Returning National champ and 2019 Cadet World Team member Robert Perez III (145 lbs, CA) is working on a repeat inside the Fargodome, and thus far he has cruised through his mission.
The 2019 Cadet (now called 16U) Nationals kicked off at 9:00am (CT) and was broadcast live in the US on FLOWrestling.
Perez went 4-0 on Wednesday and won all four bouts via tech, with his quarterfinal contest opposite CJ Hamblin (WA) the only time he reached the second period. In addition, the talented Californian is yet to give up a point, amassing a combined margin of victory that currently stands at a staggering 41-0.
But Perez is not the only ’18 winner within striking distance of a second-consecutive title. Kolby Franklin (220 lbs, PA), up from 195 lbs a year ago, has been similarly dominant. Franklin began his day in the round-of-32 with an 11-0 blanking of Joseph Baynard (OR), followed up with another shutout against Mcintyre Thatcher (UT), and then defeated fellow Pennsylvanian Nathan Taylor in the quarters.
2019 Cadet World Team Trials runner-up Jore Volk (100 lbs, MN) sailed to the quarterfinals on the strength of two one-sided wins but was challenged a bit more once he got there thanks to Wisconsin’s Brayden Sonnentag. Even still, Volk has performed outstanding, using an array of transitions and turns to rack up his victories. His next test is a tough one — Kannon Webster (IL), who is in the midst of his own impressive run leading up to tomorrow’s second and last day of 16U competition.
One of Illinois’ best weapons is gifted throwback Joey Cape (120 lbs). Second place last year, Cape is is an athlete many have identified as a potential future Senior star. It’s not difficult to see why. Like most of the other high-profile youths in the tournament, he raced to the quarterfinal brandishing explosive throws and easily converting follow-up points. But waiting for him was Richard Fedalen (MD) in a bout Cape was forced to grind out a 6-4 decision.
Michael Tal-Shahar (182 lbs) of Florida and trained by former World medalist Shawn Sheldon, has been putting in the work over the past couple of years, including getting himself overseas. It is beginning to pay off. Tal-Shahar is in the semis following a strong day at the office and will meet a very tough Jack Darrah (MO).
One of the 16U tournament’s most notable matches so far featured Olympic Training Center EAP (Elite Accelerator Program) athlete Cole Stephenson (126 lbs, COL) and Gavin Drexler. Stephenson, who has logged his share of matches in Europe, was seen as one of his bracket’s biggest favorites. But he did not have an answer for Drexler on Wednesday, as the Wisconsinite rolled to an 11-1 tech.
AT U15, he is a heavyweight. At 16U, he is a 195’er. Either way, 2019 World Combat Games bronze medalist Andrew Blackburn-Forst (IL) is in position to keep the momentum going after collecting three wins, with a pin in the quarterfinal over Ashton Davis (TN) serving as the highlight — though he was put through the wringer before that with a criteria win at the expense of David Harper (GA). The youngster will have a battle on his hands in tomorrow morning’s semifinal, however. Seth Shumate (OH), 4th at Fargo in ’18, will be standing in the opposite corner coming off of a blitzing 3-0 performance that saw two of his three victories notched via fall.
Session III (semis and consolations) for the 16U Nationals begins at 9:00am (CT) and can be viewed live in the US on FLOWrestling.
2019 Fargo Cadet Nationals
July 17-18 — Fargo, North Dakota
SEMIFINAL PAIRINGS
88 lbs
Caleb Thoennes (MN) vs. Cael Alderman (KS)
Alan Koehler (MN) vs. Hunter Taylor (KS)
94 lbs
Ray Ray Harris (CA) vs. DJ Gillett (OR)
Coleman Nogle (MD) vs. Cael Hughes (OK)
100 lbs
Benjamin Aranda (IL) vs. Beau Mantanona (CA)
Kannon Webster (IL) vs. Jore Volk (MN)
106 lbs
Kyle Rice (ID) vs. Joseph Fernau (IL)
Horacio Godinez (WA) vs. Christian Tanefeu (ND)
113 lbs
Brock Bobzien (CA) vs. Gabe Whisenhunt (OR)
Trae McDaniel (TN) vs. Isaiah Medina (CA)
120 lbs
Nicolar Rivera (WI) vs. Joey Cape (IL)
Kayd Craig (ID) vs. Hunter Garvin (IA)
126 lbs
Gavin Drexler (WI) vs. Kaleb Larkin (AZ)
Ramon Ramos (AZ) vs. Colin Roberts (OH)
132 lbs
Ivan Morris (COL) vs. Michael Kilic (GA)
Kyle Dutton (MO) vs. Jack Milos (IL)
138 lbs
Cody Chittum (TN) vs. Garrison Dendy (GA)
Nick Hamilton (IA) vs. John Wiley (OK)
145 lbs
Robert Perez III (CA) vs. Paniro Johnson (PA)
Matthew Rodriguez (CA) vs. Matthew Singleton (GA)
152 lbs
Jared Simma (KS) vs. Kamdyn Munro (GA)
Ryder Rogotzke (MN) vs. Robert Weston (GA)
160 lbs
Bradley Gillum (IL) vs. Fernando Villaescusa (AZ)
Kaleb Smith (ID) vs. Adam Ahrendsen (IA)
170 lbs
Tate Picklo (OK) vs. Leonard Pinto (PA)
Gavin Nelson (MN) vs. Evan Canoyer (NE)
182 lbs
Jack Darrah (MO) vs. Michael Tal-Shahar (FL)
Nick Feldman (PA) vs. Branson Britten (TX)
195 lbs
Seth Shumate (OH) vs. Andrew Blackburn-Forst (IL)
Jordan Hilford (CA) vs. Isaiah Anderson (WA)
220 lbs
Kolby Franklin (PA) vs. Chase Horne (GA)
Dustin Swanson (PA) vs. Gage Cook (WA)
285 lbs
Gavin Layton (MN) vs. Jacob Barnes (OR)
Hayden Copass (IL) vs. Michael Fanz (MO)
QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
88 lbs
Caleb Thoennes (MN) def. Kolby Warren (MO) 8-0
Cael Alderman (KS) def. Cosmo Damiani (NY) 11-1, TF
Alan Koehler (MN) def. Kyison Garcia (UT) 10-6
Hunter Taylor (KS) def. Grigor Cholakyan (CA) 8-7
94 lbs
Ray Ray Harris (CA) def. Christopher Martino (ID) 12-5
DJ Gillett (OR) def. Sam Ewing (MO) via fall
Coleman Nogle (MD) def. Paul Kelly (AZ) 11-1, TF
Cael Hughes (OK) def. Joey Showalter (WI) 15-3, TF
100 lbs
Benjamin Aranda (IL) def. Trason Oehme (SD) 7-2
Beau Mantanona (CA) def. Sefton Douglass (WY)
Kannon Webster (IL) def. Tristan Bremer (ID) 11-0, TF
Jore Volk (MN) def. Brayden Sonnentag (WI) 6-1
106 lbs
Kyle Rice (ID) def. Jacob Van Dee (PA) 4-0
Joseph Fernau (IL) def. Art Martinez (GA) 6-0
Horacio Godinez (WA) def. Kolton Malone (OR) 12-0, TF
Christian Tanefeu (ND) def. Zach Silvis (MN) 6-2
113 lbs
Brock Bobzien (CA) def. Kenndyl Mobley (WA) 5-3
Gabe Whisenhunt (OR) def. Abraham Hinrichsen (IL) 8-2
Trae McDaniel (TN) def. Nathan Mooney (TX) 10-5
Isaiah Medina (CA) def. Stevie Barnes (IA) 10-0, TF
120 lbs
Nicolar Rivera (WI) def. AJ Smith (MN) 11-1, TF
Joey Cape (IL) def. Richard Fedalen (MD) 6-4
Kayd Craig (ID) def. Q’veli Quintanilla (WA) 11-0, TF
Hunter Garvin (IA) def. Brennan Van Hoecke (FL) 11-0, TF
126 lbs
Gavin Drexler (WI) def. Cole Stephenson (CO) 11-1, TF
Kaleb Larkin (AZ) def. Conor Goucher (WA) 4-2
Ramon Ramos (AZ) def. Jordan Blew (IL) 12-1, TF
Colin Roberts (OH) def. Maximillian Leete (MA) 4-3
132 lbs
Ivan Morris (COL) def. Jaden New (AL) 10-0, TF
Michael Kilic (GA) def. Mateo de la Pena (WA) 6-1
Kyle Dutton (MO) def. Kyle Boeke (MN) 11-0, TF
Jack Milos (IL) def. Robert Avila (IA) 5-2
138 lbs
Cody Chittum (TN) def. Thor Michaelson (WA) 10-1
Garrison Dendy (GA) def. James Johnston (MI) 14-2, TF
Nick Hamilton (IA) def. Daniel Cardenas (COL) 3-1
John Wiley (OK) def. Matthew Bianchi (WI) 4-3
145 lbs
Robert Perez III (CA) def. CJ Hamblin (WA) 11-0, TF
Paniro Johnson (PA) def. Jude Link (MN) 6-2
Matthew Rodriguez (CA) def. Jared Stricker (WI) 2-1
Matthew Singleton (GA) def. Reynaldo Garcia (PA) 12-1, TF
152 lbs
Jared Simma (KS) def. Tyler Lillard (OH) 10-9
Kamdyn Munro (GA) def. Tyler Collins (COL) 10-2
Ryder Rogotzke (MN) def. Domenic D’Agostino (PA) 11-0, TF
Robert Weston (GA) def. David Brooks (MO) 7-0
160 lbs
Bradley Gillum (IL) def. Harrison Trahan (PA) via fall
Fernando Villaescusa (AZ) def. Drake Buchanan (IN) 4-2
Kaleb Smith (IN) def. Raul Soto (FL) 11-7
Adam Ahrendsen (IA) def. Bowen Rothbauer (WI) 10-0, TF
170 lbs
Tate Picklo (OK) def. Blayze Standley (NE) 13-0, TF
Leonard Pinto (PA) def. Michael Altomer (NY) 11-0, TF
Gavin Nelson (MN) def. Thomas Stewart (MD) 4-2
Evan Canoyer (NE) def. Damion Schunke (SD) 11-0, TF
182 lbs
Jack Darrah (MO) def. Maxwell Gourley (PA) 4-2
Michael Tal-Shahar (FL) def. Wyatt Voelker (IA) 13-6
Nick Feldman (PA) def. Brannigan Reyes (OK) 10-1
Branson Britten (TX) def. Isaiah Huus (ND) 8-3
195 lbs
Seth Shumate (OH) def. Leighton Jones (IN) 10-0, TF
Andrew Blackburn-Forst (IL) def. Ashton Davis (TN) via fall
Jordan Hilford (CA) def. Evan Bates (IN) 9-9 (criteria)
Isaiah Anderson (WA) def. Jamikael Lytle (CT) 11-0, TF
220 lbs
Kolby Franklin (PA) def. Nathan Taylor (PA) 11-1, TF
Chase Horne (GA) def. Jaren Rohde (WI) 12-4
Dustin Swanson (PA) def. Riley Ucker (OH) 13-3, TF
Gage Cook (WA) def. Chase Thompson (FL) via fall
285 lbs
Gavin Layton (MN) def. Ryan Elrod (OH) 10-0, TF
Jacob Barnes (OR) def. Griffin Liddle (IA) 7-0
Hayden Copass (IL) def. Ethan Kremer (KS) 5-2
Michael Fanz (MO) def. Jacob Moore (AZ) 12-7
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FIVE POINT MOVE PODCAST
iTunes | Stitcher | Spreaker | Google Play Music | RSS
