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    Fargo Preview: Cadet Freestyle

    The 2017 edition of Fargo week kicks off on Saturday with the start of the Cadet freestyle competition, whose championship will be held on Monday afternoon. Below is an overview of the key wrestlers within each weight class. Information was obtained from a combination of entrants per Flo Arena as well as the released state rosters from USA Wrestling as published on TheMat.com.

    88: Chance Lamer (Oregon), ranked No. 3 overall among Junior High wrestlers, was champion in Cadet folkstyle at this weight class and is favored to claim this second leg of the Triple Crown. He also was runner-up at the UWW Cadet Nationals in the 42 kilo weight class, and went undefeated at the Cadet Duals in freestyle. Others to watch include UWW Cadet freestyle placers Drake Ayala (Iowa) and Tommy Curran (Illinois), Super 32 Middle School division champion Brandon O'Brien (Iowa), and Nathan Rubino (Nebraska).

    94: A pair of nationally ranked incoming freshmen anchor this weight class, No. 19 Jett Strickenberger (Colorado) and No. 25 Cooper Flynn (Tennessee). Each placed at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle, Strickenbeger was third at 42 kilos, Flynn eighth at 46. Another pair of UWW Cadet freestyle placers are in this weight as well, Alex Almedya (New Jersey) and Blake Noonan (Michigan), who placed fourth and sixth at 42 kilos respectively. Other contenders include a pair of Cadet folkstyle runners-up in Ronan Schuelke (Illinois) and Kase Mauger (Idaho), Mauger also the UWW Cadet champion in Greco-Roman at 42 kilos, as well as Carter Young (Oklahoma).

    Jeremiah Reno (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)

    100: Two-time UWW Cadet National freestyle runner-up Jeremiah Reno (Missouri) is the strong favorite in this weight class, which would be back-to-back Fargo freestyle titles for him. Others in the field include a pair of nationally ranked incoming freshmen are present in this weight class, No. 15 Yusief Lillie (Washington) and No. 16 Richard Figueroa (California), who placed fifth and seventh respectively at the UWW Cadet Nationals in the 46 kilo freestyle competition. The most direct threat to those three would be Andrew Chambal (Michigan), a 2016 double placer at both the UWW Cadet and (Fargo) Cadet Nationals, who also finished third in high school state this season.

    Other contenders include another returning Cadet double All-American in Paxton Creese (Minnesota), returning Junior freestyle All-American Brenden Chaowanapibool (Washington), Cadet folkstyle champion Eli Griffin (Oklahoma), state placers Riley Bettich (Michigan and Breyden Lowery (Indiana), as well as Kyle Rowan (Ohio).

    Isaac Salas (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)

    106: The anchor of this weight class is Cadet folkstyle champion Isaac Salas (California), who is ranked No. 6 overall among incoming freshmen and was runner-up at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle competing at 50 kilos. Two additional UWW Cadet freestyle All-Americans pose the most direct challenge to Salas, Dylan Ragusin (Illinois) and Cullan Schriever (Iowa), both of whom are ranked nationally in the Class of 2020.

    Ragusin was champion in Greco-Roman at the UWW Cadet Nationals and is ranked No. 45 in that group, having also earned medals last year at both the UWW Cadet Nationals and Cadet Nationals; while state champion Schriever is ranked No. 47 after winning a Cadet freestyle title last year at 88 pounds and losing to Ragusin in the consolation finals of the UWW Cadet freestyle tournament this year at 46 kilos.

    Four wrestlers join Salas as nationally ranked members of the Class of 2021: No. 11 Vincent Zerban (Illinois); No. 18 Caleb Rathjen (Iowa), third in Cadet folkstyle at 106; No. 21 Zeke Escalera (Kentucky), a high school state champion this year; and No. 23 Brock McMillen (Pennsylvania). Other contenders int his weight class include returning Cadet freestyle All-Americans Caden McCrary (Georgia) and Kaden Kuenzi (Oregon), NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion Ryan Miller (Pennsylvania), and Matthew Ramos (Illinois); Ramos was a Cadet double All-American last year and a 2016 UWW Cadet freestyle All-American.

    113: Based on present composition, this is a thin weight class compared to those immediately above and below. The most accomplished wrestler here would be returning Cadet freestyle All-American Anthony Clark (New Jersey), who won state as a freshman and is ranked No. 30 in the Class of 2020. Other prime contenders include returning Cadet freestyle All-American Dylan Shawver (Ohio) and Cadet folkstyle champion Noah Surtin (Illinois), who also placed sixth at the UWW Cadet freestyle tournament in the 50 kilo weight class. Also in the field are state champions Adam Allard (Iowa) and Nick Masters (Georgia), state placer and Cadet folkstyle placer Khyler Brewer (Missouri), along with state medalists T.J. Long (Oklahoma) and Trey Crawford (Missouri).

    113: Lots of congestion in this field, which would on the surface be anchored by National Prep champion Trevor Mastrogiovanni (New Jersey), who is ranked No. 10 in the Class of 2020; he is a returning Cadet freestyle All-American and was third at 50 kilos in the UWW Cadet Nationals. However, he lost in dominant fashion at the Cadet Duals to two-time state placer Ryan Sokol (Minnesota), who is ranked No. 3 among rising freshman; Sokol ultimately went undefeated in that event.

    Mastrogiovanni is joined by another pair of nationally ranked rising sophomores in No. 17 Dominick Serrano (Colorado), a state champion this past season; and No. 43 Mick Burnett (Ohio), who was undefeated at the Cadet Duals. Other high school state champions in this field include Bret Minor (Kansas), Cael Happel (Iowa), Caleb Tanner (Oklahoma), Jackson DiSario (Georgia), Phillip Moomey (Nebraska), and Jacob Lindsey (Illinois).

    Also to watch in this field are state medalists Aaron Nagao and Cole Reyes (California), two-time state runner-up Jake Svihel (Minnesota), state runner-up and returning Cadet Greco runner-up Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma), state runner-up Dominic Zaccone (Illinois), returning state medalist Luke Odom (Illinois), and Wyatt Henson (West Virginia).

    Carson Manville (Photo/Sam Janicki, SJanickiPhoto.com)

    126: Arguably the best overall Cadet wrestler anchors this weight class in Carson Manville (Minnesota), the top rising freshman in the country. Manville was runner-up in the 58 kilo weight class at the UWW Cadet freestyle tournament. Two of the most direct threats to Manville are Travis Mastrogiovanni (New Jersey) and Joshua Saunders (Missouri).

    Mastrogiovanni is the No. 2 overall rising freshman, and was the only wrestler to score on Manville at the Cadet freestyle duals; he also was champion at the Super 32, Tulsa Kickoff Classic, and Tulsa Nationals in his junior high competition this year. Saunders is the No. 7 overall Class of 2020 wrestler and a returning Cadet freestyle semifinalist; he was a Super 32 Challenge and FloNationals placer this high school season, while also winning a state title and placing fourth at the UWW Cadet freestyle tournament in the 58 kilo weight class.

    Two additional wrestlers in this weight carry a grade level ranking, Cadet folkstyle runner-up Ryan Franco is No. 8 among rising freshmen, while state runner-up Fabian Lopez (Illinois) is No. 21 among rising sophomores. Others to watch in this field include multi-time state champions Gabe Hixenbaugh (Alabama), Charlie Pickell (Minnesota), and Jordan Hamdan (Michigan); Hamdan is a returning champion in Cadet Greco-Roman. In addition, you have state champion Alec Viduya (Indiana), state runner-up Bryce Hepner (Ohio), Cadet folkstyle champion Mark Shaeffer (Michigan), along with Colton Camacho (Pennsylvania).

    132: This is another weight that is relatively less congested compared to the one immediately above and below, based on present composition. It's a wide open weight class with just two wrestlers carrying a grade-level ranking, Frankie Tal-Shahar (Florida) and Victor Voinovich (Ohio). Two-time state placer Tal-Shahar is No. 25 among rising sophomores, while FloNationals (high school) placer Voinovich is No. 7 among rising freshmen.

    Among lead contenders, two wrestlers won state this past season, Stockton O'Brien (Utah) and Aidan Medora (Wisconsin); O'Brien was also fourth in this weight at Cadet folkstyle. Winning the Cadet folkstyle in this weight class, with an upset over Beau Bartlett, was state medalist Dawson Sihavong (California). Another placer in this Cadet folkstyle weight class was Josh Edmond (Michigan), a state runner-up, who placed third behind Sihavong.

    The other seven notable wrestlers in this weight were all state medalists this past season: Alex Mosconi (Indiana), who upset Davenport at Cadet Duals; two-time state placer Lucas Revano (New Jersey); Matt Lee (Indiana); Spencer Schrickram (Oklahoma); state runner-up Noah Villarreal (Illinois); Trevor Chumbley (Illinois), who beat Voinovich at Cadet Duals; and 2016 state champion Bryce Andonian (Ohio).

    138: The slightest of favorites in this weight would be returning Cadet freestyle All-American Kevon Davenport (Michigan), a two-time state champion who is ranked No. 27 overall in the Class of 2019; he also placed fourth at the UWW Cadet freestyle Nationals in a similar sized weight to this and was a bronze medalist at the Pan-Am Championships.

    Four other wrestlers in this weight class carry a grade level ranking. Padraic Gallagher (Ohio) is No. 4 among rising freshman, having placed eighth at the UWW Cadet freestyle tournament in the 63 kilo weight class. State runner-up Cade Devos (Iowa) is No. 47 in the Class, placing sixth right between Davenport and Gallagher at UWW Cadets. Cadet folkstyle runner-up Manzona Bryant (Indiana) is No. 31 among rising sophomores, while Walsh Ironman placer Alfonso Martinez (Arizona) is ranked No. 40 in that grade level.

    Additional wrestlers to watch include Cadet folkstyle placer Luka Wick (California), returning Cadet freestyle All-American Jacob Dado (Illinois), two-time state medalists Colby Njos (Minnesota) and Lance Runyon (Iowa), state fourth place finishers Ethan Basile (Florida) and Robert Garcia (New Jersey), with Delaware state champion Jackson Dean (New Jersey), along with Michael Kistler (Pennsylvania).

    145: Another highly robust weight class, which features five grade level ranked wrestlers. Leading the group is probably Cadet folkstyle champion Michael Weber (Montana), a two-time state champion ranked No. 24 in the Class of 2019. Fidel Mayora (Illinois) is ranked No. 13 among rising sophomores, and was seventh in both styles at 63 kilos in last month's UWW Cadet Nationals. Another Cadet folkstyle champion is Alex Facundo (Michigan), ranked No. 5 among rising freshmen and coming off an undefeated Cadet freestyle Duals. Also ranked among rising freshmen are No. 20 Cole Rees (Pennsylvania) and No. 22 Hudson Hightower (Ohio), Rees was undefeated at the Cadet Duals.

    Others to watch in this field include two-time National Prep placer Benny Baker (Pennsylvania), Cadet folkstyle runners-up Jace Luchau (Calfiornia) and Drew Eller (Georgia), two-time state champion Frankie Almaguer (Washington), and Connor O'Neil (New Jersey), who missed placement at the Super 32 this fall by one match in the high school division.

    152: This is another one of those thinner weights between two stronger weight classes. Leading this field is Cadet folkstyle champion Aaron Gandara (Arizona), who is ranked No. 16 overall among rising sophomores. Other contenders include two-time state champion McKay Foy (Utah), 2016 state champion Cade Lindsey (Kansas), 2016 state runner-up Donnel Washington (Illinois), Cadet folkstyle placer Jayden Terronez (Illinois), state placer Colton Hawks (Missouri), and state qualifier Chris Donathan (Ohio).

    160: The slight favorite in this weight class would be one of the biggest rankings risers of the 2017 calendar year in UWW Cadet freestyle placer Carter Starocci (Pennsylvania), who is now ranked No. 20 overall in the Class of 2019; he also was third at the FloNationals and a state runner-up during the high school season. Two others in this weight class carry a grade level ranking, both are rising sophomores that went undefeated at the Cadet Freestyle Duals: No. 15 Nevan Snodgrass (Ohio) and No. 19 David Ferrante (Illinois); each placed fourth at state, while Snodgrass was eighth at the UWW Cadet freestyle tournament last month. Additional wrestlers to watch include state champion David Key (Georgia) as well as state medalists Gage Hockett (Oklahoma) and Robert Kanniard (New Jersey).

    170: Given how high up the weight classes for the Cadet level this one is, the present composition takes the word loaded to another level. Six wrestlers carry a grade level ranking, led by a pair of top five rising sophomores: No. 3 A.J. Ferrari (Texas) and No. 5 Patrick Kennedy (Minnesota); Kennedy also placed third at the UWW Cadet freestyle tournament in the 76 kilo weight class, with both wrestlers winning state this past season. A joint tri-favorite in this weight would be returning Cadet freestyle All-American Chris Foca (New Jersey), who is ranked No. 19 in the Class of 2019, and placed third at state this high school season and was a placer at the Super 32 Challenge.

    Three others here are ranked among rising sophomores: No. 11 Gerrit Nejenhuis and No. 42 Luke Nichter were both Pennsylvania big-school division state placers, while No. 35 Jacob Lagoa (Ohio) was a small-school division state champion. Two other state champions in this weight are Julian Broderson (Iowa) and Talon Borrer (Oklahoma). A pair of wrestlers placing in Cadet folkstyle were state placer Brian Boyd (Missouri) and two-time state runner-up Troy Fisher (Kansas). Yet others to watch include returning Cadet double All-American Abe Assad (Illinois), National Prep placer Garrett Kappes (Maryland), two-time state runner-up Gabriel Lee (Georiga), and two-time state third Ryan Ringler (Michigan).

    182: The pre-tournament favorite would have to be returning Cadet National double All-American Devin Winston (Missouri), the No. 42 overall Class of 2019 wrestler, and this calendar year also a state champion and UWW Cadet freestyle placer at 85 kilos. The lone other grade level ranked wrestler in this weight is No. 49 risings sophomore Gabe Christenson (Iowa).

    Other contenders include Cadet folkstyle runner-up Gavin Carter (Kansas), state champions Jonathan Fagen (Idaho) and Connor Bourne (Nevada), two-time National Prep placer Nicholas Florschutz (Pennsylvania), National Prep placer Darrien Roberts (Pennsylvania), state placer Jaden Glauser (Illinois), along with state qualifiers Grant Parrish (Minnesota) and Trevor Swier (Illinois).

    195: The lone grade level ranked wrestler in this weight is Cadet folkstyle champion Ashton Sharp (Missouri), who is No. 50 among rising sophomores, and also was the UWW Cadet Greco-Roman champion. Yet the lone returning Cadet freestyle All-American is state champion Santos Cantu (Oregon). Others to note include state champion Konner Doucet (Oklahoma) along with state qualifiers Matthew Cover (Ohio) and Peter Christenson (Illinois).

    220: Braxon Amos (West Virginia) was a Cadet National double champion last summer at 195 pounds, but missed all of his freshman season due to an injury sustained in September while training for the Super 32 Challenge. Ranked No. 4 overall in the Class of 2020, this is his first competition since returning to the mats in mid-May.

    The other grade ranked wrestler in this weight is returning Cadet freestyle All-American Luke Luffman (Illinois), who is ranked No. 43 in the Class of 2019; he was a state champion this past season, a Cadet folkstyle runner-up, and a UWW Cadet double All-American. Additional wrestlers include returning Cadet freestyle All-american Cabe Dickerson (Oklahoma), state runner-up Josh Heindselman (Oklahoma), and state champion Tarik Sutkovic (Arizona).

    285: The obvious favorite in this weight class is Roland Tucker (Illinois), a returning Cadet freestyle runner-up and ranked No. 46 overall in the Class of 2019. Additional contenders include Eli Pokorney (Indiana), a returning Cadet freestyle All-American and runner-up at the UWW Cadet freestyle tournament last month, along with two-time West Virginia state runner-up Louden Haga (Ohio).

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