With Fargo just days away, we are wondering who the Florida wrestlers are to watch? Well, watch them all because at this tournamnet you just never know who will have a break out tournament and surprise everyone. So many things can and usually will happen at Fargo. The best of the best in the entire nation will be there competing for a stop sign. The top 8 wrestlers in each weight class will make the podium and come home with the Fargo award [stop sign shaped plaque].
With all of that being said, we do have some specific wrestlers to keep a close eye on. These are the kids who have found success at Fargo in previous years or have done well at Fargo but missed making the podium. Also, newcomers to Fargo who can make some noise in their first appearence.
Starting with the 16U Women’s Freestyle we have Ailee Briggs. This is her second trip to Fargo going 1-2 the first time she went. She has come a long way since her first Fargo appearence and I feel she can make the podium if she puts together a good tournament. She’s got the ability, coaching and the desire to get on the podium.
Next for the womens 16U would be Abigail Gonzalez. She proved she can compete with the best in the country when she faced National Champion Gabby Tedesco in the state finals. Tedesco walked through everyone at the state tourney but she had a much tougher time in the finals with Gonzalez. Abigail Gonzalez is ready to go and should make a run for a podium spot. Others to keep your eye on in the 16U Girls are Paola Ramirez and Willow White. Both have come a long way and are ready to make a run at a podium spot.
In the Women’s Juniors division we have Mya Bethel. Mya returns to Fargo as the defending Fargo Champion so she will be the one to watch here. I feel she can repeat but it will not be easy. It may be tougher defending her title than winning it for the first time! That target is on her back and some very tough girls will be gunning for her. It’s always nice to say you knocked off the returning champ. Mya Bethel will not make that easy for anyone and I feel if things go right, she will repeat and become a 2X Fargo National Champion.
Another one to watch in the Women’s Junior division is Nina “Cyborg” Bormann. Borgmann won a state title and then a national title but Fargo is not like any other national tournament out there. It is the biggest one of them all. Can Nina Borgmann handle that type of pressure? I say, yes she can. I feel Borgmann has turned that corner and can be considered one of the elite in the nation. But there are many “elite” that will be in her division at Fargo. Nina will need to be perfect to walk away with a Fargo title. Keep your eye on her because she will be bringing the Florida heat each and every time she steps on the mat.
Mary Manis will be in the Women’s Junior division this year after moving up from 16U. Last year Manis was the 16U Fargo Champ and the year before she was a finalist in 16U. So, Manis is no stranger to Fargo or how to advance to the finals. But as a first year Junior, it may be a little more difficult for her. Either way, Manis has won Fargo and I feel no matter what division she is in, she has a chance to win it all.
Former Fargo All-Americans returning this year who should make another run at the podium in the Women’s Junior division are Sofia Delgado, Kailani Barrientos, and Grace Leota. All three have what it takes to get on the podium again and should be watched closely, as I feel all three of them will come home with stop signs again. Katherine Stewart went 3-2 last year but did not make the podium. But the experience she gained plus the confidence she has from winning three matches there should be enough to get her further this year. Katherine has what it takes and I hope she can put it all together at Fargo.
Others who I feel can make some noise in the Women’s Junior Division are Erin Rizzuto, Mariah Mills, Emma Bauknight, Camdyn Elliott, Kiki Bush and Joslyn Johnson. I’m not sure where they would land on the podium, but I feel they can all make a run at a spot. Again, it will take everything going right for them as well as competing at their highest level. They all have what it takes, the question is can they put it all together? Watch them closely and hopefully we will have a few more AA’s in the Junior Women’s.
For the boys let’s start with 16U. Jovani Solis is on a roll and has been winning everything there is to win. Including a gold medal at the Pan-Am’s as he represented Puerto Rico. I feel Solis has a great shot to make the podium in Freestyle. I think he can advance to the finals and win it all, as I have watched him compete many times at very big national events and win them. Fargo is much different but with a kid like Jovani Solis and the success he’s had so far, he’s a kid who you have to think can win it all. He’s had the coaching to get him to where he is right now and he’s still getting better!
Kawayran Vazquez, Adaias Ortiz, Jovanni Tovar and of course Peter Mocco are other 16U boys with very good chances of getting to that podium. All four have had great success at big tournaments. Mocco has the pedigree for sure and with his older brother having had great success at Fargo last year, I feel Peter will feed off of that. You know the younger brothers always want to do better than the older brothers! Kawayran Vazquez made the podium last year at Fargo in Greco and will be looking to do the same in freestyle this year as well. KJ is a beast and I feel he can go deep into the freestyle tourney.
Mac ” Bear” Andrews tore it up at the 16U duals and is looking to keep that run alive for Fargo. He did not make the podium at Fargo last year but got the experience of competing there. He did win a couple of matches last year at Fargo, so he will definitely be looking to add some more wins this year. Mac is a kid who absolutely loves to compete. You cannot coach that. If you put a kid like Mac in a tournament like Fargo, you know for a fact he will give it everything he’s got. In Freestyle, a kid like Mac can do very well because he will never slow down. And even if you are down by a few points in Freestyle, one big move can get you right back into the match. That’s why I feel a kid like Mac Andrews has a shot to hit that podium this year. He’s finally healthy, healed up and ready to make a run at it.
In the Men’s Junior division we have quite a few who I feel can do very well. I will start with one of my favorites, Maximus ” Max” Brady. What can you say about this kid other than he’s just awesome! I spoke to Conor Beebe about Max and I was told the kid just loves to compete. He is also a student of the game. Always looking for ways to get better and will do anything he’s told to do. Conor told me that Max is a coaches dream and he hasnt coached many kids as dedicated as Max Brady. He just loves the kid. Last year at Fargo I believe Max went 3-2 and failed to make the podium, but he is a completely different Max Brady this year. I predict Max will find his way to the podium and cap off a great year with a Fargo AA next to his name.
CJ Torres [LHP] placed 4th last year at Fargo and he’s looking to do better this year. He is quite capable of winning Fargo in my opinion. Another Junior to watch would be Eric Hodge, brother of Kendrick Hodge. Eric did not place at Fargo last year in the 16U division, but in my opinion should have. He was 3-2 at Fargo and he definitely has what it takes to change things around and get to that podium. I hope he can put it all together because if he does, watch out!!! He’s a fun kid to watch for sure.
Alex Smith was at Yulee HS last year and has since transferred to Lake Highland Prep. He is a different wrestler now and has proven he is on the national level. Can he make the podium at Fargo? Well, that will remain to be seen, but I feel he has the potential to wrestle deep into the later rounds and be there for day two.
Rounding out the Junior mens’ guys to watch are Gunner Holland, Anderson Heap, Christian Fretwell and Pavel Bulko. Bulko loves Greco and he can throw with the best of them. Last year at Fargo Bulko came close to making the podium and i feel this will be his year to get there. Keep your eye on him, he will be around on day two. Gunner Holland was injured last year so he will be one of the guys to surprise people this year. He’s been on fire and he’s ready to make a run for an AA status. Anderson Heap is just great, peroiod. He was 8-1 at the Junior Duals and his only loss was a close 3-2 to a very tough Wisconsin wrestler. Heap is another one who missed the podium last year but easily could have been there had a few calls gone his way. Willie White was at Miami Southwest but has since moved over to South Dade. He was 6-3 at Junior Duals and I feel with the right draw and few calls going his way, he too can find the podium and become another South Dade Fargo AA. He will have to bring his A game for sure but White is the type of grinder who can do it when he needs to. Finally, we have Christian Fretwell. ever since arriving at Lake Gibson HS Fretwell has been one of the best around. The key to Fretwell getting to the podium in Fargo will be consistency. He must wrestle at his highest level each and every match. If he can do that he will be very hard to beat and I see him making the podium. Consistency will be the key for him.
Obviously with as many wrestlers as we have representing Florida, any of them can find their way to the podium if everything goes their way. You need luck involved when you compete at Fargo and I don’t care what anyone says, it’s just the way that tournament is. I feel the above listed wrestlers have the best shot at becoming Fargo AA’s, but like I said, we have many who can do it as well. I am hoping all of our Florida wrestlers compete well and give it everything they’ve got. Good luck to all and safe travels to the wrestlers, coaches and all of the family’s making the long journey to Fargo, North Dakota!