with him. But if he makes a deep run, his phone will be busy.3. Devin Bahr, Wisconsin - 145
Why Fargo Means So Much: Bahr has been a force in his state and a mainstay in the national rankings since early in his career. In 2014, he was top-three in all three (Folk/FS/GR) styles. An injury in December that year sidelined him for about eight months, and he's been a bit inconsistent since. But still, a kid of his pedigree—one that saw him as a Top 20 recruit in his grade at one point—can easily get his stock back up with a strong Fargo performance.2. Jake Allar, MN - 160
Why Fargo Means So Much: Just when you think you have a kid all figured out, he goes and changes your entire perception of him. When Allar was taking second at Fargo in Greco, he also DNP'd in FS. When he reached the Akron finals in Greco, he also DNP'd in FS. Pretty simple, right? He's a Greco specialist.Not so fast.
He just took fourth in Akron in FS and then backed it up with ranked wins over Trent Hidlay, Austin Hiles, and Wyatt Sheets in a fine FS performance at Junior Duals. This kid can make himself some money this week.
1. Anthony Falbo, CT - 182
Why Fargo Means So Much: Coach Kevin Ward of Army isn't going to like that I'm writing this. Falbo verballed to West Point before re-opening his recruitment. I'm sure the Army staff knows what they could have in Falbo, and he could certainly still end up there. But as solid (perhaps elite) Division I talent goes, Falbo is drastically underrated. He was fifth last year in Cadets with wins over Anthony Sherry and John Borst, and won NHSCA Juniors this spring with wins over Casey Cornett and Cornell signee, Andrew Berreyesa.He is a powerful kid that mixes it up and gets after it. And he still has a rawness that makes you inclined to think he still has room to improve.
Other Seniors Trying to Improve Their Stock:
Joey Thomas, MD - 113Joey Melendez, IL - 113Jack Skudlarczyk, TX - 120
Paxton Rosen, OK - 120
The West Bros, IA - Bryce (120), Drew (126)
Zach Sherman, NJ - 126
Cole Manley, PA - 126
Brent Jones, MN - 132
Keaton Geerts, IA - 132
Corey Shie, OH - 138
Riley Palmer, PA - 138
Parker Filuis, MT - 138
Brik Filippo, OK - 145
Hunter Willits, CO - 152
Max Wohlabaugh, FL - 160
Casey Cornett, KY - 170
Chase Shiltz, IA - 182
Trevor Nichelson, NE - 182
Hayn Maley, OR -195
John Borst, VA - 195
Jeff Allen, VA - 220
Wyatt Wriedt, IA - 22o
Brian Barnes, OR - 285
Kayne Hutchison, KS - 285
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