Fargo Team Preview: Iowa Looking To Flex In The FargoDome – FloWrestling

Contemporary off sweeping each titles on the Junior Nationwide Duals, Iowa is trying to proceed reestablishing itself as a nationwide energy. The state has taken massive steps in recent times with high-level performances from particular person stars akin to Drake Ayala, Nate Jesuroga, Hunter Garvin and Ben Kueter, and Iowa’s expertise pool is getting deeper, evidenced by the roster the state has assembled for Fargo.  

2021 Freestyle Staff Finishes 

16U — eighth 

Junior — fifth 

2021 Fargo All-People 

16U Freestyle 

Dru Ayala — seventh at 100 

Maddux Borcherding-Johnson — fourth at 285

Nick Fox — third at 152 

McCrae Hagarty — third at 195 

Tyler Harper — seventh at 94 

Jacob Walker — second at 220

Junior Freestyle 

Drake Ayala — champion at 126

Connor Fiser — fifth at 106

Griffin Gammell — eighth at 182

Ben Kueter — second at 220 

Caleb Rathjen — second at 145

Aiden Riggins — second at 160 

Wyatt Voelker — eighth at 195

Hammers To Watch 

#9 Dru Ayala (Junior/106) — A returning Fargo All-American who went 7-1 on the Junior Duals with six techs. His solely loss there got here on standards. Ayala positioned seventh final yr in Fargo in 16U freestyle. 

#10 Ryder Block (Junior/138) — An Iowa-bound three-time state finalist and two-time champ. Block went 5-2 final yr within the Junior freestyle division. He’s coming off a 5-1 displaying on the Junior Duals —  highlighted by technical superiority wins in opposition to Ismael Ayoub and then-#2 Nasir Bailey — which vaulted Block up from seventeenth to tenth within the nationwide rankings.

#8 Kolby Franklin (Junior/220) — A five-time Fargo All-American and four-time finalist. Franklin received 16U titles in each types earlier than putting fourth final yr in Junior freestyle. He piled up these accolades for Pennsylvania. After signing with Iowa, Franklin made the transfer to Iowa Metropolis and he was a key contributor to Staff Iowa’s freestyle title run on the Junior Duals, the place he teched all seven of his opponents. 

#12 McCrae Hagarty (Junior/195) — Hagarty positioned third in each types final yr in Fargo within the 16U division and adopted that up with a terrific junior yr. He received his second state title in February and was one of many fastest-rising prospects within the nationwide rankings popping out of the U17 World Staff Staff Trials. His third-place end in Las Vegas included wins over Sonny Sasso, Austin Johnson and Sawyer Bartelt and took him from exterior the rankings as much as #9 at 195. 

#1 Nate Jesuroga (Junior/120) — Some of the adorned wrestlers on the Fargo entry listing. The highest-ranked 120-pounder’s resume features a Cadet World bronze, two Iowa state titles, a Tremendous 32 belt and a win at Who’s #1. Now the Iowa recruit is wanting so as to add some Fargo {hardware} to his listing of accomplishments. 

#8 Tate Naaktgeboren (Junior/182) — An Iowa State commit who’s headed into his senior season with two state titles and a runner-up end. Naaktgeboren went 5-2 final yr in Fargo and fell one victory in need of the freestyle podium. He’s coming off a terrific efficiency on the Junior Duals, the place he went 8-0 in freestyle, punctuated by a 9-0 win in opposition to Ironman champ Brody Conley. 

#5 Kale Petersen (Junior/126) — Rocketed up the nationwide rankings this spring, going from exterior the highest 20 to inside the highest 5 after choosing off a collection of wins in opposition to high-level opponents on his approach to a fourth-place end on the U17 World Staff Trials. 

#5 Aiden Riggins (Junior/160) — Registered technical superiority wins in every of his first six matches final yr in Fargo earlier than a late takedown sunk his title hopes in a 4-4 defeat in opposition to Josh Barr. The Iowa-bound two-time state champ is coming off an 8-0 freestyle efficiency on the Junior Duals that included a win in opposition to three-time Fargo champ Jordan Williams. 

#6 Wyatt Voelker (Junior/195) — A two-time state champion and four-time Fargo All-American who received a Junior Greco title final yr when he additionally positioned eighth in freestyle. The Northern Iowa recruit posted a 5-0 document in freestyle final month on the Junior Duals, the place he notched a win in opposition to Fargo champ Seth Shumate. 

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

HM Nick Fox (Junior/170) — Fox hasn’t damaged into the nationwide rankings — but — however he’s making a push after a terrific efficiency on the Junior Duals, the place he went 7-1 in freestyle. He additionally positioned third final yr in each types in Fargo and captured an Iowa state title this previous season.  

HM Jace Hedeman (16U/106) — Collected a state title in February to finish an undefeated freshman season. Adopted that up final month by going 6-1 in freestyle on the 16U Nationwide Duals, highlighted by a win over Pennsylvania state champ Aaron Seidel. 

#20 Carter Pearson (16U/100) — Coming off a terrific spring that elevated him into the nationwide rankings at 106 and onto the Class of 2025 Huge Board at #89. Pearson positioned third on the 16U World Staff Trials, received the Northern Plains freestyle title and registered 5 shutout victories in six matches on the 16U Nationwide Duals. 

Dreshaun Ross (16U/195) — Ross received’t make his highschool debut till subsequent winter, however he’s already created a buzz with very good performances at elite-level tournaments. He’s a six-time Tulsa Nationals champ a six-time state AAU champion and he blitzed by way of the U15 Nationals in April, profitable titles in each types and registering techs in all three of his freestyle matches.