9 Must Watch 16u Quarterfinals
9 Must Watch 16u Quarterfinals
The 16u Quarters are set! While all of the matches should be good, here are the ones you won't want to miss.
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Quarterfinal winners punch their tickets to the podium and are one step closer to their goal of winning a Stop Sign on the big stage. The intensity will be high in every match, but the matches below you'll want to make sure to circle on your brackets.
100 lbs: Dru Ayala, IA vs Seth Mendoza, IL
Seth Mendoza is just an eighth-grader but is already having national-level success. The Mokena native won the middle school division Super 32 and took 2nd at U15 Nationals. Dru Ayala, the younger brother of Drake, has looked sharp until this point with two tech falls and a 10-6 decision in the R16.
106: Nathan Desmond, PA vs #7 Isaiah Quintero, CA
Isaiah Quintero will have the age advantage here but also missed out on what would have been a year of high school experience when California canceled their season this year. #1 seed Nathan Desmond will be a freshman at Pennsylvania powerhouse Bethlehem Catholic next season.
113: Draegen Orine, MO vs #3 Vinny Kilkeary, PA
On Paper, #3 Kilkeary is a heavy favorite. The PIAA champ and two-time finalist knows his way around big matches as a Super 32 champ in 2020. Draegen Orine could make this one interesting though as he proved in his round of 16 thriller against Angel Serano this afternoon.
Orine's wild round of 16 bout with Angel Serano
120: Adrian Meza, AZ vs Tyler Wells, MN
Both Wells and Meza got four matches under their belts today. Meza has put together a strong freestyle season and was a Western Regionals champ this spring. Tyler Wells won the Northern Plais Regional, and now the two meet on a national stage with All-American honors on the line.
126: #19 Kamdyn Williams, PA vs Kyler Larkin, AZ
Manheim Township’s #19 Kamdyn Williams has won his share of impressive bouts this year, and while he didn’t compete at PIAAs due to missing weight, he beat state champs Vinny Kilkeary and Jake Van Dee the week before. He’ll have a tough test in Valiant Prep’s Kyler Larkin who is looking for a breakout performance.
152: #11 Zack Ryder, NY vs Dominic Bambinelli, GA
New York’s Ryder has been one of the most impressive freshmen in the country this year regardless of weight, and he’s riding a hot streak coming into Fargo. Still, he’s looked mortal thus far in a couple of his bouts. Bambinelli has looked solid with two techs and a 6-0 victory in the round of 16. This could be one sided in Ryder’s favor, but it could also be a great one.
160: Talon McCollom, OK vs Dachle Lamer, OR
McCollom has absolutely obliterated the field so far this weekend. He’s been on the mat for a combined total of less than five minutes despite having wrestled four matches. He’ll see Daschle Lamer, the youngest of four brothers in the storied Lamer family but now apparently the biggest. We’ll see if he can replicate the success we’ve come to expect from the Lamers as he moves up in weight.
170: #5 Gabe Arnold, GA vs Oscar Williams, OK
Arnold is as big a favorite as anyone this weekend, so Williams will have his work cut out for him. Regardless, Williams has looked excellent so far with three techs.
195: Sonny Sasso, PA vs Evan Franke, IA
Sasso already passed a tough test in the round of 32 with a 7-1 victory over the very tough Sawyer Bartelt of Florida. Now he’ll see Iowa’s Evan Franke who has been on a tear all day with two falls and a tech.
Sasso's round of 32 victory over Bartelt
