InterMat Staff

California state champion Evan Wick is one of the favorites at 160 pounds (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) "The Super Bowl of high school (aged) wrestling." That is what many a person has described the Junior National freestyle tournament as being over the years. The field of wrestlers that will be competing on Thursday and Friday to pare down to Saturday morning's medal round represent the crème de la crème of high school wrestling. Those competing will mostly be rising seniors with a chunk of graduated seniors and rising juniors as well, rising sophomores are also eligible for the Junior freestyle tournament. The following is a weight-by-weight breakdown of the projected field. It is based on wrestlers entered online in Trackwrestling as of Tuesday evening. 100 pounds: Malik Heinselman (Colorado), who will be competing in his second straight Cadet World freestyle tournament in September, is the extreme favorite in this weight class. He was also a Cadet Nationals double champion last year. Others to watch include state champion Brendon Garcia (Colorado), who won the Junior Greco title on Tuesday afternoon; state medalists Brandon Nunez (New York) and Matthew Petersen (Minnesota); along with junior folk runner-up Cody Holmes (Wisconsin) 106: Jason Holmes (Arizona) is the defending champion in this weight class. However, there is a strong group of challengers behind him. Said pack is led by Jaret Lane (Pennsylvania), who won a second straight Junior Greco title on Tuesday afternoon, and was runner-up to Holmes in last year's Junior freestyle tournament; he also was a FloNationals champion this spring. Another pair of contenders were champions in Junior folkstyle, Mosha Schwartz (Colorado) and Ty Smith (Nevada); Schwartz was a Cadet Triple Crown winner last year, while Smith is a two-time scholastic state champion. Three others in this weight will be seeking a second straight double All-American finish at the Junior Nationals: Elijah Varona (Florida), Nathan Rankin (Texas), and Tyler Cunningham (Nebraska); Varona was runner-up to Lane for a second straight year in Greco on Tuesday afternoon. Additional contenders include Cody Phippen (Missouri), an All-American last year at both the Cadet and Junior levels in freestyle; returning Cadet freestyle runner-up Rayvon Foley (Michigan); along with a trio of two-time state champions in Brandon Kaylor (Washington), Koby Milner (Georgia), and Wyatt Adams (Oklahoma). 113: The slight favorite in this weight class might be 2015 Cadet World team member Dylan D'Emilio (Ohio), who was also a Cadet freestyle champion last summer and a UWW Cadet freestyle runner-up last month. He is joined by six other wrestlers who were nationally ranked at the end of the 2015-16 season at 106 pounds: Nico Aguilar (California), Patrick McKee (Minnesota), Kyle Biscoglia (Iowa), Joey Melendez (Illinois), Michael Colaiocco (New Jersey), and Joseph Harrison (Nebraska). McKee, Biscoglia, Colaiocco, and Harrison were all Cadet freestyle All-Americans last year; Aguilar was a Cadet freestyle champion in 2014; while Melendez was a UWW Cadet freestyle All-American this spring along with McKee. Four wrestlers in this weight class are returning Junior freestyle All-Americans: state champions Brady Koontz (Wisconsin) and Hasan Krigger (Georgia), two-time state champion Dominic LaJoie (Michigan), along with state medalist Graham Shore (Ohio). At least four other contenders are two-time state champions: Brock Bergelin (Wisconsin), Justin Portillo (Iowa), Rhett Golowenski (Oklahoma), and Tomas Gutierrez (Colorado). 120: Four wrestlers in this absolutely loaded weight class have been Junior National freestyle finalists. Brandon Courtney (Arizona) won the title last year at 113 pounds, while three-time Junior folkstyle champion Danny Vega (Arizona) won a title in 2014 at 106 pounds. Finishing as runners-up last year were two-time state champion Drew Mattin (Ohio) and two-time state runner-up Liam Cronin (California), doing so at 113 and 106 respectively. However, the favorite in this weight class is none of them. Instead it is two-time Cadet World team member Gavin Teasdale (Pennsylvania), who is undefeated in two years of high school wrestling and was the UWW Junior runner-up at 55 kilos (121 pounds) in freestyle this April. Two others in this weight class were Junior freestyle All-Americans last year, state champion Paxton Rosen (Oklahoma) and three-time state champion Jaxon Cole (Utah). Another pair in this weight class earned their second Cadet freestyle All-American finish last year, 2015 state champion Jonathan Gomez (New York) and two-time state placer Matthew Parker (Pennsylvania). At least three other wrestlers in this weight class are three-time state champions: Jack Wagner (Iowa), Connor Brown (Missouri), and FloNationals champion Ian Timmins (Nevada). At least three others in this weight class are two-time state champions: Bryce West (Iowa), Jet Taylor (Oklahoma), and Tommy Hoskins (Ohio). Other contenders include Dalton Duffield (Oklahoma), who is now a two-time Junior Greco champion, as well as state champion and Super 32 Challenge placer Colin Valdiviez (Missouri). 126: In terms of overall resume, two wrestlers in this field stand above all the rest, Austin Gomez (Illinois) and Matthew Schmitt (Missouri). Gomez beat Schmitt for fifth place in last year's Junior freestyle tournament at 120 pounds. In addition, Gomez is a two-time UWW Junior freestyle All-American, and a three-time Cadet National champion in Fargo (2013 in Greco, 2014 double); while Schmitt won the Greco title in this weight class on Tuesday afternoon after three prior runner-up finishes in Fargo (Junior Greco 2015, Junior free 2014, Cadet free 2013). Another contender in this weight class is Junior folkstyle champion Paul Konrath (Indiana), who was a FloNationals champion in 2015 and a Cadet freestyle champion in 2014. At least three additional wrestelrs in this weight class are two-time state champions: Alex Thomsen (Iowa), Jackson Henson (West Virginia), and Quincy Monday (Texas); two-time state champion Thomsen was a runner-up in Cadet freestyle last year and placed in the Super 32 Challenge this past fall. At least five others in this weight class have a single state title: NHSCA Senior Nationals champion Codi Russell (Georgia), 2014 champion Drew West (Iowa), Drew Marten (Michigan), Jake Gliva (Minnesota), and 2015 champion Michael McGee (Illinois). Justin Portillo (Iowa) is a three-time state champion; while Cole Manley (Pennsylvania), Dan Moran (Pennsylvania), and Zach Sherman (New Jersey) are each multi-time state/National Prep placers with at least one runner-up finish. 132: Taylor LaMont (Utah) is the defending champion in this weight class, and added a second Junior Greco title on Tuesday afternoon. In addition, LaMont is a three-time state champion, a FloNationals champion this spring, and a 2013 Cadet freestyle champion. Joining LaMont as a top 25 Class of 2016 prospect in this weight class is three-time state champion Rudy Yates (Illinois), though he has a relatively light Olympic styles resume. There is a pair of wrestlers in this weight class who join LaMont in returning as Junior freestyle All-Americans, Chris Sandoval (Colorado) and Ian Parker (Michigan). Sandoval is a three-time state finalist, 2015 state champion, and was the Junior folkstyle champion this spring; while Parker won his second state title this past season. Another pair have Junior Greco-Roman runner-up finishes on the resume, Dalton Young (Washington) and Gabe Townsell (Illinois); Young was runner-up to LaMont on Tuesday afternoon and is a three-time state champion; while Townsell was runner-up down a weight class on Tuesday afternoon after winning a Junior Greco title last year at 126, and is also a three-time state placer. At least four additional wrestlers in this weight class have won three-or-more state titles: two-time Cadet freestyle All-American Brent Jones (Minnesota), Brock Rathbun (Iowa), Danny Bertoni (Maryland), and Zach Van Alst (Alabama). At least four others have state titles on the resume: two-time champion Grant Willits (Colorado); 2015 champion Max Murin (Pennsylvania), a two-time Cadet National and UWW Cadet All-American in freestyle; Timmy Kane (Connecticut), and Triston Lara (Iowa). At least four additional wrestlers are two-time state placers: Brendan Black (Indiana); Gianni Ghione (New Jersey), a 2015 state runner-up; K.J. Fenstermacher (Pennsylvania); and Super 32 Challenge placer Quinn Kinner (New Jersey). 138: The word "loaded" doesn't even scratch the surface to describe the quality in this weight class. However, based on resume alone, Mitch McKee (Minnesota) would be the slight favorite. He won a fourth Fargo title in Greco-Roman on Tuesday afternoon (repeat Junior level title), and is after a fourth consecutive Fargo final in freestyle this week (winning the Junior title in 2014). The Minnesota bound grappler was also a UWW Junior National freestyle champion this spring, though he lost the World Team Trials series in three bouts at 60 kilos (132 pounds). In addition to McKee, there are three other returning Junior National freestyle All-Americans: Carter Happel (Iowa), Kaden Gfeller (Oklahoma), and Parker Filius (Montana). Happel is also a four-time state champion, 2014 Cadet World team member in freestyle, and 2013 Cadet National freestyle champion; Gfeller is also a three-time state champion, Super 32 Challenge placer, and 2013 Cadet freestyle champion; while Filius is also a three-time state champion. Two others in addition to McKee were UWW Junior freestyle All-Americans this spring, Ben Freeman (Michigan) and Nick Lee (Indiana). Freeman is a two-time state champion and was runner-up at both the UWW Junior Nationals (63 kilos) and FloNationals this spring; while Lee is a 2015 state champion (three-time placer), earned All-American honors in the 60 kilo class at UWW Juniors, and was the Outstanding Wrestler of the 2014 Cadet National freestyle tournament. Three additional wrestlers in this weight class were two-time Cadet freestyle All-americans: Corey Shie (Ohio), Jaden Enriquez (California), and Jamie Hernandez (Illinois). Two-time state placer Shie placed at the Super 32 Challenge this fall, was runner-up in Junior folkstyle this spring, and is now a two-time Junior Greco All-American; Enriquez is a two-time state placer, including a runner-up finish in 2015; while Hernandez is a two-time state placer (runner-up this year), was a Cadet freestyle runner-up last summer, and was runner-up in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals this spring. Others to watch include four-time state champion and Junior Greco runner-up this week Jarrett Degen (Montana); NHSCA Senior Nationals champion Kanen Storr (Michigan), a two-time Super 32 Challenge placer and FloNationals runner-up this spring; three-time state champion Garrett Aldrich (Minnesota); two-time state champion Brock Mauller (Missouri); along with state champions Alec Hagan (Missouri) and Jaden Van Maanen (Wisconsin) 145: Two wrestlers in this weight class have been Junior National freestyle All-Americans previously, Hunter Marko (Wisconsin) and Ryan Deakin (Colorado). Marko was champion in 2013 and is a three-time All-American, to go with four scholastic state titles and a pair of Junior folkstyle runner-up finishes; while Deakin was champion in Greco on Tuesday afternoon (third Junior All-American finish in that style), and is a two-time state champion to go with the Super 32 Challenge third place finish this past fall. Another pair in this weight class have been finalists in Junior Greco-Roman, Austin O'Connor (Illinois) and Jaron Jensen (Utah); O'Connor is also a three-time state champion and runner-up in the Super 32 Challenge this fall, while Jensen is also a two-time state champion. Winning a Junior folkstyle title this spring was Alex Lloyd (Minnesota), who is also won a state title this winter scholastically. At least six others have won a pair of high school state-level titles: last year's Cadet National double champion Anthony Artalona (Florida), Charles Kane (Connecticut), FloNationals placers Devin Bahr (Wisconsin) and Jarrett Jacques (Missouri), Justin Ruffin (Georgia), and Ryan Leisure (Iowa). Additional wrestlers to watch include state champions A.J. Jaffe (Illinois), Brik Filippo (Oklahoma), and Nelson Brands (Iowa); along with two-time state-level medalists in Phil Conigliaro (Massachusetts) and two-time FloNationals placer Jake Hinkson (Pennsylvania). 152: Griffin Parriott (Minnesota) earned what was for him an elusive stop sign on Tuesday afternoon in Junior Greco, and is arguably the favorite to make it a sweep of the titles this week before headed off to Purdue. He was also a four-time state champion, two-time Super 32 Challenge placer, and two-time UWW Junior freestyle third place finisher. One of the primary threats to Parriott is Zander Wick (California), who like Parriott, finished fifth in Junior freestyle alst summer; he also won a state title this winter and was a Junior folkstyle champion this spring. The third returning Junior freestyle All-American in this weight class is four-time state champion Wyatt Sheets (Oklahoma), who also was a UWW Junior freestyle All-American this spring. A pair of Cadet freestyle finalists from last year are present in this weight class, Jaryn Curry (Oklahoma) and Joe Lee (Indiana). Curry was runner-up in Fargo, and a state champion this winter; while Lee was champion last year in Fargo, a state champion this winter, and a runner-up in freestyle last month at the UWW Cadet Nationals. At least three additional wrestlers in this weight class have won three or more state titles: Hunter Willits (Colorado), Zemua Baptista (Nebraska), and Super 32 Challenge placer Quentin Hovis (Arizona). Others to watch include NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion Billy Higgins (Nebraska), two-time state placer Jack Conway (Ohio), two-time state champion Kyler Rea (Missouri), as well as Junior Greco runner-up and two-time National Prep placer Lenny Merkin (New York). 160: Entering this weight class as a slight favorite is returning runner-up Evan Wick (California), who also won a Junior folkstyle title this spring. In addition, Wick was a state champ this winter, and a UWW Junior freestyle runner-up this spring. Five wrestlers within the top 50 overall for the Class of 2017 are among the challengers: Eric Hong (Pennsylvania), Hunter Bolen (Virginia), Jake Allar (Minnesota), Layne van Anrooy (Oregon), and Luke Troy (California). Hong is a 2014 National Prep champion and two-time Super 32 Challenge placer; Bolen is a two-time state champ, Super 32 placer, and FloNationals runner-up; Allar is a Super 32 placer and state champion; van Anrooy is a three-time state champion and FloNationals placer; while Troy is a two-time state placer, 2015 Junior folkstyle champion, and a returning Junior freestyle All-American. Two others in this weight class were Junior folkstyle runners-up this spring, state champions Bailee O'Reilly (Minnesota) and Colton Clingenpeel (Iowa). At least five others in this weight class were state champions this past season: Austin Hiles (Ohio), two-time champion Blake Montrie (Michigan), Emille Shannon (Illinois), two-time champ and NHSCA Senior Nationals champ Luke Weber (Montana), along with 2014 Cadet freestyle champion Trey Meyer (Washington). Others to watch include 2014 state champions Dan Filipek (Missouri) and Junior Greco runner-up Max Wohlabaugh (Florida), along with state runner-up and FloNationals placer Trent Hidlay (Pennsylvania). 170: Anthony Mantanona (Calfiornia) moves up a weight class after winning the Junior Greco title at 160 pounds on Tuesday afternoon. The two-time state placer (runner-up this past year) was also champion at the FloNationals and a placer in the Super 32 Challenge this past season. The most prime challenger to Mantanona would be 2015 UWW Cadet freestyle champion Jelani Embree (Michigan), who was also a state champion and FloNationals runner-up during the first half of 2016. Three others in this weight class were freestyle runners-up in Fargo last summer, Lucas Jeske (Minnesota) at the Junior level, with Marcus Coleman (Iowa) and Jack Jessen (Illinois) doing so at the Cadet level; Jeske was state champion in 2015, Coleman is a two-time state champion, while two-time state medalist Jessen also was a Cadet Greco finalist last year and a UWW Cadet freestyle runner-up last month. At least five additional wrestlers in this weight class have previously earned a state title: 2015 Junior Greco runner-up Andrew Berreyesa (Nevada), Canten Marriott (Missouri), two-time champion Johnny Blankenship (Missouri), Myles Wilson (Colorado), and Tyler Morland (Michigan). Also in the weight class are multi-time placers A.J. Pedro (Massachusetts), J.T. Brown (Ohio), Leo Tarantino (Florida), two-time runner-up Robbie Bowers (Ohio), and Victor Marcelli (Ohio); Marcelli seeks a double All-American finish at the Junior level to go with the one at the Cadet level last year. 182: In a weight class that features three returning Junior freestyle All-Americans, it is not one of that trio who is favored. Instead the pick here is Keegan Moore (Minnesota), who won multiple state titles in high school and was a 2014 Cadet Triple Crown winner; falling short of All-American honors last summer in this weight class came as a total surprise. The three wrestlers to earn All-American in Junior freestyle last year in this field are James Handwerk (Ohio), Kevin Parker (New York), and Owen Webster (Minnestoa). Handwerk seeks a second straight double All-American finish at the Junior Nationals, and is a two-time state champion; Parker is also a two-time state champion and was a FloNationals placer this spring; while Webster won state in 2014 and was a Cadet World team member last year at 85 kilos (187 pounds). Three wrestlers in this weight class have the state champion and FloNationals placer combo from this year: Bob Coleman (Oregon), Casey Cornett (Kentucky), and Jake Woodley (Pennsylvania); Woodley is also a two-time Cadet freestyle All-American. At least four additional wrestlers in this weight class are multi-time state champions: Casey Randles (Iowa), Chase Shiltz (Iowa), Jesse Shearer (North Dakota), and Taylor Venz (Minnesota). Another trio of wrestlers -- at least -- were state-level champions this year: NHSCA Junior Nationals champion Anthony Falbo (Connecticut); Matt Waddell (Georgia), a two-time Junior Greco All-American; and Junior folkstyle runner-up Max Lyon (Iowa). Rounding out the contenders are Junior Greco champion Logan Gruszka (Illinois), as well as two-time state placers Aaron Paddock (New York) and Anthony Sherry (Iowa). 195: As one of two returning Junior freestyle All-Americans in this weight class, two-time state champion Ben Darmstadt (Ohio) enters the tournament favored to win his first stop sign. The Cornell bound wrestler is also a two-time Super 32 Challenge placer. The other returning Junior freestyle All-American is Jack Harris (Ohio), who is also a two-time Super 32 placer and won his first state title this past season. Four wrestlers in this weight class were state champions and FloNationals placers this past season: Brandon Whitman (Michigan), also a Cadet freestyle runner-up last year; Haydn Maley (Oregon), champion in Junior Greco on Tuesday afternoon; Jacob Raschka (Wisconsin), champion in Cadet freestyle last year; and John Borst (Virginia). At least four other wrestlers in this weight class have also earned state titles: Brandon Kui (New Jersey), two-time champion Colton Wolfe (Nebraska), returning Cadet double All-American Dan Baker (Oklahoma), and Trenton Schultz (Colorado). Another pair were runners-up this past season: Patrick Brucki (Illinois) and junior folkstyle runner-up Samuel Grove (North Dakota). Rounding out wrestlers to watch are Junior folkstyle champion Andrew Davison (Indiana) and two-time state placer Danny Salas (California). 220: Leading the way in this weight class is now seven-time Fargo finalist Samuel Colbray (Oregon), who won his fourth Greco-Roman title in five finals appearances on Tuesday afternoon (Junior titles in 2014 and 2016). In freestyle, the four-time state champion has finished third and second at the Junior level after a runner-up finish at the Cadet level in 2013. Three primary challengers to Colbray are ranked within the top 100 for the Class of 2017: Jared Campbell (Ohio), Zane Black (Pennsylvania), and Wyatt Wriedt (Iowa); two-time state runner-up Campbell was a FloNationals champion this spring, Black placed at the Super 32 Challenge this past fall, and Wriedt was a state champion this season. At least four others in this weight class were state champions this past season: three-timer Ashton Seely (Utah), returning Junior freestyle All-American Cole Nye (Pennsyvlania), Junior Greco runner-up Jeffrey Allen (Virginia), and Noah Ryan (Minnestao). Others to watch include state medalists Anthony Piscopo (Pennsylvania) and Diata Drayton (Illinois), as well two-time state placer and FloNationals placer Francis Duggan (Pennsylvania). 285: Even though Junior Greco was unkind for Carter Isley (Iowa) earlier in the week, the Junior folkstyle champion is the favorite in freestyle. The two-time state champion seeks a second straight double All-American finish at the Junior level. At least two others in this weight class are multi-time state champions, two-timer Brian Barnes (Oregon) and three-timer Brandon Metz (North Dakota); Metz was champion in Greco on Tuesday afternoon. Two wrestlers in this weight class were Junior folkstyle runners-up this spring, state runner-up Aaron Costello (Iowa) and two-time state placer Evan Ellis (Indiana); Ellis was also a placer in both the FloNationals and Super 32 Challenge during the 2015-16 season. At least three additional wrestlers in this weight class were state champions this past season: 2014 Cadet freestyle champion Gannon Gremmel (Iowa), Kayne Hutchison (Kansas), and Sammy de Seriere (Colorado). Others to watch include state medalist Anthony Cassioppi (Illinois), who placed third in Junior Greco after placing third in both styles at the Cadet level last year; state medalist Thomas Helton (Illinois), who was runner-up in Junior Greco and seeks a second straight double All-American finish at the Junior level; two-time state placer Tommy Killoran (Pennsylvania), who also was a Super 32 Challenge placer; two-time state placers Gavin Nye (California) and Trenton Lieruance (Oklahoma); as well as state medalist Zach Muller (Illinois).

FARGO, N.D. -- Teshya Alo made USA Wrestling history on Tuesday night, winning her fourth-straight Junior Nationals title and sixth overall national championship at the Fargodome. Alo, representing Hawaii, capped off her sensational Fargo career with a 12-0 tech fall win over Colorado's Ashlynn Ortega. The 2014 Cadet World champion teched her way through the tournament, outscoring her opponents 52-0. "It feels really good," Alo said. "These girls are getting stronger and better, which is amazing to see. The wrestling community for girls is getting so huge and it's awesome. When I was small I was the only girl wrestling an all boy's tournament, I'm like, let's get some girls in here." Read complete story on TheMat.com … 2016 ASICS/VAUGHAN JUNIOR GRECO-ROMAN NATIONALS July 19 at The Fargodome in Fargo, N.D. Finals results: 97 lbs. - Emily Shilson (Minnesota) fall Naomi Chavez (Texas), 0:32 105 lbs. - Alleida Martinez (California) tech. fall Jasmine Weaver (Virginia), 14-3 112 lbs. - Cameron Guerin (Washington) fall Amanda Walker (Pennsylvania), 0:45 117 lbs. - Brenda Reyna (Washington) fall Ronna Heaton (South Dakota), 1:09 121 lbs. - Gracie Figueroa (California) tech. fall Alexandra Hedrick (California), 12-1 125 lbs. - Michaela Beck (New York) dec. Gabrielle Garcia (California), 3-1 130 lbs. - Alexandria Liles (Texas) tech. fall Emma Bruntil (Washington), 10-0 139 lbs. - Teshya Alo (Hawaii) tech. fall Ashlyn Ortega (Colorado), 12-0 148 lbs. - Kayla Marano (Georgia) dec. Jayden Laurent (Wisconsin), 7-5 159 lbs. - Rachel Watters (Iowa) dec. Alexis Bleau (New York), 7-0 172 lbs. - Sara Kouba (Wisconsin) tech. fall Joanna Mack (California), 18-8 198 lbs. - Victoria Espinoza (California) dec. Alexandera Castillo (California), 8-5

Andrew "Drew" Esquivel, wrestler at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was killed about 3 a.m. Saturday when an off-duty New York City police officer allegedly struck him while driving under the influence. Esquivel was 21. Andrew "Drew" EsquivelEsquivel was struck on a Brooklyn sidewalk by a Dodge Durango driven by Nicholas Batka, 28, at 3 a.m. Saturday, four hours before scheduled to report to work. Batka's SUV plowed into Esquivel and three friends who were severely injured but are expected to survive. Batka is facing manslaughter charges and has been suspended from duty by the NYPD. A California native, Esquivel was living in Manhattan while working at a software firm as a summer intern. This fall, he would have begun his senior year at MIT, as a computer science major on a full academic scholarship, according to KTVU-TV, which reported that Esquivel had selected the Cambridge, Mass. school over offers from Stanford and Ivy League schools. Esquivel was captain of the MIT wrestling team, where he competed at 125 and 133 pounds. He was team MVP in 2015 as well as Rookie of the Year in 2014, according to his MIT wrestling bio. Esquivel was a two-time National Collegiate Wrestling Association national championships qualifier and a NCWA Northeast Conference finalist. Prior to enrolling at MIT, Esquivel wrestled at Healdsburg High School in California, where coach Scott Weidemier described Esquivel as being "extremely bright, extremely personable, and always giving of his time. Eagle Scout, straight A's, I really don't know how he managed to do it all. "This is such a waste. To be killed by a drunk driver, everybody is in complete shock about it. It's just a complete waste." Officials at MIT extended their sympathies Monday to those who knew Esquivel. On behalf of MIT president Rafael Reif, Chancellor Cynthia Barnhart issued this statement to the MIT community: "President Reif, who is currently traveling, asked that I share this with you and that I express, on behalf of the entire MIT community, our deepest sympathy to Drew's family and friends." Esquivel is survived by his parents Andy and Sue, and two younger sisters. A Facebook page -- "Celebrating Drew Esquivel" -- has been established to memorialize the former high school and college wrestler. A candlelight vigil will take place Friday, July 22 at Healdsburg Plaza starting at 7:30 p.m. Pacific time. In addition, there will be a memorial service for Esquivel at the Healdsburg Community Church, 1100 University Ave, Healdsburg on Saturday July 23 at 1 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Junior National Greco-Roman champions (Photo/Trackwrestling) FARGO, N.D. -- Mitchell McKee has always shined in Fargo. The Minnesota native entered this year's event with four Fargo titles in four years and seven finals appearances in eight attempts. On Tuesday, McKee made it five Fargo titles by cruising to a Junior National Greco-Roman title at 138 pounds with a 13-0 technical fall in the finals over Montana's Jarett Degen. In his post-match interview, McKee was asked by Shane Sparks what the word commitment means to him. "Commitment is getting in the practice room, wrestling hard every, getting in there often and training for moments like this that you have to come out and give it your all with the right technique," said McKee. McKee was one of four wrestlers to repeat as a champion in the Junior National Greco-Roman competition. Other repeat champions included Pennsylvania's Jaret Lane (106), Illinois' Dack Punke (113) and Oklahoma's Dalton Duffield (120). Lane battled Florida's Elijah Varona in the finals at 106 pound in a rematch of last year's finals match at 100 pounds. Varona led most of the match until the closing seconds when Lane hit a four-point move to steal a 5-2 victory. "Even if you're down you can come back in this style of wrestling at any point with a big throw or a pin," said Lane. Punke was dominant in the finals at 113 pounds, earning a 10-0 technical fall over Nebraska's Joseph Harrison in under a minute. Punke's title gave Illinois its 73rd Junior Greco title, which is more than any other state. "The team and the state of Illinois just keeps me motivated to come out here and do as best as I can at nationals," said Punke. Duffield used a five-point throw to put an exclamation point on a 13-2 victory in the finals over Austin Macias of Illinois. He was named Outstanding Wrestler of the competition. Utah's Taylor LaMont (132), who placed fifth at the Cadet World Championships last year in Greco-Roman, claimed his fourth Fargo title. He was a Junior Greco-Roman champion in 2014. "I think my biggest accomplishments are probably here on this stage," said LaMont. "This is my fourth Fargo title. It's really hard to compare to those." Local favorite Brandon Metz, a Fargo native, concluded the Junior National Greco-Roman competition with a fall in 29 seconds to win the title at 285 pounds. Illinois claimed the team title with 72 points. Minnesota came in second with 38 points. Colorado (30), California (29) and Oregon (29) rounded out the top five teams. Finals results: 100: Brendon Garcia (Colorado) tech. fall Brenden Chaowanapibool (Washington), 11-0 106: Jaret Lane (Pennsylvania) dec. Elijah Varona (Florida), 5-2 113: Dack Punke (Illinois) tech. fall Joe Harrison (Nebraska), 10-0 120: Dalton Duffield (Oklahoma) tech. fall Austin Macias (Illinois), 13-2 126: Matt Schmitt (Missouri) dec. Gabe Townsell (Illinois), 6-1 132: Taylor LaMont (Utah) pinned Dalton Young (Washington), 1:33 138: Mitchell McKee (Minnesota) tech. fall Jarett Degen (Montana), 13-0 145 Ryan Deakin (Colorado) dec. Jaron Jensen (Utah), 2-1 152: Griffin Parriot (Minnesota) dec. Lenny Merkin (New York), 9-2 160: Anthony Mantanona (California) dec. Max Wohlabaugh (Florida), 8-5 170: Thomas Brackett (Tennessee) by medical default over Kamal Bey (Colorado) 182: Logan Gruszka (Illinois) dec. Tony Vezzetti (Illinois), 9-2 195: Haydn Maley (Oregon) tech. fall Isaac Bartel (Iowa), 14-2 220: Sam Shields-Colbray (Oregon) tech. fall Jeffrey Allen (Virginia), 13-2 285: Brandon Metz (North Dakota) pinned Thomas Helton (Illinois), 0:29

BLACKSBURG -- Derek St. John has been promoted to the role of volunteer assistant coach, head coach Kevin Dresser announced on Monday. St. John joined the Hokies' staff at the beginning of the 2015-16 and w! as with the team in their most successful season in program history. “Now I'll be able to be matside, be more involved,” said St. John. “That will be good, it will give me more freedom. The biggest change is being able to be in the corner during matches.” In St. John's first season at Virginia Tech, the team went undefeated in ACC duals and powered to a program-best fourth place finish at Nationals. Six wrestlers earned All-America honors, with eight qualifying to compete in Madison Square Garden at the National Championship. “The thing I'm looking most forward to [in the upcoming season] is continuing to build off what was already there,” said St. John. “I'll have a full year and then some with most of these guys will be extremely positive. We want to continue to build their mindset.” Tech's fourth place finish is also the best finish among ACC teams, topping a fifth place finish by UNC in 1982. Tech won the ACC dual meet title for the second season in a row and finished runner up at this year's conference tournament. “The best thing about this coaching staff is how much freedom Coach Dresser and Coach Robie give us. They have a lot of trust in what I bring to the table and they want to give me the freedom to do as I feel fit. I think it's a good give-and-take relationship with the whole staff. It's an awesome group.” St. John came to Virginia Tech after one season as an assistant coach at North Dakota State. During that season, the Bison finished 9-4 overall, a perfect 5-0 in Western Wrestling Conference action and 23rd in the NCAA Championship. St. John, the 2013 NCAA champion at 157 pounds, became the 18th four-time All-American in Iowa history in 2014. He placed fourth at the NCAA Championships as a freshman, second as a sophomore, first as a junior and fifth as a senior, claiming his spot as one of the most decorated Hawkeye wrestlers in history. The Parnell, Iowa, native concluded his collegiate career with a record of 106-17. St. John was the 2012 Big Ten champion and a two-time Big Ten runner-up at 157 pounds. He posted a record of 31-2 in his national championship campaign of 2012-13, earning Iowa's Mike Howard Most Valuable Wrestler Award. St. John was a redshirt on the Iowa team that won the NCAA team title in 2010. He graduated from Iowa in May 2014 with a degree in business studies.

Bulgaria's junior national team coach will step in to replace Lyuben Iliev at the 2016 Rio Olympics after the 27-year-old freestyle wrestler went missing, according to multiple media reports Tuesday. Junior team coach Dimitar Kumchev will take the place of Iliev, who was slated to wrestle at 120 kilograms/275 pounds in freestyle competition at next month's Games. Where's the Bulgarian big man? "He (Iliev) just sank out of sight, we can't reach him," Bulgarian freestyle wrestling team coach Valentin Raychev said, adding that Iliev went missing on July 4 when the national team returned to Bulgaria following a training camp in Russia. Raychev described Iliev as "emotionally unstable." In 2012, Iliev spent five days in custody following a scuffle with police officers in a community in southwestern Bulgaria. Iliev qualified for the Rio Games after Belarus' Yusup Jalilau tested positive for doping during the European Olympic Qualifier in May. He had competed in at least three major world events: the 2013 European Championships (where he won a bronze medal) and World Championships, and the 2010 World Championships. Eleven Bulgarian wrestlers, including three women, will compete at the 2016 Olympics which begin in less than three weeks in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Bulgarian wrestlers have won 16 Olympic titles, making wrestling the most successful sport in the Balkan country.

FARGO, N.D. -- Six wrestlers will look to repeat as Junior National Greco-Roman champions as the finals are now set. Those vying for repeat titles include Pennsylvania's Jaret Lane (106), Illinois' Dack Punke (113), Oklahoma's Dalton Duffield (120), Illinois Gabe Townsell (126), Minnesota's Mitchell McKee (138) and Colorado's Kamal Bey (170). Returning runner-up finishers Elijah Varona of Florida (106), Missouri's Matt Schmitt (126), Utah's Taylor LaMont (132) and Oregon's Sam Shields-Colbray (220) are back in the finals. The Junior National Greco-Roman finals are scheduled to begin at 2:15 p.m. CT. Finals matchups: 100: Brendon Garcia (Colorado) vs. Brenden Chaowanapibool (Washington) 106: Jaret Lane (Pennsylvania) vs. Elijah Varona (Florida) 113: Joe Harrison (Nebraska) vs. Dack Punke (Illinois) 120: Dalton Duffield (Oklahoma) vs. Austin Macias (Illinois) 126: Gabe Townsell (Illinois) vs. Matt Schmitt (Missouri) 132: Taylor LaMont (Utah) vs. Dalton Young (Washington) 138: Mitchell McKee (Minnesota) vs. Jarett Degen (Montana) 145 Ryan Deakin (Colorado) vs. Jaron Jensen (Utah) 152: Griffin Parriot (Minnesota) vs. Lenny Merkin (New York) 160: Anthony Mantanona (California) vs. Max Wohlabaugh (Florida) 170: Kamal Bey (Colorado) vs. Thomas Brackett (Tennessee) 182: Logan Gruszka (Illinois) vs. Tony Vezzetti (Illinois) 195: Isaac Bartel (Iowa) vs. Haydn Maley (Oregon) 220: Sam Shields-Colbray (Oregon) vs. Jeffrey Allen (Virginia) 285: Brandon Metz (North Dakota) vs. Thomas Helton (Illinois)

Russia and its athletes who were expecting an answer Tuesday as to whether they will be able to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics must now wait even longer. The International Olympic Committee announced this morning it would "explore legal options" for banning wrestlers and other Russian athletes -- approximately 400 in all -- from the Summer Games which start in Rio de Janeiro in less than three weeks. At an emergency IOC Executive Board meeting in Switzerland today -- just one day after an independent report detailed a systematic and state-run doping program in Russia -- members fell short of an immediate ban but they did issue a series of measures relating to the McLaren Report from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) which said Russia had concealed hundreds of positive doping tests from its athletes. "With regard to the participation of Russian athletes in the Olympic Games Rio 2016, the IOC will carefully evaluate the Independent Panel [McLaren] Report," the IOC said in a statement issued Tuesday. "It will explore the legal options with regard to a collective ban of all Russian athletes for the Olympic Games 2016 versus the right to individual justice," the statement continued. It added that the committee would have to take into consideration the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision due on Thursday concerning appeals made by 68 Russian track and field athletes who have been banned from international competition -- including next month's Olympics -- by the International Association of Athletics' Federations (IAAF) over allegations of widespread doping in the sport. The IOC also announced these actions on Tuesday: It has started disciplinary action against Russian officials mentioned in the report, adding that anyone implicated would not be given accreditation for Rio; The immediate re-testing of all Russian athletes who took part in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, based on alleged problems with drug tests conducted at that event; All international Winter Olympic Winter Sports Federations must freeze their preparations for major events in Russia; The IOC will not back the European Games, scheduled for Russia in 2019. In commenting on the McLaren Report , IOC president Thomas Bach said, "The findings of the report show a shocking and unprecedented attack on the integrity of sports and on the Olympic Games. Therefore, the IOC will not hesitate to take the toughest sanctions available against any individual or organization implicated." In a chart revealing the number of positive test results for Russian athletes which disappeared from Russian drug test facilities, wrestling ranked third among Olympic sports -- behind track and field, and weightlifting -- with 28 missing test samples.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- SportsEngine, now a part of the NBC Sports Group, announced today that it has acquired Trackwrestling to strengthen its product solution offered to wrestling events and clubs. As part of the acquisition, the entire Trackwrestling team immediately joins SportsEngine and will continue supporting their over 7,000 wrestling events and customers. "We're extremely pleased that Trackwrestling is joining SportsEngine." said Justin Kaufenberg, co-founder and chief executive officer at SportsEngine. "They have an exceptionally deep and powerful system for wrestling organizations, powering more than 8,000 high school and college teams and over 7,000 events. Additionally, their deep expertise and knowledge in the space will help us expand our shared offering to other related sports." Justin Tritz, chief executive officer of Trackwrestling, will stay on and remain the leader of Trackwrestling. "To continue fueling our tremendous growth, we are still doing what we've been doing, only now we have the tremendous support and resources of SportsEngine and NBC Sports behind us. This empowers us to do not only the things we want to do, but do them much quicker. There was a growing number of situations where people would say 'can you guys do this' and we just didn't always have the resources to say yes to all of them. Those projects are now happening, and they are happening quickly. The opportunities and direction we are heading couldn't be more exciting!" Thousands of sports organizations have chosen SportsEngine to run their online registration, websites, tournaments, leagues and mobile apps. Through these applications, clubs and leagues are able to drastically reduce the time they spend on administration and provide tools that help sports organizations manage, connect, and communicate with a diverse range of stakeholders. More than half a million teams, clubs, leagues and associations around the world are powered by SportsEngine. The Minneapolis-based company also provides its services to teams across the MLS, NBA, MLB and NHL. "Joining SportsEngine specifically allows us to integrate our wrestling management platform with SportsEngine Sitebuilder, Registration, and Verify, creating an incredibly attractive suite for any wrestling club or event," added Tritz. "We are tremendously grateful for the support we've received from wrestling fans, coaches, and governing bodies over the past 14 years. We want the wrestling world to know that our reliable services and exceptional customer support will continue to be our priority. Our services and abilities will be affected only in the direction of positive growth and enhancements." About SportsEngine Helping the world play smarter and live more, SportsEngine is the leading provider of Sport Life Management web software and mobile applications for youth, amateur, and professional sports. Powering more than 500,000 sports teams, leagues, clubs, and associations, SportsEngine features a complete suite of easy-to-use tools that help sports organizations manage, connect, and communicate with a diverse range of stakeholders, including athletes, parents, administrators, coaches, referees, scouts, volunteers, fans, journalists, and sponsors. Founded in 2008, SportsEngine is based in Minneapolis, Minn. For more information, please visit www.sportsengine.com; like the company on Facebook at Facebook.com/SportsEngine; or follow SportsEngine on Twitter at @NBCSportsEngine. About Trackwrestling Wrapping up our 13th season, Trackwrestling managed over 7,400 events last year, including 38 state high school tournaments and all college national championships, including NCAA, NAIA, and NJCAA. Originally created to seed wrestling events, Trackwrestling.com has evolved into a customizable, comprehensive solution for the wrestling world, offering tools for weight management, team management, event management, rankings, athlete profiles, and more. Wrestling fans across the country can also log in to follow their favorite athletes online with real-time results and streaming video services. These easy-to-use tools are backed by unmatched customer support available 7 days a week. For more information about Trackwrestling visit www.trackwrestling.com or follow us on Twitter @trackwrestling and like us on Facebook.

Gerald Brisco and WWE superstar Big E will be featured guests on this week's edition of the On the Mat wrestling broadcast on Wednesday, July 20. Gerald Brisco was a former wrestler at Oklahoma State and now is a talent scout for WWE. Big E won a state wrestling championship in Florida before attending the University of Iowa where he was a defensive lineman for the Hawkeyes. He graduated from Iowa in 2009 and went on to set multiple power lifting records before joining WWE. On the Mat is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at 1650thefan.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday at 5 p.m. Central on AM 1650, The Fan. A podcast of the show is available on mattalkonline.com.

FARGO, N.D. -- Day 1 of the Junior National Greco-Roman tournament saw 970 wrestlers in 15 weight classes pared down to the 24 best wrestlers in each bracket. The championship round of 16 will be the round that opens Tuesday morning's session at 9 a.m. CT. Those wrestling in consolation (or losing in the round of 16) need three wins to earn All-American status before possibly wrestling three more times on the day to determine their spot on the podium. Medal matches are currently slated for 2:15 p.m. Round of 16 Pairings: 100 pounds (weight class only has 15 wrestlers) - Brandon Nunez (New York) vs. Brendan Garcia (Colorado), Chris Thomas (Texas) vs. Christopher Santiago (Illinois); Anthony King (Illinois) vs. Ernest Del Rio IV (Arizona), Jacob Hiller (California) vs. Daniel Rehfeldt (Michigan). Cody Holmes (Wisconsin) vs. Ezra Elliott (Illinois), Michael Leveille (Illinois) vs. Zaire King (Delaware); Cooper Cox (Oklahoma) with a bye, Luc Valdez (Illinois) vs. Brenden Chaowanapibool (Washington) Chaowanapibool was runner-up in Cadet Greco-Roman at 94 pounds on Monday afternoon. 106 - Jaret Lane (Pennsylvania) vs. Darick Stacey (Idaho), Cody Craig (Maine) vs. Dane Durlacher (Illinois); Tyler Cunningham (Nebraska) vs. Melvin Rubio (North Carolina), David Woo (Washington) vs. Nathan Rankin (Texas). Elijah Varona (Florida) vs. Ryan Green (Pennsylvania), Ty Smith (Nevada) vs. Brandon Kaylor (Washington); Cevion Severado (Missouri) vs. Camden Russell (Nebraska), Zeke Smith (Wisconsin) vs. Jason Holmes (Arizona) Lane was champion in Junior Greco last year, Varona was runner-up to Lane in the 100 pound Junior Greco weight class last year; while Holmes beat Lane in the Junior freestyle final. 113 - Jaleel Hollingsworth (Illinois) vs. Joseph Harrison (Nebraska), Oscar Nellis (California) vs. Joey Thomas (Maryland); Nico Aguilar (California) vs. Dominic LaJoie (Michigan), Kade Lincoln (Idaho) vs. Dylan Koontz (Wisconsin). Brady Koontz (Wisconsin) vs. Patrick McKee (Minnesota), Jake Stogdill (Nebraska) over Joey Melendez (Illinois) by injury default; Hasan Krigger (Georgia) vs. Drew Bennett (Iowa), Mason Hartshorn (California) vs. Dack Punke (Illinois) Dylan Koontz was runner-up in Junior Greco last year at 106 pounds, Brady Koontz was on the Cadet World Team in Greco last year at 46 kilos (101 pounds), while Punke is the defending champion in this weight class and was the Cadet World team rep at 50 kilos (110 pounds) the previous two years. 120 - Dalton Duffield (Oklahoma) vs. Jordin James (Ohio), Charles Faber (Illinois) vs. Tate Carney (Kansas); Corbin Nirschl (Kansas) vs. Jake Skudlarczyk (Texas), Jet Taylor (Oklahoma) vs. Jaxon Cole (Utah). Jordan Martinez (Colorado) vs. Gregory Viloria (California), Tanner Hitchcock (Kansas) vs. Ian Timmins (Nevada); Logan Treaster (Kansas) vs. Trevon Majette (Virginia), Austin Macias (Illinois) vs. Liam Cronin (California) Duffield is the defending champion in this weight class, Martinez was runner-up in Junior Greco at 113 last year and at this April's UWW Junior Nationals in the 55 kilo (121 pound) class, while Cronin is a two-time Junior Greco All-American. 126 - Gabe Townsell (Illinois) vs. David Campbell (Pennsylvania), Clayton Currier (Montana) vs. Taylor Jokerst (Kansas); Clai Quintanilla (Washington) vs. Josh Portillo (Iowa), Wesley Dawkins (Nebraska) vs. Paul Bianchi (Wisconsin). Drew West (Iowa) vs. Gary Joint (Kansas), Jakob Campbell (Pennsylvania) vs. Alex Thomsen (Iowa); Jack Karstetter (Oklahoma) vs. Cole Manley (Pennsylvania), Michael Millage (Iowa) vs. Matthew Schmitt (Missouri) Townsell is the defending champion in this weight class, Schmitt is a returning Junior Greco runner-up from the 120 pound weight class, while Bianchi and West were also Junior Greco All-Americans last year. 132 - Taylor LaMont (Utah) vs. Chris Sandoval (Colorado), P.J. Gohn (New Jersey) vs. Justin Wilcox (Illinois); Zach Van Alst (Alabama) vs. T.J. Baun (Washington), Timmy Kane (Connecticut) vs. Tanner Cox (Utah). Dalton Young (Washington) vs. Dylan Gregerson (Utah), Jakob Bergeland (Minnesota) vs. Jerry Mealey (Oregon); Blaine Martinez (Texas) vs. Thomas Stager (Colorado), Carson Speelman (Ohio) vs. Brent Jones (Minnesota) LaMont was a Junior Greco champion in 2014, Sandoval was champion in Junior folkstyle this spring at this weight class, Young and Jones placed third in Junior Greco last year, while Van Alst is also a returning Junior Greco All-American. 138 - Mitch McKee (Minnesota) vs. Mac Casella (Illinois), Calvin Germinaro (Minnesota) vs. Alex Crowe (Minnesota); Jaden Enriquez (California) vs. Mason Schulz (North Dakota), Cal Hansen (Wisconsin) vs. Nolan Baker (Illinois). Corey Shie (Ohio) vs. Britton Holmes (Colorado), Noah Ottum (Alaska) vs. Jerrett Degen (Montana); David Rivera-Kohr (Illinois) vs. Ben Freeman (Michigan), Will Kaldes (Pennsylvania) vs. Taylor Nein (North Dakota) McKee is a defending Junior Greco champion; Enriquez was runner-up to LaMont at the UWW Cadet Nationals in Greco the previous two years; while Baker, Shie, Degen, and Rivera-Kohr are returning Junior Greco All-Americans. 145 - Gabriel Dinette (Colorado) vs. Dylan Thurston (Illinois), Ryden Fu (Washington) vs. Conner Noonan (Oregon); Ryan Deakin (Colorado) vs. Justin Ruffin (Georgia), Will Lawrence (Virginia) vs. Alex Lloyd (Minnesota). Anthony Artalona (Florida) vs. David Johnson (Ohio), Garrett Model (Wisconsin) vs. Theodore Pierce (Minnesota); Noah North (South Carolina) vs. Brandon Konecny (Arizona), Dre-Son Scruggs (Colorado) vs. Jaron Jensen (Utah) Deakin is a two-time Junior Greco All-American, Lloyd was champion in Junior folkstyle this spring and a Cadet Greco champion last summer, Artalona was a Cadet double champion last summer, while Jensen is a returning Junior Greco All-American and was runner-up in Greco at this spring's UWW Junior Nationals. 152 - Colt Yinger (Ohio) vs. Adrian Ojeda (Nevada), Zemua Baptsista (Nebraska) vs. Ryan Epps (Minnesota); Griffin Parriott (Minnesota) vs. Wyatt Lee (Colorado), Josh Adams (Wisconsin) vs. Davey Tunon (Ohio). Lenny Merkin (New York) vs. Dylan Schuck (Iowa), Michael Ordonez (Illinois) vs. Billy Higgins (Nebraska); Madison Leanlo (Hawaii) vs. Trevor Elfvin (Pennsylvania), Ethan Reel (Illinois) vs. Andrew Cervantes (California) Yinger upset returning Junior Greco-Roman third place finisher Quentin Hovis (Arizona), who also was champion at 70 kilos (154 pounds) in Greco at the UWW Junior Nationals this spring, by 1-1 score in the opening round. Parriott is probably the new weight class favorite, a four-time state champion and two-time Super 32 Challenge placer. Merkin placed in Junior Greco in 2014. 160 - Fritz Schierl (Wisconsin) vs. Tate Samuelson (Colorado), Jaron Chavez (Idaho) vs. Layne Van Anrooy (Oregon); Colton Clingenpeel (Iowa) vs. Anthony Mantanona (California), Ricky Gonzalez (California) vs. Ryder Punke (Illinois). Max Wohlabaugh (Florida) vs. Kenny O'Neil (Minnestoa), Jose Acosta (Wisconsin) vs. Josh Anderson (Nebraska); Blake Montrie (Michigan) vs. Eric Hong (Pennsylvania), Trent Hidlay (Pennsylvania) vs. Jake Allar (Minnesota) Schierl placed third last year in Junior Greco, Clingenpeel is also a returning Junior Greco All-American, Punke was a Junior Greco All-American in 2014, Wohlabuagh was champion in Cadet Greco last year and won the UWW Cadet Greco title last month at 69 kilos (152 pounds), while Allar was a Cadet Greco champion in 2014 and a Cadet World team member last year in Greco. 170 - Kamal Bey (Illinois) vs. Tristan Hellstrom (Utah), Nathan Ferkovich (Florida) vs. Christopher Paulsen (Iowa); Clay Lautt (Kansas) vs. Jelani Embree (Michigan), Connor Williams (Wisconsin) vs. Andrew Berreyesa (Nevada). Riley Jaramillo (Oregon) vs. Myles Wilson (Colorado), Owen Pentz (Utah) vs. Jack Jessen (Illinois); Daniel Butler (Kansas) vs. Victor Marcelli (Ohio), Stanley Smeltzer (Virginia) vs. Thomas Brackett (Tennessee) Bey is the defending Junior Greco champion in this weight class and will be on the Junior World team in Greco at 74 kilos (163 pounds) next month, Lautt will be on the Cadet World team in Greco in September at 76 kilos (167 pounds), Embree was the UWW Cadet National freestyle champion last year at 76 kilos, Berreyesa is the returning Junior Greco runner-up, Jaramillo was runner-up in Junior Greco and a Cadet Greco champ in 2014, while Jessen was a Cadet double runner-up last year. 182 - Logan Gruszka (Illinois) vs. Aryus Jones (Kansas), Dan Baker (Oregon) vs. Trevor Senn (Washington); Roman Romero (California) vs. Abraham Correa-Medina (Alaska), Jared Walker (Idaho) vs. James Handwerk (Ohio). Matthew Waddell (Georgia) vs. Bailey Chyma (Iowa), Kevin Parker (New York) vs. Wyatt Westfall (Oregon); Trevor Nichelson (Nebraska) vs. Elias Vaiolfi (Missouri), Tony Vezzetti (Illinois) vs. Dalton Smercheck (Wisconsin) Gruszka was a Cadet World team member last year in Greco at 76 kilos (167 pounds), Handwerk was a Junior double All-American last year, Waddell is a returning All-American in Junior Greco, while Parker is a returning Junior freestyle All-American. 195 - Donovan Doyle (Iowa) vs. Cade Brownlee (Nebraska), Danny Salas (California) vs. Bonifacio Escobar (California); Brandon Whitman (Michigan) vs. Trenton Schultz (Colorado), Isaac Bartel (Iowa) vs. Chad Porter (Arizona). Dalton Hahn (Wisconsin) vs. Visouth Peterschmidt (Iowa), Jonah Lange (Minnesota) vs. John Borst (Virginia); Haydn Maley (Oregon) vs. Miles Lee (Pennsylvania), Bailey Kelly (Kansas) vs. Andrew Davison (Indiana) Whitman was a UWW Cadet Greco runner-up at 85 kilos (187 pounds) last month, Hahn is a returning Junior Greco All-American, while Davison won a Junior folkstyle title this year and was champion in Cadet Greco last year. 220 - Samuel Colbray (Oregon) vs. Aric Bohn (Wisconsin), Anthony Riopelle (Michigan) vs. Max Darrah (Missouri); Ashton Seely (Utah) vs. Darryl Aiello (California), Brandon Reed (Kentucky) vs. Anthony Piscopo (Pennsylvania). Max Villnow (Wisconsin) vs. Jacob Sobbing (Missouri), Sean O'Malley (New Jersey) vs. Andrew Fenton (Ohio); Ben Kitslaar (Wisconsin) vs. Trenton Rogitch (Minnesota), Alex Freiburger (Iowa) vs. Jeffrey Allen (Virginia) Colbray was runner-up in Junior Greco last year after winning Fargo titles in Greco the previous three years, including a title at the Junior level in 2014; Aiello was a Junior freestyle All-American last year; while Allen is a returning Junior Greco All-American. 285 - Darien Kaufmann (Illinois) vs. Adam Lamb (Oregon), Kayne Hutchison (Kansas) vs. Thomas Killoran (Pennsylvania); Sammy de Seriere (Colorado) vs. Trenton Lieruance (Oklahoma), Kendrick Watson (North Carolina) vs. Brandon Metz (North Dakota). Anthony Cassioppi (Illinois) vs. Brian Barnes (Oregon), Gavin Nye (California) vs. Zach Muller (Illinois); Timothy Mandyck (Minnesota) vs. Dallas O'Bryan (Oregon), Aaron Costello (Iowa) vs. Thomas Helton (Illinois) Kaufmann had the day's other astronomically big upset, an 8-4 second round victory over returning Junior Greco runner-up Carter Isley (Iowa). Hutchison was runner-up in Cadet Greco last year, Metz is a returning Junior Greco All-American and champion from 2014 in Cadet Greco, Cassioppi was double third at the Cadet level last year at this weight, Nye was runner-up in Cadet Greco last year at this weight, Muller was runner-up in Cadet freestyle last year at this weight, while Helton was a Junior National All-American in both styles last year.

FARGO, N.D. -- Entering this week's Cadet National Greco-Roman competition, returning Fargo double champion Nick Raimo had not competed in Greco-Roman since finishing on top in Fargo a year ago. You would never know it. Raimo was dominant on Sunday and Monday in the Cadet Greco-Roman competition, picking up four technical falls and two falls (both in under 20 seconds) to reach the finals. In the finals he faced Pennsylvania's Carter Tuttle, and fell behind 4-1 early, but battled back to claim a 13-10 victory. "Greco is usually like my style even when I'm not wrestling in it," Raimo said after winning the title. I'm always upper body, like under hooks, front head, so it's kind of just natural." Raimo was one of two repeat champions in the Cadet Greco-Roman competition. Joining him as a repeat winner was Oregon's Travis Wittlake (170). Wittlake cruised to a 9-2 victory in the finals at 170 pounds over New York's Tyler Barnes. His focus now shifts to the freestyle competition, which gets underway on Wednesday. If he finishes on top in freestyle he will earn a Cadet National Triple Crown -- a USA Wrestling national championship in all three styles. "Last year here I took third in freestyle, so I'm still hungry to win that Fargo freestyle national title. I've already won Greco. I'm just looking to get that National Triple Crown." Two runner-up finishers from a year ago, Kansas' Jace Koelzer (106) and New Jersey's Ryan Karoly (182), claimed titles. Koelzer, a returning double All-American, topped Patrick Allis (Colorado) 4-1 in the finals at 106 pounds. "Coming back from last year, I made the big stage and I think I got teched in like a minute and half," said Koelzer. "I was on a mission this year to make sure that didn't happen again. I was here to win it. You were going to have to kill me if you want to beat me here." Karoly, a Fargo double finalist last year, earned a 6-3 victory in the finals at 182 pounds over Minnesota's Caden Steffen. "I know what it felt like to lose on the stage in Greco last year. Close match. This year I just wanted to come out and get it done in both styles. Freestyle's coming." Sam Latona became Alabama's first-ever Cadet National Greco-Roman champion, beating Cadet National folkstyle champion Andrew Chambral (Michigan) 6-1 in the finals at 88 pounds. The match was tied 1-1 at the break before Latona broke it open in the second period with two takedowns and a point off passivity. Illinois captured the team title in the Cadet Greco-Roman competition with 75 points. Michigan and Pennsylvania tied for second with 45 points. Minnesota (34) and Arizona (29) rounded out the top five teams. Finals results: 88: Sam Latona (Alabama) dec. Andrew Chambral (Michigan), 6-1 94: Dylan Ragusin (Illinois) tech. fall Brenden Chaowanapibool (Washington), 10-0 100: Ridge Lovett (Idaho) tech. fall Lucas Byrd (Ohio), 13-3 106: Jace Koelzer (Kansas) dec. Patrick Allis (Colorado), 4-1 113: Jordan Hamdan (Michigan) dec. Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma), 11-8 120: Theorius Robison (Colorado) tech. fall Atilano Escobar (Arizona), 11-0 126: Nick Raimo (New Jersey) dec. Carter Tuttle (Pennsylvania), 13-0 132: Mason Phillips (Washington) dec. Tyler Eischens (Minnesota), 16-9 138: Will Lewan (Illinois) dec. Brock Hardy (Utah), 6-3 145: Dawon Andrews (Arizona) dec. Abe Assad (Illinois), 3-0 152: James Rogers (Washington) tech. fall Tyler Dow (Wisconsin), 12-0 160: Aaron Brooks (Maryland) dec. Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania), 2-1 170: Travis Wittlake (Oregon) dec. Tyler Barnes (New York), 9-2 182: Ryan Karoly (New Jersey) dec. Caden Steffen (Minnesota), 6-3 195: Braxton Amos (West Virginia) tech. fall Kaleb Reeves (Iowa), 11-0 220: Tyler Curd (Missouri) tech. fall Jace Punke (Illinois), 14-3 285: Spencer Trenary (Iowa) tech. fall Montana Phillips (Oklahoma), 17-4

Less than three weeks before the Opening Ceremonies for the 2016 Rio Olympics, the International Olympic Committee has promised "the toughest sanctions available" after an independent report from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) released Monday found Russia had concealed hundreds of positive doping tests from its athletes -- including wrestlers -- at a number of sporting events. IOC President Thomas Bach said results of the independent WADA investigation released earlier Monday had revealed "a shocking and unprecedented attack on the integrity of sport and on the Olympic Games. Therefore, the IOC will not hesitate to take the toughest sanctions available against any individual or organization implicated." The IOC did not say whether existing bans on Russian track and field athletes and weightlifters for the 2016 Olympics will be extended to that nation's wrestlers and other athletes. Monday morning WADA published the much-anticipated, 97-page McLaren Report -- named for the Canadian law professor Richard McLaren who headed up the project -- that confirmed claims of state-backed Russian cheating at the 2014 Winter Olympics held in Sochi, Russia, as well as at various other sporting events. McLaren's two-month investigation found that of 577 positive samples screened, 312 positive results were held back. Of these positive samples which were held back, the majority -- more than 240 -- came from Russian wrestlers and track and field athletes. The McLaren Report confirmed allegations made by Grigory Rodchenkov, former head of the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory, that dozens of Russian athletes had used performance-enhancing drugs with the support not only of national sports authorities but even the Russian intelligence service, the FSB, the current version of the Soviet Union's KGB. The report alleged that potentially problematic samples were swapped out by FSB agents at the testing facility during the night through a "mouse hole" in a wall. The suspect samples were replaced by samples containing clean urine to avoid detection. The report traced the Russian drug scheme back to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, where the traditional sports power placed 11th overall, earning only three gold medals. "The surprise result of the Sochi investigation was the revelation of the extent of State oversight and directed control of the Moscow Laboratory in processing and covering up urine samples of Russian athletes from virtually all sports before and after the Sochi Games," said the report. The McLaren Report listed seven action points. At the top of the list: WADA requested the IOC and the International Paralympic Committee refuse all athletes from Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and the Russian Paralympic Committee. In addition, WADA also wants Russian government officials to be denied access to international competitions, including the upcoming Olympics. Travis Tygart, the CEO of USADA -- the United States Anti-Doping Agency -- called the report proof of a "mind-blowing level of corruption" and urged the international community to come together to ensure that what he called an unprecedented level of criminality never threatens sports again. Tygart's statement did not include a call for a full ban of the Russian team from the Rio Games. Last week, he said if the report was as damning as expected that he would push for such a ban. U.S. Olympic Committee CEO Scott Blackmun said in a statement that the report "confirms what we have stated previously: the current anti-doping system is broken and urgently requires the attention of everyone interested in protecting clean athletes." "In the meantime, we are focused on preparing Team USA to compete at the upcoming Rio Games and will rely on the IOC, WADA and the international federations to impose sanctions that are appropriate in relation to the magnitude of these offenses, and that give clean athletes some measure of comfort that they will be competing on a level playing field in Rio," Blackmun said.

Mike Zadick coaching at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Mike Zadick has been promoted to assistant coach, head coach Kevin Dresser announced on Monday. Zadick joined the Hokies' staff at the beginning of the 2015-16 season as a volunteer assistant a! nd was with the team in their most successful year to date. "My main focus is still the development of our athletes that we have here on campus on our team," said Zadick of his new position. "That part will stay very similar, helping the guys develop mentally and physically on a daily basis." Zadick was instrumental in Tech's run to a fourth place finish at the 2016 NCAA National Championship. The team recorded a program-high six All-Americans, with Nick Brascetta and Zach Epperly leading the way with third place finishes. "Mike brings a very contagious positive energy to our room," said Dresser. "His wrestling knowledge is broad and vast. He loves the sport and is a passionate about working with our team. I am glad to add him to Coach Robie and Coach St. John!" Before coming to Tech, Zadick spent 10 years on the Iowa coaching staff after retiring from competition. Zadick won the 2008 U.S. Freestyle Olympic Team Trials at 132 pounds (60 kg), and earned a spot in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. "We want to continue to build [on last year's success]," Zadick said. "Now that the team saw what they did last year, it's holding themselves to a different standard. Believing that they belong not just in the top four but in the top two and at one. It has to translate from their daily process, which will be a key component for success." Zadick was a three-time All-American (2000-02) at Iowa, winning the 149-pound Big Ten title in 2002. He earned a spot on the 2010 World Team at 60kg/132 pounds and was the 2009 U.S. Senior Nationals freestyle champion at that weight. In 2007, he was the U.S. World Team Trials champion and won a silver medal at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. Zadick's other international accomplishments include a silver medal at the 2006 World Championships in Guangzhou, China, and runner-up finishes at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team trials and U.S. Nationals, and the 2005 World Team Trials challenge tournament. A native of Great Falls, Mont., Zadick earned a bachelor's degree in sports studies from the University of Iowa in 2004. Zadick's brother, Mike, who also wrestled at Iowa, was a two-time All-American, Big Ten champion, NCAA champion and 2006 World Champion.

FARGO, N.D. -- The finals matchups are set in the Cadet National Greco-Roman competition. Two wrestlers, New Jersey's Nick Raimo (126) and Oregon's Travis Wittlake (170) will be looking to repeat as Cadet National Greco-Roman champions. Kansas' Jace Koelzer (106), Utah's Brock Hardy (138), New Jersey's Ryan Karoly (182) are back in the finals after finishing runner-up last summer in the Cadet Greco-Roman competition. Illinois leads the team and has four finalists. Michigan sits in second place. The finals are scheduled to begin to at 2 p.m. CT. Finals matchups: 88: Sam Latona (Alabama) vs. Andrew Chambral (Michigan) 94: Brenden Chaowanapibool (Washington) vs. Dylan Ragusin (Illinois) 100: Ridge Lovett (Idaho) vs. Lucas Byrd (Ohio) 106: Jace Koelzer (Kansas) vs. Patrick Allis (Colorado) 113: Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma) vs. Jordan Hamdan (Michigan) 120: Atilano Escobar (Arizona) vs. Theorius Robison (Colorado) 126: Nick Raimo (New Jersey) vs. Carter Tuttle (Pennsylvania) 132: Mason Phillips (Washington) vs. Tyler Eischens (Minnesota) 138: Brock Hardy (Utah) vs. Will Lewan (Illinois) 145: Abe Assad (Illinois) vs. Dawon Andrews (Arizona) 152: Tyler Dow (Wisconsin) vs. James Rogers (Washington) 160: Aaron Brooks (Maryland) vs. Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania) 170: Travis Wittlake (Oregon) vs. Tyler Barnes (New York) 182: Ryan Karoly (New Jersey) vs. Caden Steffen (Minnesota) 195: Kaleb Reeves (Iowa) vs. Braxton Amos (West Virginia) 220: Tyler Curd (Missouri) vs. Jace Punke (Illinois) 285: Montana Phillips (Oklahoma) vs. Spencer Trenary (Iowa)

A 2016 Division 2 state wrestling champion from Massachusetts who had committed to wrestle at Iowa Lakes Community College has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a former teammate at a party has been released from jail and is now under house arrest. Broc Dokos, 18, is accused of committing assault and battery against a former football teammate, which left the victim with several fractured facial bones, and assaulting a second man at a party over the July 4 weekend. Tewksbury Police had put out a message on Twitter on Monday morning, July 4 seeking Dokos, who turned himself in to police later that afternoon. Dokos, a 2016 graduate of Tewksbury Central High School, has been charged with assault and battery resulting in serious bodily injury and assault on an additional victim. Initially, Dokos was held without bail awaiting what is called a dangerousness hearing. Under Massachusetts law, a defendant who has committed a crime such as a violent felony, arson or violation of a restraining order can be held when their release might threaten the safety of the community. Despite concerns expressed by some individuals at the dangerousness hearing, a district court judge determined Dokos was not a danger to society, but increased his bail from $25,000 to $50,000, which his family posted later that same day. Now Dokos is under house arrest, able to leave the house only for his job and to go to the gym. As part of the agreement, Dokos is under judge's orders preventing the athlete from contacting any witnesses except for his best friend and girlfriend. Several witnesses cited being in fear of Dokos as a reason why they did not want to give statements, though Dokos' father has alleged that Broc was the victim of bullying, forcing the family to move to another community. In addition, Dokos must also attend weekly probation meetings and submit to random drug and alcohol screenings. He is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing on July 27. Dokos played football and was an accomplished wrestler at Tewksbury Central, winning the 2016 Massachusetts Division 2 State wrestling championship at 220 pounds by pinning each of his four of his opponents in less than three minutes each. He was named to the Boston Herald's 2016 Scholastic Wrestling Team. In August 2015, Dokos verbally committed to attend Iowa Lakes Community College in Estherville, Iowa, one of the top-ranked junior college wrestling programs in the nation. He signed his official National Letter of Intent in April. Dokos was expected to join the Lakers in September. However, Broc Doko's father has said that some individuals have contacted the coach, asking to have his scholarship offer withdrawn, according to the Lowell Sun.

Ryan Karoly will look to repeat as Cadet National freestyle champion (Photo/Juan Garcia) While the Cadet Greco-Roman event is reaching its conclusion on Monday, the freestyle event at the Cadet level starts on Wednesday morning. Its medal matches will be held on Friday afternoon. This competition is a very robust one featuring a significant amount of the elite wrestlers born in 2000 and 2001, whom will be the stars of scholastic wrestling over the coming years. Below is an overview of the expected field in each weight class, based on participant lists posted to Trackwrestling as of Sunday evening (July 17). 88 pounds: A pair of Cadet National folkstyle champions anchor the field in this weight class, Andrew Chambal (Michigan) and Cullan Schriever (Iowa); Chambal also placed at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle last month at 42 kilos (92 pounds), while Schriever is ranked No. 25 overall in the Class of 2020. Also in this weight class are a pair of UWW Cadet freestyle All-Americans in Kase Mauger (Idaho) and Blake Noonan (Michigan), each doing so at 42 kilos. Additional contenders in this weight are Cadet folkstyle runner-up Emilio Haynes (Nebraska), Daniel Kimball (Iowa), Paxton Creese (Minnesota), and Wyatt Yapoujian (Colorado). 94 pounds: Two of the nation's best Class of 2020 wrestlers anchor this weight class, No. 6 Jeremiah Reno (Missouri) and Justin Bierdumpfel (New Jersey). The pair of wrestlers placed second and third respectively at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle at 42 kilos last month. Joining those two as placers at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle last month were Dylan Ragusin (Illinois) and Caden McCrary (Georgia). The lone returning Cadet freestyle All-American in this weight class is Destin Summers (Idaho), who also was a scholastic state champion this past season. Additional contenders include Adam Allard (Iowa) and Brenden Chaowanapibool (Washington). 100 pounds: Anchoring this weight class is UWW Cadet National freestyle runner-up Eric Faught (Iowa), who is also a two-time Cadet National folkstyle runner-up and was a state runner-up this past high school season. Joining Faught as All-Americans at 46 kilos (101 pounds) in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month were Eric Barnett (Wisconsin), Lucas Byrd (Ohio), Ridge Lovett (Idaho), Steele Dias (Nevada), and Matthew Ramos (Illinois); these wrestlers placed third through seventh. Dias is a two-time Cadet National folkstyle champion, Lovett was a state champion this school season and a Cadet National freestyle runner-up last summer, Byrd placed third in Cadet freestyle last summer and was a state medalist this year, while Barnett was a state medalist this past school year. Others to watch include incoming freshmen Anthony Clark (New Jersey) and Kellyn March (South Dakota), along with state runner-up and returning Cadet freestyle All-American Derek Ramos (Idaho) as well as Oscar Sanchez (Ohio). 106 pounds: Four scholastic state champions from the 2015-16 season are among the primary contenders in this weight class - Corey Gamet (Michigan), Greg Diakomihalis (New York), Jace Koelzer (Kansas), and Josh Blatt (North Carolina). It can be argued that Cadet National folkstyle champion Koelzer is the overall favorite in this weight class as he is the lone returning Cadet freestyle All-American in the field, fourth at 94 pounds last year. At least five others in this field placed within the top four at their high school state tournament this season: state runners-up Colt Newton (Oklahoma) and Isaac Lopez (Washington), third place finishers Dalton Rohrbaugh (Pennsylvania) and Kai Orrine (Missouri), along with fourth place finisher Beau Bayless (Pennsylvania). Additional wrestlers to watch are Cadet folkstyle runner-up Jon Prata (California), UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Sammy Alvarez (New Jersey), and impact incoming freshman Julian Tagg (Ohio), ranked No. 18 overall in the Class of 2020. 113 pounds: The favorite in this weight class is Adam Busiello (New York), who ended the 2015-16 scholastic season as the No. 1 wrestler in the country at 106 pounds. He is currently ranked No. 3 overall in the Class of 2019 after winning the Super 32 Challenge this past fall and a second high school state title this winter. At least seven other wrestlers join Busiello as state champions in this weight class. Most notable among the group is FloNationals runner-up Ben Kamali (Michigan). Others include Antonio Saldate (Nevada), Asa Garcia (Michigan), Bryce Andonian (Ohio), Isaiah Delgado (Texas), Jordan Hamdan (Michigan), and Legend Lamer (Oregon); Saldate is a two-time state champion. Joining Busiello as a grade-level ranked wrestler is state medalist Coltan Yapoujian (Colorado), who is ranked No. 22 in the Class of 2019 after placing fourth in Cadet freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month. Others to watch include state runner-up Gabriel Tagg (Ohio), who placed third in Cadet freestyle last summer; state medalist Malyke Hines (Florida), who placed at the FloNationals; and state medalist Israel Navarro (Minnesota). 120 pounds: Six grade-level ranked wrestlers are among those in the field at this weight class. Two-time state runner-up Patrick Glory (New Jersey), also a Super 32 Challenge runner-up, is ranked No. 35 overall in the Class of 2018. From the Class of 2019 it is No. 11 Travis Ford-Melton (Illinois), No. 15 Theorius Robison (Colorado), No. 17 Andrew Alirez (Colorado), No. 35 Aden Reeves (Iowa), and No. 40 Cade Devos (Iowa); Ford-Melton, Robison, and Alirez were All-Americans last month in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals (Robison at 58 kilos, the other two at 54), while Ford-Melton, Alirez, and Reeves were Cadet freestyle All-Americans last summer (Ford-Melton a runner-up at 100 pounds). Last among those grade ranked is Joshua Saunders (Missouri), No. 2 overall in the Class of 2020. At least another trio of wrestlers in this weight class are two-time state champions, Alexander Cruz (Washington), Brody Teske (Iowa) and Patrick McCormick (Virginia). While at least two others have a state title to their credit, Brandon Fenton (Ohio) and Orion Anderson (New York). Also to watch in this weight class are two-time state runner-up Aaron Schulist (Wisconsin), two-time state placer and returning Cadet freestyle All-American Carmen Ferrante (New Jersey), and state medalist Josh Tibbits (Iowa). 126 pounds: Two of the five Cadet eligible champions from last year's Cadet National freestyle tournament reside in this weight class, Nick Raimo (New Jersey) and Jordan Decatur (Ohio); they are ranked No. 2 and No. 5 respectively in the Class of 2019. Raimo was a state runner-up during the past scholastic season, third in the Super 32 Challenge this past fall, and a UWW Cadet freestyle third place finisher at 54 kilos (119 pounds); while Decatur was runner-up at 54 kilos in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals, and also a NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion. Three other ranked wrestlers from the Class of 2019 are in this field as well, No. 12 Jaden Abas (California), No. 13 Chris Cannon (New Jersey), and No. 49 Kevon Davenport (Michigan). Abas finished as state runner-up and was a UWW Cadet freestyle All-American last year, Cannon was a National Prep champion but his freestyle skills are not nearly as good as those in folkstyle, while Davenport was also a state champion in 2015-16. Additional wrestlers to watch include two-time state champ Peyton Robb (Minnesota), state champ Dayton Porsch (Kansas), state placer and FloNatonals placer Ryan Moore (Kentucky), state placer and Cadet National folkstyle champion Sebas Swiggum (Minnesota), 2015 state placer Robbie Precin (Illinois), and state qualifier Andy Garr (Ohio). 132 pounds: Six grade-level ranked wrestlers are among the field in this weight class, led by a pair from the Class of 2018 in No. 29 Jacori Teemer (New York) and No. 38 Josh Humphreys (West Virginia). Three-time state champion Teemer is a returning Cadet freestyle All-American, while Humphreys is a two-time state champion. The other four are from the Class of 2020: No. 11 Dustin Plott (Oklahoma), No. 16 Alfonso Martinez (Arizona), No. 19 Sonny Santiago (California), and No. 21 Frankie Tal-Shahar (Florida). Martinez, Plott, and Santiago placed third through fifth in this weight class at Cadet folkstyle this spring, while Tal-Shahar was a scholastic state medalist this past season. Additional contenders include two-time National Prep placer Malcolm Robinson (Virginia), state qualifier Carnell Andrews (Pennsylvania), state champion Andrew Gamble (Missouri), two-time state champion River Curtis (Virginia), state placer Nick Freeman (Michigan), and 2015 state placer Zach Melloh (Indiana). 138 pounds: With six grade level ranked wrestlers, this is arguably the most talented overall weight class in Cadet freestyle. Leading the way here is defending champion Sammy Sasso (Pennsylvania), who is ranked No. 6 overall in the Class of 2018. In addition, he was runner-up at the UWW Cadet Nationals in freestyle last month, is a two-time state placer, and was third in the Super 32 Challenge this fall. Two other ranked wrestlers from the Class of 2018 are present, No. 26 Brock Hardy (Utah) and No. 28 Will Lewan (Illinois). Cadet folkstyle champion Hardy was runner-up to Sasso last summer in this event, and is a two-time state champion, while Lewan is a two-time state placer, placed at the UWW Cadet Nationals this spring, and was a Cadet double All-American last summer. The other three grade ranked wrestlers are Cameron Amine (Michigan), Fidel Mayora (Illinois), and Jason Kraisser (Maryland). State champion Amine is ranked No. 20 in the Class of 2019, Cadet folkstyle runner-up Mayora is No. 15 in the Class of 2020, while state champion Kraisser is No. 26 in the Class of 2019. Additional wrestlers to watch include state champion Roderick Mosley (Oklahoma), 2015 state runner-up Jake Silverstein (New York), two-time state runner-up Tyler Eischens (Minnesota), along with a pair of two-time state medalists in Harlan Steffensmeier (Iowa) and Ryan Steffen (Iowa); Steffensmeier was a Cadet National folkstyle runner-up this spring. 145 pounds: Two returning Cadet freestyle All-Americans are among the contenders in this weight class, Jared Franek (North Dakota) and Logan Jensen (Utah). Franek is a three-time state champion and was the Cadet National folkstyle champion this spring, while Jensen was a state runner-up this scholastic season. Another pair of wrestlers are ranked within their grade level, Cole Matthews (Pennsylvania) and Sam Dover (Ohio). Matthews is ranked No. 38 in the Class of 2018, a 2015 state champion and two-time state medalist; while Dover is No. 19 overall in the Class of 2019 and a state medalist this past season. Others to watch in this weight class include state champion Adrian St. Germain (Washinton), state runners-up Colton Denney (Oklahoma) and Garrett Lange (Kansas), state medalists Brian Case (Michigan) and Nathan Moore (Washington), two-time state placers Justin McCoy (Pennsylvania) and Zane Mulder (Iowa), along with state qualifier Abe Assad (Illinois). 152 pounds: The favorite in this weight class is two-time state champion Frankie Gissendanner (New York), who is ranked No. 10 overall in the Class of 2018 and placed fourth in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month. Two other grade level ranked wrestlers join Gissendanner in this weight class, both of them from the Class of 2019; No. 28 Zane Coleman (Oklahoma) and No. 34 Edmund Ruth (Pennsylvania). Coleman was a state champion this scholastic season, while Ruth was a state medalist. However, the most direct threats to Gissendanner are likely a pair of state runners-ups, each of whom was an Cadet National All-American in both styles last summer: Michael O'Malley (New Jersey) and Tyler Dow (Wisconsin). O'Malley is a two-time state medalist and NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion, while Dow was a Cadet National folkstyle champion this spring and an All-American in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month. Others to watch in this weight class include state champion Mason Reiniche (Tennessee), at least three other wrestlers whom were state runners-up during the 2015-16 school year, at least three other state medalists, and Cadet folkstyle runner-up Oszkar Kasch (Indiana). 160 pounds: The clear favorite in this weight class is two-time state champion Julian Ramirez (Florida), who is ranked No. 4 overall in the Class of 2019 after also placing third in Cadet freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month. Two additional ranked wrestlers from the Class of 2019 are in this weight class, No. 44 Chris Foca (New Jersey) and No. 47 Zach Borer (Nebraska); Foca was champion at the Beast of the East in December, while Borer was a state champion this past winter. Others to watch include state medalist and NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champion Josh Stillings (Pennsylvania) as well as UWW Cadet freestyle All-American Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania). 170 pounds: It came as a major shock when Travis Wittlake (Oregon) did not win a Cadet Triple Crown last year. This year, the No. 8 overall wrestler in the Class of 2018 is favored to accomplish that feat. In addition, the two-time state champion is also going to represent the United States at the UWW Cadet World Championships in early September at 76 kilos (167 pounds). The other grade level ranked wrestler in this weight class is fellow Cadet folkstyle champion Devin Winston (Missouri), No. 39 in the Class of 2019. Additional wrestlers to watch are two-time state placers Joel Shapiro (Iowa) and Nick Casperson (South Dakota); 2015 state runner-up Sebastian Mordecai (Arizona); along with state medalists Cade Pederson (North Dakota), Nate Jimenez (Illinois), Bill Janzer (New Jersey), and Zach Braunagel (Illinois) 182 pounds: Returning Cadet National freestyle champion Ryan Karoly (New Jersey) is the anchor figure in this weight class. The National Prep champion is ranked No. 25 overall in the Class of 2018. Two other grade level ranked wrestlers are among the contenders, Jared Krattiger (Wisconsin) and Daniel Kerkvleit (Minnesota). Two-time state placer Krattiger is ranked No. 34 in the Class of 2018, and has placed at both the FloNationals and in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals since the end of the 2015-16 season; while state champion Kerkvleit is ranked No.36 in the Class of 2019, and was runner-up in this weight class at the Cadet folkstyle tournament earlier this spring. Additional contenders include state runner-up Caden Steffen (Minnesota), NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion Drake Barbee (Oklahoma), two-time state placer Logan Schumacher (Iowa), Cadet folkstyle champion Lucas Davison (Indiana), and state placer Robert Striggow (Minnesota). 195 pounds: The lone grade level ranked wrestler in this weight class is Braxton Amos (West Virginia), who is No. 5 overall among Class of 2020 wrestlers. Others to watch include state medalists Joseph Miller (Nevada) and Jace Punke (Illinois), Cadet folkstyle champion Sergio Villalobos (Illinois), along with Cameron Sauerwein (Ohio) and Kaleb Reeves (Iowa). 220 pounds: Leading the way in this weight class is the nation's top Class of 2019 wrestler Cohlton Schultz (Colorado), a state champion this past year. He was also a Cadet freestyle runner-up last summer and third in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals this spring, with losses in both events to the nation's top Class of 2018 wrestler Gable Steveson; Steveson is also Cadet eligible, but not competing as he is on the Cadet World team competing this September. Other contenders include Gavin Hoffman (Pennsylvania), a state champion who placed in both the Super 32 Challenge and FloNationals during 2015-16 and is ranked No. 27 overall in the Class of 2018; state medalists Jordan Pryor (Maryland) and Luke Luffman (Illinois); along with state medalist Tyler Curd (Missouri), who upset Schultz in Greco-Roman during Sunday evening's Cadet National quarterfinals. 285 pounds: The pair of wrestlers that met in the Cadet folkstyle final look to be the favorites in this event, Ronald Tucker (Illinois) emerged victorious in the tiebreaker over Spencer Trenary (Iowa). Tucker is ranked No. 25 overall in the Class of 2019, and was also a UWW Cadet freestyle All-American, while Trenary was a state medalist this past season. Additional contenders include state runner-up Louden Haga (West Virginia) and state medalist Montana Phillips (Oklahoma).

FARGO, N.D. -- During two sessions of wrestling on Sunday in Fargo, N.D. the Cadet National field in Greco-Roman was narrowed down to semifinalists in the championship bracket. Within the consolation bracket, wrestlers are one match from an All-American (top 8) finish. Wrestling resumes on Monday morning at 9 a.m. CT, with medal matches slated for 2 p.m. Semifinal Pairings 88 pounds: Paxton Creese (Minnesota) vs. Sam Latona (Alabama), Timothy Levine (California) vs. Andrew Chambral (Michigan) 94 pounds: Jalen Spuhler (Wisconsin) vs. Brenden Chaowanapibool (Washington), Christian Goin (Illinois) vs. Dylan Ragusin (Illinois) 100 pounds: Steele Dias (Nevada) vs. Ridge Lovett (Idaho), Chayse LaJoie (Michigan) vs. Lucas Byrd (Ohio) 106 pounds: Jace Koelzer (Kansas) vs. Anthony Molton (Illinois), Patrick Allis (Colorado) vs. Leif Schroeder (Montana) 113 pounds: Reece Witcraft (Oklahoma) vs. Ben Kamali (Michigan), Malyke Hines (Florida) vs. Jordan Hamdan (Michigan) 120 pounds: Phillip Moomey (Nebraska) vs. Atilano Escobar (Arizona), Theorius Robison (Colorado) vs. Ryan Ripplinger (North Dakota) 126 pounds: Nick Raimo (New Jersey) vs. Josh Steele (Missouri), Carter Tuttle (Pennsylvania) vs. Peyton Robb (Minnesota) 132 pounds: Mason Phillips (Washington) vs. Carnell Andrews (Pennsylvania), Tyler Eischens (Minnesota) vs. Nick Freeman (Michigan) 138 pounds: Brock Hardy (Utah) vs. Cameron Amine (Michigan), Sammy Sasso (Pennsylvania) vs. Will Lewan (Illinois) 145 pounds: Dalton Jensen (Illinois) vs. Abe Assad (Illinois), Markus Hartman (Illinois) vs. Dawon Andrews (Arizona) 152 pounds: Tyler Dow (Wisconsin) vs. Samuel Mora (Texas), James Rogers (Washington) vs. Michael O'Malley (New Jersey) 160 pounds: Aaron Brooks (Maryland) vs. Grant Parrish (Minnesota), Josh Stillings (Pennsylvania) vs. Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania) 170 pounds: Travis Wittlake (Oregon) vs. Nick Casperson (South Dakota), Tyler Barnes (New York) vs. Faustin Lopez (Colorado) 182 pounds: Ryan Karoly (New Jersey) vs. Julian Gorring (Pennsylvania), Lucas Davison (Indiana) vs. Caden Steffen (Minnesota) 195 pounds: Kaleb Reeves (Iowa) vs. Kyle Lightner (New Jersey), Cameron Sauerwein (Ohio) vs. Braxton Amos (West Virginia) 220 pounds: Tyler Curd (Missouri) vs. Chase Trussell (Utah), Jace Punke (Illinois) vs. Tarik Sutkovic (Arizona) 285 pounds: Jeff Queer (Montana) vs. Montana Phillips (Oklahoma), Spencer Trenary (Iowa) vs. Ronald Tucker (Illinois) Consolation Round of 12 88 pounds: Jackson Cockrell (Oklahoma) vs. Thomas, Kase Mauger (Idaho) vs. Rivers; Blotter vs. David Jacob (North Carolina), Brody Norman (Illinois) vs. Blake Noonan (Michigan) 94 pounds: Destin Summers (Idaho) vs. Caden McCrary (Georgia), Curtez Riley (Nebraska) vs. Cole Thomas (Alabama); Josh Ognunsanya (Illinois) vs. Braydon Mogle (Utah), David Stepanian (Michigan) vs. Billy Sullivan (Nevada) 100 pounds: Hunter Lewis (Wisconsin) vs. Sam Spencer (Illinois), Max Crowe (Minnesota) vs. Trey Crawford (Missouri); Macon Edwards (Alabama) vs. Matthew Ramos (Illinois), John Worthing (New York) vs. Kellyn March (South Dakota) 106 pounds: Dove Bonjean-Alpart (New York) vs Christopher Kelly (Arizona), Cameron Picklo (Oklahoma) vs. Tyler Jones (Minnesota); Alex Thomas (Alabama) vs. Adrian Marquez (Colorado), vs. Logan Agin (Ohio) vs. Kaden Anderlik (Iowa) 113 pounds: Delon Kenari (Illinois) vs. Antonio Saldate (Nevada), Colby Njos (Minnesota) vs. Matthew Ryan (Connecticut); King Sandoval (Maryland) vs. Alec McDoulett (Oklahoma), Joe Klock (Pennsylvania) vs. J.J. Wilson (Pennsylvania) 120 pounds: Justin Hoyle (Washington) vs. Braeden Dickinson (Idaho), Curtis LeMair (Minnesota) vs Maxwell Kauffman (Alabama); Bennett Moudy (Oklahoma) vs. Benji Peak (Wisconsin), Dawson Sihavong (California) vs. Connor Manderfeld (Texas) 126 pounds: Marcus Castillo (Arizona) vs. Brady Gross (Minnesota), Jacob Garcia (Arizona) vs. Jared Thieler (Louisiana); Jevon Parrish (Kansas) vs. Michael Mello (California), Bernie Truax (California) vs. Dominic Damon (Washington) 132 pounds: Kevon Davenport (Michigan) vs. Trevor Mansfield (South Carolina), Desmond Bowers (Nevada) vs. Nathan Paulson (California); River Curtis (Virginia) vs. Daniel Manibog (Texas), Zakery Kohler (Utah) vs. Alfonso Martinez (Arizona) 138 pounds: Nathan Swartz (Pennsylvania) vs. Ezekiel Williamson (Idaho), James Burks (Nebraska) vs. Peter Enos (Nevada); Zac Musselman (Utah) vs. Brody Lamb (Colorado), Fidel Mayora (Illinois) vs. Jason Kraisser (Maryland) 145 pounds: Jake Stiles (Illinois) vs. Weston Milnes (Arizona), Colton Denney (Oklahoma) vs. Alex Escudero (California); Justin McCoy (Pennsylvania) vs. Nathan Moore (Washington), Logan Jensen (Utah) vs. Jack Fisher (Illinois) 152 pounds: Sean Harman (Oregon) vs. Jack Ervein (Washington), Hunter Jump (Oklahoma) vs. Matthew Ortiz (Illinois); Carter Starocci (Pennsylvania) vs. Caleb Wise (Oklahoma), Edmund Ruth (Pennsylvania) vs. Mason Reiniche (Tennessee) 160 pounds: Jacob Lagoa (Ohio) vs. Drew Hoselton (Illinois), Jacob Logan (New York) vs. Andrue Sheperky (Arizona); Thaddeus Breitsprecker (Iowa) vs. Cornell Beachem (Ohio), Drian Hays (Colroado) vs. Lennox Wolak (Ohio) 170 pounds: Devin Winston (Missouri) vs. Zach Braunagel (Illinois), Shane Flandermeyer (Oklahoma) vs. Calvin Sund (Minnesota); Sebastian Mordecai (Arizona) vs. Michael Waggoner (Kansas), Joey Ewalt (Kansas) vs. Benjamin Root (Pennsylvania) 182 pounds: Keegan Fenstra (Colorado) vs. Elijah Rodriguez (New York), Drake Barbee (Oklahoma) vs. Ryan Crump (Georgia); David Schultz (Maryland) vs. Logan Schumacher (Iowa), Dylan Butts (Illinois) vs. Jackson McKinney (Washington) 195 pounds: Caleb Willis (Kansas) vs. Trent Ragland (Virginia), Matthew Cover (Ohio) vs. Matt Kaylor (North Dakota); Eli Pokorney (Indiana) vs. Hunter DeJong (Iowa), Tanelia Feliciano-Takafura (California) vs. Sergio Villalobos (Illinois) 220 pounds: Mason Lancaster (Oklahoma) vs. Keaton Fogler (Illinois), John Keiser (Washington) vs. Chase Umphres (Arizona); Luke Luffman (Illinois) vs. Cohlton Schultz (Colorado), Tyler Moore (Michigan) vs. Jesse Quilimaco (Oklahoma) 285 pounds: Austin Emerson (Michigan) vs. Andy Garcia (Colorado), Moses Jackson (Oregon) vs. Sean Lipscomb (Ohio); Wade Wheeler (Virginia) vs. Griffin Dalske (California), Xavier Moran (California) vs. Payton Smith (South Dakota)

Imagine the 2016 Rio Olympics without wrestlers -- or any other athletes -- from Russia. It's a possibility, as anti-doping officials from at least 10 nations -- including the United States and Canada -- as well as 20 athlete groups are preparing the extraordinary step of requesting that the entire Russian delegation be barred from competing at the Summer Games over allegations of a state-sponsored doping program, according to multiple media reports Saturday. Russia's track and field athletes are already banned from competing at next month's Olympics by the world governing International Association of Athletics' Federations (IAAF) over widespread doping in the sport. On Monday, a report from Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren is due on his investigation of allegations that the Russian government manipulated doping samples taken at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia to protect Russian competitors. In a blog posted on the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport website, Paul Melia, president of the body that oversees anti-doping efforts in Canada, said Olympic officials must be prepared to issue a blanket ban of all Russian athletes if the McLaren report confirms allegations that the country's government covered up doping failures. He anticipated that the report "could paint an unprecedented picture of state-supported corruption and subversion of the anti-doping system" along the lines alleged by Russian laboratory director Grigory Rodchenkov in the New York Times back in May. "If Monday's report confirms the Rodchenkov allegations, then the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will have no choice but to ban all Russian athletes from this summer's Olympic Summer Games in Rio," Melia wrote. "And it must be the same consequence for the Russian contingent at the Paralympics in September." Not everyone is on board with the idea. European Olympic Committees president Pat Hickey said the reported efforts led by the United States and Canada to ban all Russian athletes the Summer Games before the McLaren report has been released "has shocked and concerned me on a number of levels.” "My concern is that there seems to have been an attempt to agree an outcome before any evidence has been presented," Hickey said. "Such interference and calls ahead of the McLaren Report publication are totally against internationally recognized fair legal process and may have completely undermined the integrity and therefore the credibility of this important report." US Anti-Doping Agency chief Travis Tygart could not immediately be reached for comment. Banning all Russian athletes from the 2016 Rio Games would change the competitive landscape of the Olympics in all sports -- not just wrestling -- in a way not seen in more than 30 years. In 1980, the U.S. and a number of other nations boycotted the Summer Olympics held in Moscow because of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. Four years later, Soviet bloc nations did not send athletes to compete at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Brock Lesnar gets his hand raised after defeating Mark Hunt at UFC 200 (Photo/Associated Press) Brock Lesnar, former University of Minnesota wrestling champ, current WWE star and past UFC champ, reportedly failed a drug test administered before his triumphant return to the Octagon at UFC 200, with multiple side stories springing up around the allegations. Ultimate Fighting Championship revealed Friday afternoon that the United States Anti-Doping Agency had flagged Lesnar for potentially violating their doping policy by having a banned substance in his system. The sample in question was taken by USADA on June 28, more than a week before his unanimous decision over Mark Hunt at UFC 200 last Saturday night. The results were discovered on July 14. "USADA received the testing results from the June 28, 2016 sample collection from the WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency]-accredited UCLA Olympic Analytical Laboratory on the evening of July 14, 2016," the USADA said in a statement issued Friday. Lesnar, who turned 39 earlier this week, has come back clean in multiple previous drug tests, MMAFighting.com confirmed Friday night with USADA. USADA spokesperson Ryan Madden confirmed that Lesnar passed multiple tests before the June 28 sample came back positive for an undisclosed prohibited substance. "With Mr. Lesnar having spoken publicly about the issue, I can confirm that he has been notified of a potential anti-doping policy violation, stemming from an out-of-competition sample collection on June 28, 2016," Madden said in a statement. "I can also confirm that the results from his previous samples collected by USADA were all reported as negative. Although USADA will not be providing any further specifics of the case at this time, I can tell you that Mr. Lesnar, as with every athlete under the UFC anti-doping policy, will be provided full due process under the rules." "We'll get to the bottom of this," Lesnar said in a statement to the Associated Press. Lesnar provided the AP with copies of three letters notifying him that he had passed USADA drug tests prior to UFC 200. In fact, Lesnar was tested eight times in the month leading up to his fight with Hunt, five of them in the first two weeks he was under the UFC's anti-doping policy. The former UFC heavyweight champ was making his return to the Octagon at UFC 200 after four-and-a-half-years away from MMA. His return drew controversy when the UFC waived its rule that states retired fighters must inform USADA four months in advance of their of their return bout so they can be placed into the drug-testing pool. All UFC competitors must comply with the organization's drug testing procedures administered by USADA. WWE, the professional wrestling organization where Lesnar has been working for a number of years, has its own separate testing policy for performance-enhancing drugs as part of its wellness program. WWE had granted Lesnar permission to fight at UFC 200. It's unclear if Lesnar's possible USADA violation will affect his standing for its upcoming SummerSlam event in August or beyond with the company. "Brock Lesnar has not performed for WWE since Wrestlemania and is not scheduled to return until August 21," WWE said in a statement. Lesnar does have the option to test the B-sample, as is the right of any athlete who has been accused of failing a drug test, and will have the opportunity to clear his name with USADA. There are potentially serious implications for Lesnar. The former heavyweight wrestling champ for the Minnesota Gophers could face a two-year suspension from UFC competition as well as sanctions from the Nevada Athletic Commission, as UFC 200 took place in Las Vegas. In addition, his victory could be overturned by the NAC, which also retains jurisdiction in this case because of the sample collection's proximity to the fight. Hunt seeks justice -- and half the payday Mark Hunt, who lost a unanimous decision against Lesnar at UFC 200, could end up looking like a winner if he gets his way. On Friday, Hunt said that he has asked the UFC for half of Lesnar's purse, reportedly $2.5 million before pay-per-view income is factored in. Failing that, Hunt seeks to be released from his contract effective immediately. According to the Washington Post, UFC rules state that fighters who fail drug tests "are subject to forfeiture of their UFC ranking, belt, and purse or other compensation." Lesnar's UFC 200 opponent would like to see at least half of that money deposited into his own account. "I saw Brock made millions for this fight, more than anyone ever," said Hunt. "I wanna know what they are gonna do to Brock now. When you don't make weight they give twenty percent of your purse to the other fighter. If you get caught cheating you should lose all of it. "I've told [UFC President Dana White] I want half of Brock's purse." "The cheaters get a slap on the wrist and walk off," Hunt said. "What penalty or deterrent is there to make them think twice? Nothing. And the (Nevada Athletic Commission), why should these (expletive) get anything? They are not the ones who had to fight with Lesnar or lose (to him). I lost." Prior to UFC 200, Hunt called out Lesnar for steroids use, accusing the former UFC heavyweight champion of being "juiced to the gills." In a media conference call days before UFC 200, the 6'3", 265-pound former collegiate wrestling champ responded directly to Hunt's claim. "I've been dealing with that my entire life," Lesnar said. "I'm a white boy, and I'm jacked. Deal with it." Take a deep breath ... and blame it on asthma? One website reported that a post-collegiate training partner of Lesnar claims the agent which may have set off the USADA drug tests may be an Advair Diskus, a prescription medicine for the treatment of asthma. The training partner, who identified himself only as D2, wrote, "As many of you know I train with Brock and have brought to this board a lot of inside information on camp and his comeback. Towards the end of camp we kept things fun and did a lot of outdoor conditioning in Alexandria MN. This caused a severe reaction one day with Mr. Lesnar. He literally would not stop hyperventilating for almost 10 minutes after 5 rounds of hill sprints mixed with kettlebell work. Brock suffers from what's called RAD otherwise known as Reactive Airway Disease his doctor for years has prescribed him." "Advair Diskus which helps him breathe during the late spring and summer months here in Minnesota when he has episodes. This drug is classified as Beta-2 Agonists. So this is why he got popped by USADA ..." "He did not take this medication while in Las Vegas because he breathes well in that climate so this gave him no special advantages over Mark Hunt ... I have other members here who can verify that I train with Brock." Lesnar: Before UFC and WWE Born on a farm outside Webster, South Dakota on July 12, 1977, Lesnar made a name for himself as a college wrestler for his physique and performance on the mat. He started his collegiate career at Bismarck Junior College in North Dakota, where he was crowned a NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) champ in 1998. While at a tournament at Bismarck, Lesnar was spotted by Minnesota head coach J Robinson. The new recruit had an immediate impact on the Gophers and college wrestling. He was the subject of a popular "Brockfast of Champions" poster that not only showcased his physique but also pointed out his impressive measurements, including a 52" chest and 20" neck. No less a wrestling authority than Dan Gable said this about the heavyweight sensation during an Iowa vs. Minnesota telecast: "Lesnar turns more heads than Cindy Crawford in a thong." Lesnar was a two-time NCAA Division I championships finalist at Minnesota, winning the heavyweight title at the 2000 NCAAs.

Alleida Martinez and Gracie Figueroa (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) FARGO, N.D. -- Cadet World silver medalist Alleida Martinez of California won her second-straight Cadet women's freestyle national championship on Saturday night, sticking Angelina Gomez of Texas in the 101-pound final in 2:02. The win is Martinez's fourth USA Wrestling national title of the year, adding to her wins at the Body Bar UWW Cadet Nationals and both the Cadet and Junior Girls Folkstyle Nationals. Martinez has now accomplished this feat in back-to-back years. Read complete story … ASICS/VAUGHAN CADET WOMEN'S NATIONALS At Fargo, N.D., July 16 Cadet WM - 88 1st Place - Caitlyn Walker of Pennsylvania 2nd Place - Abigail Nelson of Wisconsin Round 1 - Caitlyn Walker (Pennsylvania) won by tech fall over Abigail Nelson (Wisconsin) (TF 10-0) Round 2 - Caitlyn Walker (Pennsylvania) won by tech fall over Abigail Nelson (Wisconsin) (TF 10-0) Cadet WM - 95 1st Place - Emily Shilson of Minnesota 2nd Place - Autumn Hohn of Wisconsin 3rd Place - Kayla Kehr of Pennsylvania 4th Place - Katalina Bartelt of Florida 5th Place - Jaine Stephens of Georgia 6th Place - Alexandra Puzon of Washington 7th Place - Jaclyn McNichols of Texas 8th Place - Alyssa Sequeira of California 1st Place Match - Emily Shilson (Minnesota) won by fall over Autumn Hohn (Wisconsin) (Fall 0:51) 3rd Place Match - Kayla Kehr (Pennsylvania) won by fall over Katalina Bartelt (Florida) (Fall 1:30) 5th Place Match - Jaine Stephens (Georgia) won by decision over Alexandra Puzon (Washington) (Dec 4-2) 7th Place Match - Jaclyn McNichols (Texas) won by tech fall over Alyssa Sequeira (California) (TF 10-0) Cadet WM - 101 1st Place - Alleida Martinez of California 2nd Place - Angelina Gomez of Texas 3rd Place - Tilynne Vasquez of Montana 4th Place - Felicity Taylor of Iowa 5th Place - Trina Nguyen of California 6th Place - Bailey Hoshino of Hawaii 7th Place - Mia Rodriguez of Illinois 8th Place - Josie Bartishofski of Wisconsin 1st Place Match - Alleida Martinez (California) won by fall over Angelina Gomez (Texas) (Fall 2:02) 3rd Place Match - Tilynne Vasquez (Montana) won by tech fall over Felicity Taylor (Iowa) (TF 14-3) 5th Place Match - Trina Nguyen (California) won by decision over Bailey Hoshino (Hawaii) (Dec 9-8) 7th Place Match - Mia Rodriguez (Illinois) won by tech fall over Josie Bartishofski (Wisconsin) (TF 10-0) Cadet WM - 108 1st Place - Macey Kilty of Wisconsin 2nd Place - Alisha Howk of Missouri 3rd Place - Stefana Jelacic of Arizona 4th Place - Amanda Walker of Pennsylvania 5th Place - Tiare Ikei of Hawaii 6th Place - Jasmine Weaver of Virginia 7th Place - Victoria Borrego of California 8th Place - Demetra Yancopoulos of New York 1st Place Match - Macey Kilty (Wisconsin) won by decision over Alisha Howk (Missouri) (Dec 7-0) 3rd Place Match - Stefana Jelacic (Arizona) won by fall over Amanda Walker (Pennsylvania) (Fall 0:00) 5th Place Match - Tiare Ikei (Hawaii) won by tech fall over Jasmine Weaver (Virginia) (TF 13-2) 7th Place Match - Victoria Borrego (California) won by fall over Demetra Yancopoulos (New York) (Fall 0:22) Cadet WM - 115 1st Place - Cara Broadus of Connecticut 2nd Place - Cameron Guerin of Washington 3rd Place - Viktorya Torres of Washington 4th Place - Jessica Sanchez of California 5th Place - Marissa Gallegos of Colorado 6th Place - Randi Robison of Illinois 7th Place - Mya Kretzer of Kansas 8th Place - Xochitl Mota-pettis of Texas 1st Place Match - Cara Broadus (Connecticut) won by tech fall over Cameron Guerin (Washington) (TF 10-0) 3rd Place Match - Viktorya Torres (Washington) won by decision over Jessica Sanchez (California) (Dec 5-1) 5th Place Match - Marissa Gallegos (Colorado) won by decision over Randi Robison (Illinois) (Dec 14-5) 7th Place Match - Mya Kretzer (Kansas) won by decision over Xochitl Mota-pettis (Texas) (Dec 10-6) Cadet WM - 124 1st Place - Gracie Figueroa of California 2nd Place - Michaela Beck of New York 3rd Place - Brianna Csontos of Virginia 4th Place - Savannah Vierra of California 5th Place - Kaylee Moore of Washington 6th Place - Zoe Buteau of Maine 7th Place - Alexandra Baudhuin of Texas 8th Place - Joye Levendusky of New York 1st Place Match - Gracie Figueroa (California) won by decision over Michaela Beck (New York) (Dec 4-0) 3rd Place Match - Brianna Csontos (Virginia) won by tech fall over Savannah Vierra (California) (TF 12-2) 5th Place Match - Kaylee Moore (Washington) won by decision over Zoe Buteau (Maine) (Dec 12-3) 7th Place Match - Alexandra Baudhuin (Texas) won by decision over Joye Levendusky (New York) (Dec 8-0) Cadet WM - 132 1st Place - Alexandria Liles of Texas 2nd Place - Alara Boyd of Indiana 3rd Place - Ginamarie Santiago of Puerto Rico 4th Place - Grace Kristoff of Illinois 5th Place - Kiana Pugh of Wisconsin 6th Place - Jerzie Estrada of Colorado 7th Place - Dalia Garibay of California 8th Place - Genesis Miranda of California 1st Place Match - Alexandria Liles (Texas) won by decision over Alara Boyd (Indiana) (Dec 8-5) 3rd Place Match - Ginamarie Santiago (Puerto Rico) won by decision over Grace Kristoff (Illinois) (Dec 8-0) 5th Place Match - Kiana Pugh (Wisconsin) won by injury default over Jerzie Estrada (Colorado) (Inj. 0:00) 7th Place Match - Dalia Garibay (California) won by tech fall over Genesis Miranda (California) (TF 18-8) Cadet WM - 143 1st Place - Jayden Laurent of Wisconsin 2nd Place - Alexis Gomez of Illinois 3rd Place - Mahealani Lewis of Hawaii 4th Place - McKenzie Cook of Alaska 5th Place - Hailey Finn of New York 6th Place - Jillian Bruno of Pennsylvania 7th Place - Adelyhda Perez of Texas 8th Place - Destiny Bailey of New Mexico 1st Place Match - Jayden Laurent (Wisconsin) won by tech fall over Alexis Gomez (Illinois) (TF 12-0) 3rd Place Match - Mahealani Lewis (Hawaii) won by decision over McKenzie Cook (Alaska) (Dec 12-5) 5th Place Match - Hailey Finn (New York) won by fall over Jillian Bruno (Pennsylvania) (Fall 3:27) 7th Place Match - Adelyhda Perez (Texas) won by tech fall over Destiny Bailey (New Mexico) (TF 10-0) Cadet WM - 154 1st Place - Hannah Ramos of Wisconsin 2nd Place - Emily Cue of Colorado 3rd Place - Olivia Rondeau of Maryland 4th Place - Tyra Bailey of New Jersey 5th Place - Kelani Corbett of Hawaii 6th Place - Emmaline Reusing of California 7th Place - Alexis Young of California 8th Place - Ashley Weatherford of Georgia 1st Place Match - Hannah Ramos (Wisconsin) won by tech fall over Emily Cue (Colorado) (TF 16-6) 3rd Place Match - Olivia Rondeau (Maryland) won by fall over Tyra Bailey (New Jersey) (Fall 4:28) 5th Place Match - Kelani Corbett (Hawaii) won by injury default over Emmaline Reusing (California) (Inj. 0:00) 7th Place Match - Alexis Young (California) won by decision over Ashley Weatherford (Georgia) (Dec 8-0) Cadet WM - 172 1st Place - Hailey Cancelleri of New York 2nd Place - Kaylee Seabolt of Georgia 3rd Place - Natalie Kemp of Wisconsin 4th Place - Elisa Robinson of Kansas

Mitchell McKee has won Fargo titles each of the last four years (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) The Fargo Week is officially upon us. Competition for athletes in the Junior age group, one in which any wrestler that competed in grades nine through twelve during the 2015-16 school year is eligible, starts on Monday with the Greco-Roman event. The tournament then concludes with medal matches on Tuesday afternoon. Most athletes in this competition have completed their junior year in high school, while a significant amount of others have graduated from high school or are rising juniors. There are more known commodities at the Junior level than at the Cadet level, since they've been competing at the high school level longer. None the less, the Junior events are robust competitions, one in which All-American honors are truly earned. Below is an overview of the participating field in each weight class for the Junior Greco-Roman competition. Information used in this preview is based on registration posted to Trackwrestling as of early afternoon on Saturday, July 16. 100 pounds: Last year Mosha Schwartz (Colorado) was a Cadet Triple Crown winner at 88 pounds, and this year he already earned the first leg of the Junior Triple Crown when he won the folkstyle national title in this weight class in early April. Schwartz is the very strong favorite in this competition, ranked No. 45 overall in the Class of 2019, and will be representing the United States at the UWW Cadet World Champions in Greco-Roman at 46 kilograms (101 pounds). Another pair in this weight class were also All-Americans in Cadet Greco-Roman last summer, all at 94 pounds. Brandon Nunez (New York) placed fifth, Cevion Severado (Missouri) placed sixth. Each were also state medalists this past high school season, and placers at the UWW Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman at 46 kilograms; Severado was the runner-up to Schwartz, while Nunez placed fifth. An additional pair of wrestlers were scholastic season state champions, Brendan Garcia (Colorado) and Darrick Stacey (Idaho). Others to watch include Brenden Chaowanapibool (Washington), who was undefeated in Greco-Roman at last month's Junior Duals; state medalist Camden Russell (Nebraska); Junior folkstyle runner-up Cody Holmes (Wisconsin); and state medalist Matthew Petersen (Minnesota), a returning Greco-Roman All-American from this Junior weight class last year. 106 pounds: Jaret Lane (Pennsylvania) seeks a repeat title in Junior Greco-Roman, after winning last year at 100 pounds and then finishing runner-up in the freestyle competition. He is also a two-time state placer, including a runner-up finish this past high school season, and was champion at the FloNationals this spring. Four others from this weight class joined Lane in going undefeated at last month's Junior Duals in Greco-Roman: two-time state champion Brandon Kaylor (Washington), state champions Cody Phippen (Missouri) and Elijah Varona (Florida), along with Jason Holmes (Arizona). Kaylor placed third in Greco-Roman at last month's UWW Cadet Nationals in the 50 kilogram (110 pound) weight class, Phippen was a Cadet double All-American last year at 94 pounds, Varona was runner-up to Lane in Greco-Roman last summer and a freestyle All-american, while Holmes was fourth in Greco-Roman and beat Lane in the freestyle final last summer. Additional wrestlers to watch include two-time state champions Koby Milner (Georgia) and Wyatt Adams (Oklahoma), state runners-up Cody Craig (Maine) and Dalton Stutzman (Utah), along with returning Junior double All-Americans Nathan Rankin (Texas) and Tyler Cunningham (Nebraska); Rankin was a scholastic state medalist, while Cunningham was a state champion. 113 pounds: Dack Punke (Illinois) seeks a repeat title in Junior Greco-Roman, after winning the title last year in this weight class. In addition, he was a scholastic state champion this past season, and has represented the United States twice in Greco-Roman at the UWW Cadet World Championships. Joining Punke (who competed at 50 kilos) on last year's Cadet World Team was Brady Koontz (Wisconsin), who competed at 46 kilos and also was a scholastic state champion this season. Four wrestlers in this weight class are two-time state champions: Brock Bergelin (Wisconsin), also a two-time UWW Cadet Greco-Roman runner-up at 50 kilos; Joey Thomas (Maryland), sixth in Junior Greco-Roman at 106 pounds last summer; Justin Portillo (Iowa); and Ty Smith (Nevada), champion in Junior folkstyle this spring. At least seven others in this weight class were scholastic state champions this past season, including Junior Greco-Roman runner-up Dylan Koontz (Wisconsin); Joey Melendez (Illinois); Joseph Harrison (Nebraska), who was undefeated in Greco-Roman at last month's Junior Duals; Kelvin Eblen (Missouri), a returning All-American in Junior Greco-Roman; and Patrick McKee (Minnesota), two times a Cadet double All-American in Fargo. Four others in this weight class won state titles in 2015, including Jake Stogdill (Nebraska), a UWW Junior Greco All-American this spring at 55 kilos (121 pounds). The additional notable in this weight class is Nico Aguilar (California), state runner-up this past season, and a Cadet National double champion in 2014. 120 pounds: A pair of wrestlers in this rather deep weight class have already won Junior National titles in Greco-Roman, Dalton Duffield (Oklahoma) in 2015 and Danny Vega (Arizona) in 2014. Oklahoma bound Duffield is also a two-time state runner-up and placed fourth at the UWW Junior Nationals in Greco-Roman this spring; while Iowa State bound Vega ended his career as the No. 76 overall Class of 2016 prospect, is a three-time state champion, and was a Junior Triple Crown winner in 2014. Two others in this weight class are ranked as top 100 prospects in the Class of 2017, No. 63 Drew Mattin (Ohio) and No. 78 Colin Valdiviez (Missouri). Mattin went undefeated in Greco-Roman at the Junior Duals last month, is a two-time state champion, two-time Super 32 Challenge placer, and has earned double All-American honors in Fargo the last two years (Junior 113 in 2015); while Valdiviez was a state champion this past year, along with being a Super 32 Challenge placer, who also placed third at the UWW Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman last month. Another pair of wrestlers have been runners-up in Junior Greco-Roman previously, Corbin Nirschl (Kansas) and Jordan Martinez (Colorado); Nirschl is also a three-time state finalist, winning a title in 2014, while Martinez won state this past season and also was runner-up in Greco-Roman at the UWW Junior Nationals this spring. Seven others in this weight are multiple time state champions, including Wesley Dawkins (Nebraska) and Trae Vasquez (Montana), who were undefeated at the Junior Duals in Greco-Roman last month; while Ian Timmins (Nevada) was a FloNationals champion and won a Cadet Greco-Roman title in 2014, Jaxon Cole (Utah) is a two-time FloNationals placer, Jet Taylor (Oklahoma) is a FloNationals placer, with Connor Brown (Missouri) a three-time state champion. Rounding out the lot of wrestlers to note are three-time state placer Brenden Baker (Iowa), a 2014 Junior Greco All-American; two-time state placer Chase Zollman (California); two-time state runner-up Liam Cronin (California), a returning Junior double All-American; along with state champions Jack Skudlarczyk (Texas) and Victor Gliva (Minnesota). 126 pounds: Three-time Fargo runner-up, including last year in Junior Greco-Roman, Matthew Schmitt (Missouri) enters this weight class as the slight favorite. Also a three-time state champion, the West Virginia bound wrestler graduated as the No. 47 overall wrestler in the Class of 2016. Three other grade level ranked wrestlers are in this weight class: Alex Thomsen (Iowa), No. 30 overall in the Class of 2018, along with Class of 2017 wrestlers in No. 77 Cole Manley (Pennsylvania) and No. 81 Drew West (Iowa). Thomsen is a two-time state champion, a Cadet double All-American last year, and a Super 32 Challenge placer; Manley is a two-time state placer, runner-up in 2014; while West is a three-time state placer, champion in 2014, and finished third in Junior Greco-Roman last year. Three other notable title contenders are graduated seniors. Multi-time state champion Paul Bianchi (Wisconsin), a three-time Greco-Roman All-American in Fargo; NHSCA Senior Nationals champion Codi Russell (Georgia); and New England regional champion Peter Del Gallo (Maine). Another pair of three-time state champions are among those to watch, Josh Portillo (Iowa) and Clai Quintanilla (Washington), a Cadet Greco All-American last year. Another trio earned All-American honors last year in Cadet Greco-Roman: two-time state champion Clayton Currier (Montana), 2015 state runner-up Gary Joint (California), and UWW Cadet Greco runner-up Jack Karstetter (Oklahoma). Others to watch include two-time state placer Jakob Campbell (Pennsylvania), 2015 state champion and FloNationals placer Michael Millage (Iowa), 2015 state champion and three-time finalist Rylee Molitor (Minnesota), along with 2015 state placer Zach Villarreal (Illinois) who went undefeated at the Junior Duals in Greco-Roman. 132 pounds: Even in what is a very strong overall weight, there is just one favorite, and that is Taylor LaMont (Utah). He represented the United States at the UWW Cadet World Championships the previous three years, and will be competing at the Junior World Championships in the 60 kilo (132 pound) weight class next month. In addition, the No. 23 overall Class of 2016 wrestler is a three-time Junior Greco All-American in Fargo, including a national title in 2014. However, there is another Junior Greco-Roman national champion in this weight class, Gabe Townsell (Illinois). He won that title a weight class below LaMont last year, and was also a Cadet National champion in Greco-Roman during the summer of 2013; however, he was third behind LaMont at the UWW Junior Nationals this spring in Greco-Roman. Three wrestlers in this weight class join LaMont as being grade level ranked wrestlers, all happen to be in the Class of 2017: No. 28 Chris Sandoval (Colorado), No. 86 Timmy Kane (Connecticut), and No. 88 K.J. Fenstermacher (Pennsylvania). Sandoval won the Junior folkstyle title in this weight class, and seeks a Junior Triple Crown; Kane was a Cadet double All-American last summer; while Fenstermacher is a two-time state placer. There is a pair of wrestlers in this weight class that placed third in Junior Greco-Roman last summer, both being three-time scholastic state champions as well, Brent Jones (Minnesota) and Dalton Young (Washington). Additional wrestlers to watch in this weight class include a pair of FloNationals placers in Keaton Geerts (Iowa) and Tanner Cox (Utah); state champion Jacob Butler (Oklahoma) and two-time state placer Blaine Martinez (Texas) who both went undefeated at the Junior Duals in Greco-Roman last month; three-time state champion Danny Bertoni (Maryland); Zach Van Alst (Alabama), a returning Junior Greco All-American; state champion Jakob Bergeland (Minnesota), a returning Cadet double All-American; along with state champion Tristan Lara (Iowa). 138 pounds: Even in a field with four other grade-level ranked wrestlers, the clear favorite is Mitchell McKee (Minnesota), who has been a star in Fargo. The No. 20 overall Class of 2016 prospect has won Fargo titles each of the last four years (three in Greco-Roman, including last year's Junior title at 132), and is already a seven-time finalist in eight tournament attempts. McKee has also finished as a double All-American at the UWW Junior Nationals these last two years, and is a two-time Super 32 Challenge placer. The other ranked Class of 2016 wrestler is No. 86 Jarrett Degen (Montana), a four-time state champion who placed eighth in Junior Greco-Roman last summer. The three ranked Class of 2017 wrestlers are No. 30 Jaden Enriquez (California), No. 59 Alec Hagan (Missouri), and No. 85 Corey Shie (Ohio). Enriquez is a two-time state placer, a two-time UWW Cadet Greco-Roman runner-up to LaMont, and a two-time Cadet double All-American (winning gold in Greco-Roman in 2014); Hagan was state champ this high school season, and was a Cadet double All-American last year; while Shie is a two-time state placer, placed at the Super 32 and FloNationals during 2015-16, and was third in Junior Greco-Roman last summer. Others to watch in this weight class include state champion Brik Filippo (Oklahoma); state champion Nolan Baker (Illinois), a three-time Greco-Roman All-American in Fargo; UWW Cadet Greco-Roman runner-up Calvin Germinaro (Minnesota); three-time state placer Alex Crowe (Mnnesota), a Cadet Greco-Roman runner-up in 2013; along with multiple time state champions in Dakota Galt (South Dakota) and Taylor Nein (North Dakota). 145 pounds: Returning Junior Greco-Roman runner-up Austin O'Connor (Illinois) is ranked No. 11 overall in the Class of 2017. The three-time state champion was also a Super 32 Challenge runner-up in the fall of 2015, and enters this event as the favorite. Three other wrestlers in this weight class join O'Connor in being grade-level ranked wrestlers. Anthony Artalona (Florida) and Alex Lloyd (Minnesota) are ranked No. 17 and No. 24 overall in the Class of 2018. Each was a Cadet National Greco-Roman champion last summer. Artalona is also a two-time state champion, and doubled up that Greco-Roman title with a freestyle title in Fargo; while Lloyd also won a Junior National folkstyle title this spring, and is a two-time Cadet double All-American along with winning a high school state title this winter. Ryan Deakin (Colorado), a two-time Junior Greco-Roman All-American, finished as the No. 95 overall wrestler in the Class of 2016; he also was a two-time state champion and placed third in the Super 32 Challenge. Two wrestlers in this weight class return as Junior Greco All-Americans, David Rivera-Kohr (Illinois) and two-time state champion Jaron Jensen (Utah), who also took second in Greco-Roman at the UWW Junior Nationals this spring. Others to watch include multi-time state champions Brandon Konecny (Arizona), undefeated in Greco-Roman at the Junior Duals last month; Eli King (Tennessee); Justin Ruffin (Georgia); and Ryan Leisure (Iowa), who also finished runner-up in Greco-Roman at the UWW Junior Nationals this spring. 152 pounds: On the surface this appears to be a battle between two elite wrestlers in Griffin Parriott (Minnesota) and Quentin Hovis (Arizona). Parriott ended his scholastic career as a four-time state champion, two-time Super 32 Challenge placer, and ranked No. 17 overall in the Class of 2016; while Hovis is a three-time state champion, three-time Greco-Roman All-American in Fargo (third at the Junior level last year), a UWW Junior Greco-Roman champion, and ranked No. 20 overall in the Class of 2017. Three wrestlers in this weight class joined Hovis in going undefeated in Greco-Roman at the Junior Duals last month. Anthony Scantlin (Kansas) is a two-time state champion, state runner-up Billy Higgins (Nebraska) was a Cadet Greco All-American in 2014, while 2015 state champion Thomas Lisher (Missouri) was a Junior Greco All-American last year. Another pair of wrestlers were multiple-time state champions, Jaron Chavez (Idaho) and Zemua Baptista (Nebraska); Chavez is ranked No. 80 overall in the Class of 2017, and is a two-time Cadet Greco All-American (runner-up in 2014). Others to watch include state champion and Cadet freestyle runner-up Jaryn Curry (Oklahoma); Super 32 Challenge placer Lenny Merkin (New York), a 2014 Junior Greco All-American; two-time state placers Davey Tunon (Ohio) and Ethan Reel (Illinois); along with state placer Joshua Kim (California). 160 pounds: Six grade-level ranked wrestlers make this arguably the deepest weight class in the tournament. The Iowa State bound Colton Clingenpeel (Iowa) finished as the No. 85 overall wrestler in the Class of 2016; he was state champion this past year, and is a returning Junior Greco All-American. Trent Hidlay (Pennsylvania) placed at the Super 32 Challenge and was runner-up at the FloNationals, finished as runner-up in his state tournament, and is ranked No. 23 overall in the Class of 2018. The other four are all Class of 2017 wrestlers: No. 19 Layne Van Anrooy (Oregon), a three-time state champion; No. 32 Eric Hong (Pennsylvania), a two-time Super 32 placer, two-time Cadet double All-American, and 2014 National Prep champion; No. 34 Jake Allar (Minnesota), third at both the UWW Junior and Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman, a state champion and Super 32 Challenge placer, and a 2015 Cadet World team member in Greco-Roman; and No. 44 Luke Troy (California), a two-time third place finisher at state and a Junior National freestyle All-American last summer. Others to watch include Cadet Greco-Roman runner-up Andrew Johnson (Kansas); state champion Emille Shannon (Illinois); state runner-up Fritz Schierl (Wisconsin), a Junior Greco All-American last summer; Josh Anderson (Nebraska), a UWW Junior Greco All-American this spring; two-time state placer Kenny O'Neil (Minnesota); Cadet Greco-Roman champion Max Wohlabaugh, who won the UWW Cadet Greco-Roman title this spring; state runner-up Ryder Punke (Illinois), a 2014 Junior Greco All-American; along with state champion Trey Meyer (Washington), a 2014 Cadet National freestyle champion. 170 pounds: Three grade-level ranked wrestlers populate this weight class, Jack Jessen (Illinois), Anthony Mantanona (California), and Clay Lautt (Kansas). Jessen is ranked No. 13 in the Class of 2018, a two-time state placer (2015 runner-up), and a two-time Cadet National double All-American; Mantanona is ranked No. 31 in the Class of 2017, a two-time state placer (runner-up this past season), a Super 32 Challenge placer, and FloNationals champion; while Lautt is ranked No. 98 in the Class of 2017, a two-time state champion, Cadet double All-American last summer, and a UWW Cadet National champion in Greco-Roman this spring. Another pair in this weight class were Junior National runners-up in Greco-Roman last summer, Andrew Berreyesa (Nevada) and Riley Jaramillo (Oregon). Berreyesa is a three-time state finalist (2015 state champion) and a FloNationals placer, while Jaramillo is a two-time state champion and also a 2014 Cadet Greco-Roman champion. Additional wrestlers to watch include three-time state champion Jacob Hart (West Virginia), a FloNationals placer; two-time state champion Johnny Blankenship (Missouri); three-time state placer Leo Tarantino (Florida); state champion Myles Wilson (Colorado); 2015 state champion Thomas Brackett (Tennessee), who was undefeated at the Junior Duals in Greco-Roman last month; and state medalist Victor Marcelli (Ohio), a Cadet double All-American last summer. 182 pounds: Returning Junior Greco-Roman champion Kamal Bey (Illinois) is the anchor figure in this weight class. The No. 11 overall Class of 2016 wrestler is also going to be on the UWW Junior World Team in Greco-Roman at 74 kilos (163 pounds) laster this summer. Two others in this weight class are grade-level ranked, Owen Webster (Minnesota) and James Handwerk (Ohio). Webster is ranked No. 48 overall in the Class of 2016; the 2014 state champion was a Junior freestyle All-American last year and a Cadet Greco-Roman champion in 2014, and also a Cadet World team member in freestyle during the summer of 2014. Handwerk is ranked No. 65 in the Class of 2017, a two-time state champion, and a returning Junior National double All-American. Two others in this weight class earned All-American honors in Junior Greco-Roman last summer, two-time state medalist Aaron Paddock (New York) and two-time state champion Matt Waddell (Georiga). Additional wrestlers to note in this weight class include two-time state medalist Anthony Sherry (Iowa), a two-time Cadet double All-american; state champion Bear Hughes (Oklahoma); state champion Robert Coleman (Oregon), a FloNationals placer; Dylan Servis (Kansas), a two-time Cadet Greco All-American; two-time state champion Kevin Parker (New York), a Junior National freestyle All-American; state medalist Logan Gruszka (Illinois), a 2014 Cadet World team member in Greco-Roman; along with two-time state champion Trevor Nichelson (Nebraska). 195 pounds: The pre-tournament favorite would be Andrew Davison (Indiana), who is seeking the second leg to the Junior Triple Crown having won the folkstyle title this spring. He is ranked No. 61 overall in the Class of 2017, and also a Cadet double All-American last year, including a champion in Greco-Roman. Most likely to pose a direct challenge is two-time state champion John Borst (Virginia), a FloNationals placer and UWW Cadet double All-American this spring. At least five others were scholastic state champions this past season. They include multi-time champions Cade Brownlee (Nebraska) and Haydn Maley (Oregon), a FloNationals placer; along with Chad Porter (Arizona), Noah Ryan (Minnesota), and Trenton Schultz (Colorado). Others to watch include Bonifacio Escobar (California), a Cadet Greco All-American last summer; two-time state placer Danny Salas (California), a Cadet double All-American last summer; three-time state placer Donovan Doyle (Iowa); two-time state placer John Kelbly (Ohio); state runners-up Samuel Grove (Minnesota) and Nolan Funk (Colorado), who went undefeated in Greco-Roman at last month's Junior Duals; along with state medalist Sean O'Malley (New Jersey). 220 pounds: Samuel Colbray (Oregon) was a double runner-up at the Junior Nationals last summer after winning a Greco-Roman title each of the previous three years in Fargo (2014 was at the Junior level). The No. 14 overall wrestler in the Class of 2016 is a strong favorite to get a fourth Greco-Roman championship in Fargo before moving on to Iowa State. The most direct threat would seem to be Zane Black (Pennsylvania), ranked No. 69 overall in the Class of 2017; he placed at National Preps in 2015, placed at the Super 32 Challenge in the fall of 2015, and was fourth in Junior Greco-Roman last summer. Joining Black in going undefeated at the Junior Duals in Greco-Roman was Daryl Aiello (California), a two-time state placer and Junior freestyle All-American last summer. Another returning Junior All-American in Fargo is Jeffrey Allen (Virginia), a two-time state champion who placed eighth at 195 pounds in Greco-Roman. Others two watch include three-time state champion Ashton Seely (Utah); state medalists Andrew Fenton (Ohio), Anthony Piscopo (Pennsylvania), and Diata Drayton (Illinois); Cadet double All-American Colin Lawler (Texas); and state champion Max Darrah (Missouri). 285 pounds: Junior folkstyle champion this spring, returning Junior Greco-Roman runner-up Carter Isley (Iowa) is well positioned to win this second leg of the Junior Triple Crown. He is also ranked as the No. 58 overall prospect in the Class of 2016 as a two-time state champion. Two others are ranked within their respective grade levels, Brandon Metz (North Dakota) and Anthony Cassioppi (Illinois). Metz is No. 57 in the Class of 2017 as a three-time state champion and returning Junior Greco All-American, while Cassioppi is the No. 42 prospect in the Class of 2018 as a state third place finisher and returning Cadet double third place medalist. Five others in this weight class were double All-Americans in Fargo last summer. Two-time state placer Gavin Nye (California) did so at the Cadet level, including a runner-up finish in Greco-Roman at 285 pounds; state champion Kayne Hutchsion (Kansas) did so at the Cadet level, including a Greco-Roman runner-up finish at 220; state champion Sammy de Seriere (Colorado) did so at the Cadet level; state medalist Thomas Helton (Illinois) did so at the Junior level; while state medalist Zach Muller (Illinois) did so at the Cadet level. Others to watch include state runner-up Aaron Costello (Iowa), two-time state champion Brian Barnes (Oregon), and two-time state placer Trenton Lieruance (Oklahoma).

Nick Raimo is a strong favorite to win the title at 126 pounds (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) The Fargo Week is almost upon us. The Cadet women's freestyle event starts on Saturday, with the first event for male athletes starting on Sunday, and that is the Cadet Greco-Roman competition. This event can serve as a first identifying event for many athletes both entering high school, and also for those already finished with one or two seasons of high school competition, on the national level. While other athletes are already known commodities, also looking for recognition and glory in a national event. Below is an overview of the participating field in each weight class for the Cadet Greco-Roman competition, which starts on Sunday and reaches its conclusion Monday. Information used in this preview is based on registration posted to Trackwrestling as of mid-afternoon on Friday, July 15. 88 pounds: The two leading contenders are Andrew Chambal (Michigan) and Paxton Creese (Minnesota). Chambal won a Cadet folkstyle title at 94 pounds, earning the first leg of the Cadet Triple Crown, with the second and third legs to come over the next week in Fargo. He also was runner-up in Greco-Roman at the UWW Cadet Nationals in the 42 kilogram (92 pound) weight class. Creese went undefeated in Greco-Roman at last month's Cadet Duals, and placed fourth in the 42 kilo weight class at the UWW Cadet Greco-Roman tournament. Others to watch include Timothy Levine (California), who was third in the same Cadet folkstyle weight class as Chambal; Blake Noonan (Michigan), a UWW Cadet freestyle All-American; along with Emilio Haynes (Nebraska), a Cadet folkstyle runner-up at 88 pounds. 94 pounds: The favorite in this weight class is Jalen Spuhler (Wisconsin), who will be representing the United States on the Cadet World team in Greco-Roman at 42 kilograms. Five other All-Americans who finished behind Spuhler in last month's UWW Cadet National tournament feature in this weight class: Dylan Ragusin (Illinois), Caden McCrary (Georiga), Christian Goin (Illinois), Brenden Chaowanapibool (Washington), and Destin Summers (Idaho). Ragusin and McCrary were All-Americans in the freestyle competition as well. Goin is also a returning Cadet Greco-Roman All-American from last summer in Fargo, placing eighth at 88 pounds. Chaowanapibool went undefeated at last month's Cadet Duals in Greco-Roman. Summers was a state champ during the scholastic season, along with finishing third in Cadet folkstyle at 88 pounds. 100 pounds: Two-time Cadet folkstyle runner-up Eric Faught (Iowa) enters this rather talented weight class as the slightest of favorites; he also was a state runner-up this past scholastic season, finished second in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month at 46 kilos (101 pounds), and went undefeated in Greco-Roman at last month's Cadet Duals. Seeking the second leg of the Triple Crown will be Steele Dias (Nevada), champion in Cadet folkstyle each of the last two years; Dias was also fifth in Cadet Greco-Roman at 94 pounds last year, and is a two-time double All-American at the UWW Cadet Nationals. Three wrestlers in this weight class were double All-Americans at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo last summer, all of them at 88 pounds. Derek Ramos (Idaho) was runner-up in Greco-Roman, Lucas Byrd (Ohio) was third in both styles, and Ridge Lovett (Idaho) was runner-up in freestyle. Ramos has also placed twice in his high school state tournament, state medalist Byrd was also a double All-American at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month, while state champion Lovett was an All-American in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals. Additional contenders include impact incoming freshmen Anthony Clark (New Jersey) and Kellyn March (South Dakota), a returning Cadet Greco All-American in Nick Onea (Pennsylvania), along with Matthew Ramos (Illinois) and Max Crowe (Minnesota). 106 pounds: Entering the tournament as a slight favorite is Jace Koezler (Kansas), a Cadet folkstyle champion this spring after winning a high school state title this winter. He also was a Cadet double All-American last summer at 94 pounds, including a runner-up finish in Greco-Roman. Among the primary challengers are a pair of Pennsylvania state medalists in Dalton Rohrbaugh and Beau Bayless. Two others in this weight class join Koelzer in being returning Fargo All-Americans in Greco-Roman, high school state champion Josh Blatt (North Carolina) and state medalist Patrick Allis (Colorado). Others to note include Adrian Marquez (Colorado); state runner-up Isaac Lopez (Washington); Manny Drexler (Wisconsin), a UWW Cadet All-American in Greco-Roman; along with Mitchel Peterson (Minnesota), who went undefeated in Greco-Roman at last month's Cadet Duals. 113 pounds: This weight class features at least seven wrestlers who won a high school state title during the 2015-16 season, most notable among the lot being FloNationals runner-up Ben Kamali (Michigan). Others to win gold include two-time champion Antonio Saldate (Nevada), Isaiah Delgado (Texas), Jacob Frias (Arizona), Jordan Hamdan (Michigan), Joseph Otero (New Mexico), and Lorenzo Vasquez (Oregon). Another four wrestlers finished either second or third: two-time medalist Andrew Lucero (Colorado), Austin Almaguer (Washington), Joey Bianchi (Wisconsin), and FloNationals placer Malyke Hines (Florida). Also meriting attention are returning Cadet Greco-Roman All-Americans in Gavin Stockwell (Oregon) and J.J. Wilson (Pennsylvania), along with Lorenzo Witcraft (Oklahoma), who was undefeated in Greco-Roman at last month's Cadet Duals. 120 pounds: A pair of nationally ranked Class of 2019 wrestlers anchor this weight class, No. 15 Theorius Robison (Colorado) and No. 40 Cade Devos (Iowa); Robison was also a state champ during the past scholastic season, and an All-American in freestyle at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month. Three wrestlers in this weight class are returning All-Americans from last summer's Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman: high school state champion Atilano Escobar (Arizona), as well as state medalists Benji Peak (Wisconsin) and Curtis LeMair (Minnesota); Escobar also placed eighth in Greco-Roman at last month's UWW Cadet Nationals, while Peak was a runner-up last summer in Fargo. Joining Escobar as a UWW Cadet Greco-Roman All-American is two-time state placer Connor Manderfeld (Texas). Five others join Robison and Escobar as high school season state champions: two-timers Alex Cruz (Washington) and Gabe Hixenbaugh (Alabama), Bennett Moudy (Oklahoma), Orion Anderson (New York), and Tyler Delaware (Illinois). Three others in this weight class were high school state runners-up Aaron Schulist (Wisconsin), Cael Carlson (Minnesota), and Earl Blake (Maryland); Blake was also undefeated in Greco-Roman at last month's Cadet Duals. Three others to watch in this weight class are two-time National Prep placer King Sandoval (Maryland), incoming freshman Matt Lee (Indiana), and state medalist Patrick Gould (Pennsylvania). 126 pounds: Nick Raimo (New Jersey) was a Cadet National double champion last summer at 120 pounds, and is ranked as the No. 2 overall Class of 2019 wrestler. He enters the tournament as the strong favorite in this weight class. One other wrestler ranked among the top 50 in the Class of 2019 is in this field, No. 49 Kevon Davenport (Michigan), a high school state champion this winter. Two other scholastic state champions are in this field: Dayton Porsch (Kansas), who was undefeated at the Cadet Duals last month in Greco-Roman; and returning Cadet Greco-Roman runner-up Peyton Robb (Minnesota). Other contenders include state medalist Sebas Swiggum (Minnesota), a champion in Cadet folkstyle this spring; state medalists Job Greenwood (Colorado) and Gabriel Ruepke (Iowa), with Greenwood going undefeated in Greco-Roman at last month's Cadet Duals; along with Josh Steele (Missouri). 132 pounds: Even in the midst of what is a very talented weight class, there is but one favorite, and that is Sammy Sasso (Pennsylvania). Sasso was a Cadet double All-American last summer in Fargo, including a title in freestyle; he is also ranked No. 6 overall in the Class of 2018, including a FloNationals title and third place finish at the Super 32 Challenge. Two other ranked Class of 2018 wrestlers are in this field: No. 29 Jacori Teemer (New York), a three-time state champion, and No. 39 Josh Humphreys (West Virginia), a two-time state champion. Two others with grade level rankings in this weight class are Alfonso Martinez (Arizona) and Frankie Tal-Shahar (Florida), No. 16 and No. 21 in the Class of 2020; Martinez was third in Cadet folkstyle, while Tal-Shahar was undefeated at last month's Cadet Duals in Greco-Roman. Five wrestlers join Teemer and Humphreys as scholastic season state champions: Andrew Gamble (Missouri), who also went undefeated in Greco-Roman at the Cadet Duals last month; Mason Phillips (Washington); River Curtis (Virginia), a two-time champion; Roderick Mosley (Oklahoma); and T.J. Baun (Washington). Others to note in this weight class include Carnell Andrews (Pennsylvania), two-time state medalist and Cadet folkstyle runner-up Harlan Steffensmeier (Iowa), two-time National Prep placer Nathan Thacker (Maryland), state medalist Nick Freeman (Michigan), along with two-time state runner-up and Cadet folkstyle runner-up Tyler Eischens (Minnesota). 138 pounds: Two elite Class of 2018 prospects anchor this weight class, No. 26 Brock Hardy (Utah) and No. 28 Will Lewan (Illinois). Two-time state champion Hardy is after the second leg of the Cadet Triple Crown having won the folkstyle title in April, and was a Fargo runner-up last summer in both styles; while Lewan was a Cadet double All-American last summer, and is a two-time state medalist. Also in this weight class are a trio of ranked Class of 2019 wrestlers, all of whom won state titles as freshmen: No. 20 Cameron Amine (Michigan), No. 24 James Burks (Nebraska), and No. 26 Jason Kraisser (Maryland). Also a grade level ranked wrestler is Cadet folkstyle runner-up Fidel Mayora (Illinois), No. 15 overall in the Class of 2020. Three others in this weight class won state championships this past high school season: Frankie Almaguer (Washington), Kolton Clark (Alabama), and Peter Enos (Nevada). Others to watch include 2015 state champion Gerald Angelo (New Jersey), two-time state medalist Ryan Steffen (Iowa), and UWW Cadet Greco All-American John McGowan (Oklahoma). 145 pounds: Seeking the second leg of the Cadet Triple Crown in this tournament is three-time state champion Jared Franek (North Dakota), who also earned All-American honors in Cadet freestyle last summer. The other scholastic state champion in this weight class is Adrian St. Germain (Washington). Two individuals went undefeated in Greco-Roman at last month's Cadet Duals, Dalton Jensen and state placer Isaac Wilcox, both from Utah. Others to watch in this weight class include rising freshman Aaron Gandara (Arizona), Abe Assad (Illinois), state placer Brian Case (Michigan), state runners-up Colton Denney (Oklahoma) and Garrett Lange (Kansas), state placers Gabe Kjelgaard (Iowa) and Nathan Moore (Washington), two-time state placer Justin McCoy (Pennsylvania), along with state runner-up and returning Cadet freestyle All-American Logan Jensen (Utah). 152 pounds: The joint favorites in this weight class would have to be Michael O'Malley (New Jersey) and Tyler Dow (Wisconsin), both of whom were state runners-up during their sophomore season of high school. Each wrestler was also a Cadet double All-American last summer, and an All-American at the UWW Cadet Nationals in Greco-Roman last month; Dow also placed in the freestyle tournament as well. Two wrestlers in this weight class were scholastic state champions this year, Mason Reiniche (Tennessee) and McKay Foy (Utah); while another pair join O'Malley and Dow as state runners-up, Hunter Jump (Oklahoma) and James Rogers (Washington). Additional state medalists in this weight class include Caleb Hetrick (Pennsylvania), Carter Starocci (Pennsylvania), Edmund Ruth (Pennsylvania), and Lucas Roland (Iowa); Ruth is also ranked No. 34 overall in the Class of 2019. Two others to watch are Matthew Ortiz (Illinois) and David Cumberledge (Ohio). 160 pounds: The two most talented wrestlers in this weight class are Aaron Brooks (Maryland) and Josh Stillings (Pennsylvania), both of whom were NHSCA Sophomore Nationals champions this spring. Though neither has had great Olympic styles success, both have robust scholasvtic production; Brooks a two-time state champion and Stillings was fourth in Pennsylvania's big-school division. Another pair of wrestlers were Cadet All-Americans in Greco-Roman last summer, Bryson Alsteen (Wisconsin) and Jake Hendricks (Pennsylvania); Henricks was also an All-American in both styles at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month. Others to watch include Chris Foca (New Jersey), ranked No. 44 in the Class of 2019, along with a pair of Ohioans in Cornell Beachem and Jacob Lagoa; Lagoa was undefeated in Greco-Roman at the Cadet duals last month. 170 pounds: An absolute baffling loss in the quarterfinals of Cadet freestyle last summer cost Travis Wittlake (Oregon) the shot to win a Triple Crown. This year, Wittlake is in pole position to get that Triple Crown. Ranked No. 8 overall in the Class of 2018, his resume is abundant. Two challengers in this weight class went undefeated in Greco-Roman at last month's Cadet Duals: Ben Root (Pennsylvania) and Devin Winston (Missouri); Winston joins Wittlake in being eligible for the Cadet Triple Crown, and is ranked No. 39 overall in the Class of 2019. Other contenders include 2015 state runner-up Sebastian Mordecai (Arizona), state medalist Cade Pederson (North Dakota), along with two-time state placers in Joel Shapiro (Iowa) and Nick Casperson (South Daktoa). 182 pounds: National Prep champion Ryan Karoly (New Jersey), ranked No. 25 overall in the Class of 2018 enters as the favorite in this weight class. Last year, he was a runner-up in Cadet Greco-Roman to Wittlake and won the freestyle tournament after Wittlake suffered the upset loss. Three others in this weight class went undefeated at the Cadet Duals in Greco-Roman: Julian Gorring (Pennsylvania), Ryan C rump (Georgia), and Cadet folkstyle champion Lucas Davison (Indiana). Others to watch include state champion Christian Knop (Alabama), state runner-up Caden Steffen (Minnesota), two-time state placer Logan Schumacher (Iowa), and NHSCA Freshman Nationals champion Drake Barbee (Oklahoma). 195 pounds: The lone grade level ranked wrestler in the weight class as of the moment is Braxton Amos (West Virginia), No. 5 overall in the Class of 2020. Seeking a Cadet Triple Crown is Sergio Villalobos (Illinois), who won the folkstyle title at 220 earlier this spring. Another trio went undefeated at the Cadet Duals in Greco-Roman last month: state placer Jace Punke (Illinois), Kaleb Reeves (Iowa), and Trent Ragland (Virginia). Two others to watch are Cadet folkstyle runner-up Eli Pokorny (Indiana) and Joseph Miller (Nevada), a state medalist and UWW Cadet Greco All-American. 220 pounds: Cohlton Schultz (Colorado) is the top-ranked wrestler in the Class of 2019, a defending Cadet Greco-Roman champion, and will be representing the United States at the Cadet Worlds in Greco-Roman at 100 kilos (220 pounds). He is your obvious favorite. Others to note include state medalist Tyler Curd (Missouri), undefeated in Greco-Roman at last month's Cadet Duals; as well as state medalist Luke Luffman (Illinois), a double All-American at the UWW Cadet Nationals last month 285 pounds: Ronald Tucker Jr. (Illinois) won the first leg of the Cadet Triple Crown in April. He went undefeated in Greco-Roman at the Cadet Duals last month, and is ranked No. 25 overall in the Class of 2019. Others to watch include state runner-up Louden Haga (West Virginia), Cadet folkstyle runner-up and state medalist Spencer Trenary (Iowa), along with Montana Phillips (Oklahoma) who went undefeated in Greco-Roman at the Cadet Duals last month.

Israel Silva FRESNO, Calif. -- The building of a staff has started to take shape for Fresno State wrestling as head coach Troy Steiner announced the hiring of Israel Silva as an assistant coach on Friday. "I am very excited about adding Israel to our staff here at Fresno State," Steiner said. "He has been an assistant at this level for a number of years and has experience coaching and competing at a high level. His ability to connect with the student-athlete, alumni and fans is very evident and I know I will be able to trust him in helping build the Bulldog wrestling program." Israel joins the Red Wave after spending the last two seasons at George Mason, first serving as an interim assistant coach and then last season as the top assistant coach for head coach Joe Russell. In his time at GMU, the Patriots qualified three wrestlers for the NCAA Championships. "Fresno State is in a unique situation in building a program and I am thrilled to be given an opportunity to be a part of the building process," Silva said. "I would like to thank Coach Russell at George Mason for his mentorship the past two years and I am very appreciative of my time as a Patriot. "I have known Coach Steiner for a long time as he was my personal coach when I was training at the Northwest Wrestling Regional Training Center and there is no individual I trust more than him. He has a grand vision for this program to compete for trophies at the NCAA Championships and I know we will be willing to put in the work to make that a reality," said Silva. Prior to his time with the Patriots, Silva spent two seasons at South Dakota State helping to elevate the Jackrabbit program with his enthusiasm, intensity and relentless work ethic. In his first year as an assistant coach at SDSU, Silva helped lead the team to a 5-12 dual record, 1-4 Western Wrestling Conference record and a fifth-place finish in the conference standings. The team qualified one wrestler for the NCAA Championships via the West Regional. Silva's second year on campus saw the Jacks go 6-8 overall, including a 3-2 Western Wrestling Conference dual mark and had three wrestlers qualify for the 2014 NCAA Wrestling Championships in Oklahoma City, Okla. From 2009-2012, Silva served as an assistant coach at the Northwest Wrestling Regional Training Center in Corvallis, Ore., where he first connected with Steiner during Steiner's time as an assistant with the Oregon State program. The NWRTC is an Olympic-level regional training center that provides services for senior-level athletes to achieve national and international success. The majority of his time was spent with student-athletes at Oregon State. Prior to his time at the NWRTC, Silva was a volunteer assistant under head coach Chris Bono at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for three seasons. A two-year starter for the Mocs, Silva earned a degree in sociology. On the mat, he claimed the Southern Conference heavyweight title as a senior and was part of the Mocs' SoCon team championship in 2006. Once his collegiate wrestling career wrapped up, Silva put together an impressive post-collegiate career on the international wrestling stage, as well. He is a four-time World Team Member for Mexico, three-time Freestyle Pan American medalist and was a 2012 Olympic alternate over his seven years of international experience. Before wrestling at UTC, Silva was a two-time Junior College All-American at North Idaho College. He placed second at the national tournament his sophomore year and was third as a freshman. Silva led the team to the Junior College National Championship in 2002. A native of Marysville, Wash., Silva was a four-time state qualifier at Pilchuck High School from 1998-2001. He captured the state title his junior season, finished as the state runner-up his senior year and placed sixth as a sophomore. Silva File 2015-16 - Head Assistant Coach, George Mason 2014-15 - Interim Assistant Coach, George Mason 2012-14 - Assistant Coach, South Dakota State 2009-12 - Assistant Coach, Northwest Wrestling Regional Training Center, Corvallis, Ore. 2006-09 - Volunteer Assistant Coach, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Emails released by the University of Minnesota reveal new details on the process to get the entire Gopher wrestling team tested for drugs last spring, but offer no new insight as to whether head coach J Robinson knew or suspected some of his wrestlers were selling prescription drugs, according to the St. Paul Pioneer-Press Thursday. The newspaper revealed that all 39 Minnesota wrestlers were drug tested on Sunday, March 22 -- the day after the conclusion of the 2016 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships -- by Drug Free Sport of Kansas City, Mo., at a cost of $1,930. The decision to test the entire team was made on March 20, after a review board determined the list of wrestlers suspected of drug use was too long to fit in the category "reasonable suspicion." According to University of Minnesota police documents, an athletics trainer told police that the wrestlers were tested using a panel that included marijuana, opiates and amphetamines but not Xanax, a prescription anti-anxiety drug that some Gopher wrestlers were accused of using or selling. This information was revealed in emails released by the University of Minnesota to the Pioneer-Press at the request of the newspaper. However, the St. Paul paper states that these emails between Robinson and his direct supervisor, associate athletic director Marc Ryan, do not shed any light as to whether the coach informed supervisors that he suspected wrestlers were selling drugs. On March 10, Ryan sent an Alcohol and Drug Testing Reasonable Suspicion form to Robinson, but the coach returned it without names of players he suspected were taking drugs. In a later email to his supervisor -- interim athletic director Beth Geotz -- Ryan said that Robinson "turned it back to me with a long list of his student-athletes that he wanted tested." The University of Minnesota police investigation began after a complaint related to the wrestling program was filed on the school's confidential reporting service, EthicsPoint, on April 8. The anonymous EthicsPoint complaint stated that Robinson told wrestlers to turn in "any illegal drugs that they have in their possession." The complainant admitted not having seen any such transaction. Results of that university police investigation were shared with city and county prosecutors in late June, who declined to press charges against coach Robinson or any wrestlers. University of Minnesota spokesman Evan Lapiska told the Pioneer-Press Thursday that the school can offer "no updates on the investigation other than it remains active and ongoing." On June 1, newly hired athletics director Mark Coyle put Robinson on an indefinite paid administrative leave. The coach is also banned from campus, and prohibited from discussing the allegations with anyone from the wrestling program. J Robinson Wrestling Camps originally scheduled to take place on the Minnesota campus this summer had to be relocated to the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, about 40 miles east of the Twin Cities.