New Jersey has long been known to produce some of the nation’s best wrestlers, but that hasn’t always resulted in the greatest Fargo finishes. But this is one of the more loaded squads that Jersey has sent in years. It’s a group that includes five state champions, two National Prep champs, and seven returning All-Americans, so make sure you’re on the lookout for some of that classic Jersey dirt out in Fargo this year.

2021 Freestyle Team Finishes

16U — fourth

Junior — 10th

2021 Fargo All-Americans

16U freestyle

Carson Walsh — eighth at 100

Anthony Knox — champion at 106

Leo DeLuca — champion at 113

Nathan Taylor — eighth at 126

Cross Wasilewski — fourth at 132

August Hibler — fifth at 138

Alessio Perentin — seventh at 138

Louie Cerchio — first at 160

Jared Schoppe — third at 170

Junior Freestyle

Ty Whalen — third at 138

Daniel Wask — second at 152

Sabino Portella — seventh at 170

Brian Soldano — second at 182

Martin Cosgrove — fourth at 220

Hammers To Watch

#1 Anthony Knox (16U/113) — A rising sophomore, Knox has already compiled a career’s worth of credentials, but if you ask him, he still has more in sight. A Super 32 champ, Who’s #1 winner and a Jersey state champ, Knox will look to keep the championship train rolling by defending his Fargo title from a season ago. 

#10 Leo DeLuca (16U/120) — DeLuca is the only other returning New Jersey wrestler besides Knox who took home a stop sign last year. The Blair rising sophomore is a Beast of the East champ and National Prep champ who brings a lot of physicality to his wrestling style. DeLuca went 8-1 at Junior Duals, losing only to Nebraska’s Kael Lauridsen who is also in this bracket.

#7 Ty Whalen (Junior/152) — Whalen is the first of a few 2022 seniors on Team New Jersey. He finished third at Fargo last year, losing only to champ and #1 Casey Swiderski. A state champ in 2021, Whalen was dominant all season long and looked well on his way to his second state title before falling to Joe Fongaro in a high-scoring, back-and-forth affair in the finals. Headed to Princeton in the fall, many expect to see Whalen in Coach Ayres’ lineup sooner than later.

#9 Simon Ruiz (Junior/170) – If you don’t know about Ruiz yet, you should. He’s been one of the most consistent guys in the state of New Jersey throughout his high school career.  An anchor in the loaded Delbarton lineup, Ruiz is ranked top ten in the country on the back of three state placements where he finished third, second, then first this past March. He’ll enter his senior season as one of the state’s heaviest favorites to repeat. Despite no previous Fargo appearances in high school, don’t be surprised when you seem him deep in the winners bracket this weekend. 

#13 Tyler Vazquez (Junior/138) — The second of Delbarton’s many young standouts, Vazquez has proven he’s one of the best guys in the country on his feet, at any weight. In an interview with FloWrestling after winning a Beast of the East title back in December, Vazquez attributed some disappointing postseasons early in his career to cutting too much weight. Up at 132 in 2022, he had the best season of his already decorated high school career, culminating in his first state title.

#14 Anthony Santaniello (Junior/138) – The three-time state finalist will be one of the most intriguing guys to watch this weekend. The Oklahoma commit’s only losses last year came to the aforementioned Vazquez, someone he could see again this weekend. Another guy making his Fargo debut, Santaniello has a lot of tools in his bag so it should be interesting to see him against the country’s best freestylers. After all, he’s certainly been one of the state’s best folkstylers for his entire high school career.

Joe Fongaro (Junior/145) – Fongaro’s star rose fast when he knocked off a top 10 guy, Ty Whalen, in the state finals back in March. Fongaro approaches his matches with a great attitude and that should set him up well for next-level success. He’s one of three Jersey state champs from the Class of 2022 headed to Rutgers next year. You don’t want to draw this guy early in the bracket.

Up-And-Coming Prospects Who Need To Be On Your Radar

#14 Michael Dellagatta (Junior/195) – Fresh off an undefeated performance at Junior Duals, Dellagatta has a funky style that could be problems for some guys in Fargo where exposure points get awarded big-time. Last year, he lost in the Fargo blood round to Class of 2022 graduate from New Jersey, Sabino Portella, who is competing again, as well. Dellagatta may not have a state title to his name quite yet, but he’s cultivated a pretty heavy hit list with wins over Rocco Welsh, Sawyer Bartelt and Jersey state champ Harvey Ludington. Also, be on the lookout for Dellagatta’s little brother, Rocco, who could make some noise at 182 in the 16U bracket.

Patrick O’Keefe (Junior/120) – O’Keefe came out of the gates firing last year as a state runner-up and Beast of the East placer. He’s fantastic from the neutral position and wrestling with teammate and the nation’s #1, Knox, in the room every day is a good place to sharpen his skills. O’Keefe spent much of the season ranked in the country and should be in the mix for a state title again next year — as well as an All-American finish this mont.

Jackson Young (Junior/126) – The junior Young may not be ranked it the country now, but he could be after Fargo. Tune in this weekend and you’ll be really impressed with what this kid can do. Young placed in the state for the first time in 2022 but was a Super Region champ as a freshman and took third at NHSCA’s this year. It could be a big weekend for Camden Catholic’s next standout.

Jasiah Queen (Junior/160) – The third St. John Vianney wrestler on this list, Queen is coming off an impressive fifth-place finish in the state. He went 5-2 last year in his Fargo debut last season, so if he can get the takedowns going again, look for him to open some matches up as a potential bracket buster.

Vincenzo Lavalle (16U/195) – If you’re looking for a sleeper title pick in the 16U division, here’s one. Only a freshman last year, Lavalle was fifth at Beast of the East and third in the state. If it’s not a Fargo title this weekend, a Jersey state title could be coming soon.