Fargo Nationals Day 2 recap 16U

The grind of Fargo Nationals Day 2 is officially in the books, and the 16U tournament field has truly begun to separate itself. It was a day defined by high stakes, hard-fought battles, and the uncompromising reality of the double-elimination format. While a powerhouse contingent of top-seeded hammers and resilient underdogs successfully punched their tickets to the quarterfinals with perfect records intact, the backside of the bracket told a story of pure survival. A handful of competitors managed to keep their podium dreams alive through the consolation rounds, while many others saw their tournament runs come to a heartbreaking end against elite state and regional talent. From dominant runs to medical forfeits and gritty bounce-back performances, Day 2 delivered all the drama expected on wrestling’s biggest summer stage.

1. Seeded Undefeated Wrestlers (Advanced to Quarterfinals)

These ranked wrestlers won both of their matches on Day 2, maintaining their perfect tournament records and securing spots in the quarterfinals.

• #1 Easton Kammerud (Mt. Horeb/ Barneveld, 165 lbs)

  • Tournament Record: 4-0 (2-0 on the day)

  • Recap: The tournament’s top seed secured two victories to advance. He faces the California Northwest Regional Freestyle Champion next.

• #1 Kade Splinter (Stoughton, 215 lbs)

  • Tournament Record: 4-0 (2-0 on the day)

  • Recap: Splinter earned two wins on Day 2. His next match is a quarterfinal bout against Iowa’s Freestyle State 3rd-place finisher.

• #2 Collin Hamm (Weyauwega-Fremont, 165 lbs)

  • Tournament Record: 4-0 (2-0 on the day)

  • Recap: Hamm won both matches today to advance. He will match up against a 5A Nevada State Runner-up in the quarterfinals.

• #2 Leland Havens (Mt. Horeb/ Barneveld, 285 lbs)

  • Tournament Record: 3-0 (2-0 on the day)

  • Recap: Havens picked up two wins to keep his undefeated run intact. Next up is a quarterfinal bout with a Class 3 Missouri State 4th-place finisher.

• #8 Jacob Penzkover (Aquinas, 157 lbs)

  • Tournament Record: 4-0 (2-0 on the day)

  • Recap: Penzkover went 2-0 on Day 2. He faces a D2 Ohio State Runner-up in the quarterfinals.

• #10 Liam Crandall (Evansville, 150 lbs)

  • Tournament Record: 4-0 (2-0 on the day)

  • Recap: Crandall won both of his matches today to preserve his perfect record. He draws a quarterfinal matchup against a 3A Virginia State Champion.

• #11 Elias Green (Waukesha West, 190 lbs)

  • Tournament Record: 4-0 (2-0 on the day)

  • Recap: Green moved to 4-0 overall after two wins today. His quarterfinal opponent will be a US Open All-American 8th-place finisher.

• #19 Keilan Yang (Regis/ Altoona, 113 lbs)

  • Tournament Record: 5-0 (2-0 on the day)

  • Recap: Yang earned two critical wins to stay undefeated. He will face a AAA Minnesota State 5th-place finisher in the quarterfinals.

• #24 Mason Moody (Arrowhead, 120 lbs)

  • Tournament Record: 5-0 (2-0 on the day)

  • Recap: Moody put together two victories today to advance to the quarterfinals, where he will meet an Indiana State 3rd-place finisher.

2. Unseeded or Lower-Seeded Undefeated Wrestlers (Advanced to Quarterfinals)

These unranked or lower-seeded wrestlers won all of their matches today to remain undefeated and reach the quarterfinals.

• Cole Train Vanderwerff (Burlington, 88 lbs)

  • Tournament Record: 3-0 (2-0 on the day)

  • Recap: The Northeast Regional Champ went 2-0 on Day 2 to secure a quarterfinal spot against a Pennsylvania opponent.

• Treyton Altuve (Hamilton, 190 lbs)

  • Tournament Record: 4-0 (2-0 on the day)

  • Recap: Altuve won both of his matches today to keep his perfect record intact. He gets a AAA Pennsylvania State Qualifier in the quarterfinals.

3. Wrestlers with One Loss (Still Alive in Consolations)

These wrestlers suffered a defeat but won enough matches on the backside of the bracket to keep their tournament podium hopes alive.

• #28 Lincoln Swick (Oconomowoc, 120 lbs)

  • Tournament Record: 6-1 (3-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Swick bounced back from a loss to a 3A Illinois State Runner-up to win three consolation matches. He continues tomorrow against a California Western Regional 3rd-place finisher.

• Nolan Ferrell (Arrowhead, 175 lbs)

  • Tournament Record: 4-1 (2-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Ferrell dropped a match to a D4 Michigan State 2nd-place finisher but rallied with two consecutive wins to stay alive. He draws a California wrestler next.

4. Wrestlers with Two Losses (Eliminated from the Tournament)

These competitors saw their tournament runs come to an end on Day 2 due to the double-elimination format.

• #4 Kolten Mueller (Milton, 113 lbs) | Record: 4-1 (1-1 on the day)

  • Recap: After losing a match to a 3A Iowa State 2nd-place finisher, Mueller had to medically forfeit out of the tournament.

• #5 Tyler Paulson (Aquinas, 138 lbs) | Record: 4-2 (1-2 on the day)

  • Recap: Paulson was eliminated after dropping matches to a pair of Iowa State placewinners (8th and 5th).

• Sterling Schanen (Ozaukee, 106 lbs) | Record: 4-2 (2-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Schanen won two matches today but was eliminated following a loss to a AAA Minnesota State 3rd-place finisher.

• Rex Lancaster (Holmen, 126 lbs) | Record: 5-2 (2-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Lancaster picked up two victories today before being eliminated by an Arizona Western Regional Champion.

• Bentley Nowak (Coleman, 126 lbs) | Record: 5-2 (2-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Nowak finished with a 5-2 total tournament record after a loss to a 4A Colorado State Runner-up.

• Braiden Hale-Toomey (Reedsburg, 132 lbs) | Record: 4-2 (1-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Hale-Toomey picked up a win today but was eliminated by an Indiana State Qualifier.

• Riddick Meyer (Spencer/ Columbus Catholic/ Granton, 132 lbs) | Record: 4-2 (1-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Meyer earned one victory on Day 2 before falling to a Maryland State Runner-up.

• Xander Knowles (Port Washington, 138 lbs) | Record: 4-2 (1-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Knowles split his matches today, seeing his tournament end after a loss to an Ohio Central Regional Runner-up.

• Grant Melichar (Port Washington, 175 lbs) | Record: 4-2 (4-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Melichar won four consecutive consolation matches today before being eliminated by a 4A Colorado State Runner-up.

• Austin Peach (Milton, 106 lbs) | Record: 3-2 (1-2 on the day)

  • Recap: Peach was eliminated after facing high-caliber regional and state placers from Iowa and Michigan.

• Malakai Barker (Osceola, 120 lbs) | Record: 3-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Barker was eliminated in his lone bout of the day by a California State 3rd-place finisher.

• Brayden Breider (Stoughton, 132 lbs) | Record: 3-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Breider’s tournament ended on Day 2 against a Texas Prep State Champion.

• Benny Braunschweig (Evansville, 138 lbs) | Record: 3-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Braunschweig fell to an Ohio State 5th-place finisher in his final match.

• #7 Gage Gross (Milton, 190 lbs) | Record: 4-2 (2-2 on the day)

  • Recap: Gross wrestled four matches on Day 2, exiting the tournament after losses to a New Jersey Northeast Regional placer and a Massachusetts State Champ.

• #14 Brodey Lewis (Milton, 113 lbs) | Record: 5-2 (2-2 on the day)

  • Recap: Lewis went 2-2 today, ending his run after losses to regional and state talent from Indiana.

• Cayden Podeweltz (Weyauwega-Fremont, 100 lbs) | Record: 2-2 (1-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Podeweltz split his matches today and was eliminated by a New York State 3rd-place finisher.

• Lawson Mitchell (Pulaski, 144 lbs) | Record: 2-2 (1-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Mitchell won one match today but was knocked out by a Pennsylvania State 3rd-place wrestler.

• Dylan Sardina (West Allis Nathan Hale, 157 lbs) | Record: 2-2 (2-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Sardina won two matches today before a Kansas State Qualifier handed him his second loss.

• Alois Leisgang (Seymour, 165 lbs) | Record: 2-2 (1-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Leisgang split his matches today, with his tournament concluding after a loss to a Minnesota State Qualifier.

• Caden Schwartz (Oregon, 165 lbs) | Record: 2-2 (0-2 on the day)

  • Recap: Schwartz dropped both decisions today to a Wisconsin State Champ and a Florida State 3rd-place finisher.

• Jacob Phelps (Cadott, 190 lbs) | Record: 2-2 (0-2 on the day)

  • Recap: Phelps fell to a 2025 Fargo All-American from California and a Tennessee State 5th-place finisher.

• Daniel Meurett (Mauston/ Necedah, 215 lbs) | Record: 2-2 (0-2 on the day)

  • Recap: Meurett was eliminated after losses to the 1st and 3rd-place freestyle finishers from Illinois.

• Nathen Swing (Eau Claire North, 285 lbs) | Record: 2-2 (1-2 on the day)

  • Recap: Swing picked up one victory today but was bounced by out-of-state competitors from Pennsylvania and Washington.

• Reed Akkerman (Wisconsin Rapids, 88 lbs) | Record: 1-2 (1-2 on the day)

  • Recap: Akkerman won one match today but was eliminated by a Kansas State Champ and a Maryland regional placer.

• Isaac Kruse (Plymouth, 88 lbs) | Record: 1-2 (1-2 on the day)

  • Recap: Kruse went 1-2 today, facing highly-placed regional opponents from the Northwest and Northern Plains.

• Jackson Otis (Grafton, 94 lbs) | Record: 1-2 (1-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Otis split his matches today, falling to a former Fargo All-American from Michigan.

• Ayden Ewing (Richland Center, 94 lbs) | Record: 1-2 (0-2 on the day)

  • Recap: Ewing dropped both bouts today to a New Jersey State Champ and a Southeast Regional placer.

• Connor Woosencraft (Pulaski, 100 lbs) | Record: 1-2 (1-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Woosencraft went 1-1 today before a Northeast Regional Runner-up ended his run.

• Logan Salm (Luxenburg-Casco, 144 lbs) | Record: 1-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Salm’s tournament came to an end on Day 2 against an Illinois State 4th-place finisher.

• Joseph Neese (Cedar Grove- Belgium, 157 lbs) | Record: 1-2 (1-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Neese secured one win today but was knocked out by a Washington State Qualifier.

• Jason Heiser (Evansville, 165 lbs) | Record: 1-2 (1-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Heiser split his matches on Day 2, running into a California State Champion.

• Dax Steinbach (Cornell/ Gilman/ Lake Holcombe, 165 lbs) | Record: 1-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Steinbach was eliminated in his opening match of Day 2 by a wrestler from New Jersey.

• Aidan Imhoff (Ithaca/Weston, 94 lbs) | Record: 0-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Imhoff was eliminated on Day 2 by a Colorado State Runner-up.

• Ryan Gartman (Grafton, 100 lbs) | Record: 0-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Gartman’s run ended after facing a Pennsylvania State 3rd-place wrestler.

• Rafe Henrickson (Freedom, 150 lbs) | Record: 0-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Henrickson bowed out on Day 2 after matching up against an Indiana Freestyle State Champ.

• Gavin Mulloy (Waukesha West, 157 lbs) | Record: 0-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Mulloy was eliminated on Day 2 after dropping his bout to a Michigan State Runner-up.

• Marcus Brezgel (Shawano, 175 lbs) | Record: 0-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Brezgel faced a Kansas State Runner-up on Day 2 and was eliminated.

• Baron Krueger (Slinger, 190 lbs) | Record: 0-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Krueger’s run ended on Day 2 against a Northern Plains Regional placer from Minnesota.

• Sam Moore (Freedom, 190 lbs) | Record: 0-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Moore was sent out of the tournament on Day 2 by an Indiana State 7th-place finisher.

• Logan Aumueller (Eau Claire North, 215 lbs) | Record: 0-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Aumueller bowed out on Day 2 after facing an Oklahoma Freestyle State Champ.

• Ian Powell (Reedsburg, 215 lbs) | Record: 0-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Powell’s tournament came to a close after a loss to a Utah Freestyle State Runner-up.

• Travis Smith (Whitehall, 285 lbs) | Record: 0-2 (0-1 on the day)

  • Recap: Heavyweight Smith saw his run end on Day 2 against a Northeast Regional 2nd-place finisher from Pennsylvania.